Topical Encyclopedia
The term "acceptable" in the Bible often refers to what is pleasing or agreeable to God. It encompasses actions, offerings, and attitudes that align with God's will and standards. The concept of acceptability is central to understanding how humans can live in a way that honors God and fulfills His purposes.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of what is acceptable to God is frequently associated with sacrifices and offerings. For instance, in Leviticus, the Israelites are instructed on how to present offerings that are "acceptable" to the Lord.
Leviticus 22:20 states, "You must not present anything with a defect, because it will not be acceptable on your behalf." This underscores the importance of purity and perfection in offerings, symbolizing the need for sincerity and wholeheartedness in worship.
The Psalms also reflect on what is acceptable to God, often linking it to righteousness and obedience.
Psalm 19:14 expresses a desire for one's words and thoughts to be pleasing to God: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of acceptability shifts more towards the inner qualities of faith and love, rather than external rituals.
Romans 12:1 urges believers to present their bodies as a "living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God," which is described as their "reasonable service." This passage highlights the idea that a life dedicated to God, characterized by holiness and service, is acceptable to Him.
The apostle Paul frequently discusses what is acceptable to God in terms of moral and ethical behavior. In
Ephesians 5:10 , believers are encouraged to "test and prove what pleases the Lord." This involves discerning God's will and living in a way that reflects His character.
Acceptable Prayer and WorshipPrayer and worship are also areas where acceptability is emphasized. In
1 Timothy 2:1-3 , Paul writes, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people... This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior." Here, the acceptability of prayer is linked to its inclusivity and alignment with God's desire for all people to be saved.
Acceptable ConductThe Bible also addresses acceptable conduct in social and ethical contexts. In
1 Peter 2:20 , it is noted, "But if you suffer for doing good and endure it, this is commendable before God." Acceptable behavior, therefore, includes enduring suffering for righteousness' sake, reflecting a commitment to God's standards even in adversity.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of what is "acceptable" to God encompasses a wide range of human actions and attitudes, from sacrificial offerings in the Old Testament to the inner qualities of faith and love in the New Testament. It calls for a life of holiness, obedience, and sincere devotion, reflecting God's character and purposes.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Capable, worthy, or sure of being accepted or received with pleasure; pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; agreeable; welcome; as, an acceptable present, one acceptable to us.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ACCEPT; ACCEPTABLE; ACCEPTATIONak-sept', ak-sep'-ta-b'-l, ak-sep-ta'-shun: "To receive with favor," "to take pleasure in"; "well-pleasing"; "the act of receiving."
Accept, used
(1) of sacrifice, "accept thy burnt-sacrifice" (dashen, "accept as fat," i.e. receive favorably;Psalm 20:3);
(2) of persons, "Yahweh accept Job" (Job 42:9, nasa', "to lift up," "take," "receive");
(3) of works, "a the work of his hands" (Deuteronomy 33:11 ratsah, "to delight in").
In New Testament
(1) of favors, "We accept. with all thankfulness" (apodechomai,Acts 24:3);
(2) of personal appeal, "He accept our exhortation" (2 Corinthians 8:17);
(3) of God's Impartiality (lambano, "to take," "receive"); "accepteth not man's person" (Galatians 2:6).
Acceptable, used
(1) of justice (bachar, "choose select"), "more accept. than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3);
(2) of words (chephets, "delight in," "sought. accept words") (Ecclesiastes 12:10);
(3) of times (ratson, "delight," "approbation"; dektos, "receivable") "acceptable year of the Lord" (Isaiah 61:2 (King James Version);Luke 4:19);
(4) of spiritual sacrifice (euprosdektos, "well received"), "acceptable to God" (1 Peter 2:5);
(5) of patient endurance (charis, "grace," "favor") "This is acceptable with God" (1 Peter 2:20). Acceptation, used twice to indicate the trustworthiness of the gospel of Christ's saving grace: "worthy of all acceptation." (1 Timothy 1:15;1 Timothy 4:9).
These words are full of the abundant grace of God and are rich in comfort to believers. That which makes man, in word, work and character, acceptable to God; and renders It possible for God to accept him, his service and sacrifice, is the fullness of the Divine mercy and grace and forgiveness. He "chose us" and made us, as adopted sons, the heirs of His grace "which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved" (Ephesians 1:6; compare the King James Version).
Dwight M. Pratt
Greek
587. apodektos --acceptable...acceptable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: apodektos Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-od'-ek-tos) Short Definition: worthy to be received,
acceptable, welcome
...2144. euprosdektos --acceptable
...acceptable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: euprosdektos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-pros'-dek-tos) Short Definition: well-received,acceptable Definition...
1184. dektos --acceptable
...acceptable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: dektos Phonetic Spelling:
(dek-tos') Short Definition:acceptable, accepted Definition:acceptable...
2101. euarestos -- well-pleasing
... well-pleasing. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: euarestos Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-ar'-es-tos) Short Definition:acceptable, well-pleasing Definition...
1384. dokimos -- tested, approved
... tested, approved. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: dokimos Phonetic Spelling:
(dok'-ee-mos) Short Definition: approved,acceptable Definition: approved...
4375. prosphiles -- pleasing, agreeable
... agreeable. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: prosphiles Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-fee-lace') Short Definition: pleasing,acceptable Definition: pleasing...
2418. hierourgeo -- to perform sacred rites
... things. 2418 (from 2411 , "Temple" and 2041 , "work") -- properly, doing ,
like offeringacceptable sacrifices to God. 2418 () is...
701. arestos -- pleasing, ie fit
... fit. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: arestos Phonetic Spelling:
(ar-es-tos') Short Definition: pleasing, satisfactory,acceptable Definition: pleasing...
111. athemitos -- lawless
... 111 (an adjective, derived from 1/A "not" and , "a custom, what isacceptable because
accepted") -- properly, notacceptable based on the prevailing custom or...
2413. hieros -- sacred, a sacred thing, a temple
... 2413 (an adjective) -- properly, (because associated with God's , ); consecrated
to deity and therefore "," ie becauseacceptable for God's service....
Strong's Hebrew
7522. ratson -- goodwill, favor, acceptance, will... Word Origin from ratsah Definition goodwill, favor, acceptance, will NASB Word Usage
acceptable (5), acceptance (1), accepted (8), delight (5), desire (2
...8232. shephar -- to be fair or seemly
... beacceptable, please, think good. (Aramaic) corresponding to shaphar; to be beautiful
-- beacceptable, please, + think good. see HEBREW shaphar. 8231b, 8232...
7521. ratsah -- to be pleased with, accept favorably
... 2), enjoy (2), enjoyed (1), favor (2), favorable (1), favored (2), favors (1), find
pleasure (1), fulfills (1), make (1), make himselfacceptable (1), make...
977. bachar -- to choose
...acceptable, appoint, choose choice, excellent, join, be rather, require. A
primitive root; properly, to try, ie (by implication) select...
2656. chephets -- delight, pleasure
... desire (1).acceptable, delightsome, desire, things desired, matter, pleasant,
purpose. From chaphets; pleasure; hence (abstractly...
1878. dashen -- to be fat, grow fat
... root Definition to be fat, grow fat NASB Word Usage anointed (1), become greasy
(1), become prosperous (1), find youracceptable (1), made fat (1), prosper (1...
3787. kasher -- to be advantageous, proper, or suitable, to...
... A primitive root properly, to be straight or right; by implication, to beacceptable;
also to succeed or prosper -- direct, be right, prosper. 3786, 3787....
5208. nichoach -- soothing, tranquilizing
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to nichoach Definition soothing, tranquilizing
NASB Word Usageacceptable sacrifices (1), fragrant incense (1)....
3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... goes well (1), good (1), good (2), good that i do (1), good reason (3), happy (1),
joyful (1), make (1), makes a cheerful (1), makes...acceptable (1), merry (3...
Library
TheAcceptable Sacrifice;
... THEACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE; OR, THE EXCELLENCY OF A BROKEN HEART: SHOWING... such,.
George Cokayn September 21, 1688. THEACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE; OR,....
TheAcceptable Fast.
... THE SEASONS, ANNUAL OCCASIONS, ETC. 868. " TheAcceptable Fast. 868. LM
H. Ballou. TheAcceptable Fast. 1 This is the fast the...
Acceptable Sacrifices. August 10.
...Acceptable Sacrifices. August 10. Every time we perform an act of kindness
to any human being, ay, even to a dumb animal; every...
Acceptable Offering. 1 Father of Our Feeble Race
... 764. "Acceptable Offering. 1 Father of our feeble race. 764. 7s. M. J. Taylor.
Acceptable Offering. 1 Father of our feeble race, Wise, beneficent, and kind!...
MJ Taylor.Acceptable Offerings.
... I. PUBLIC WORSHIP. 11. 7s. MJ Taylor.Acceptable Offerings. 1 Lord! what
offering shall we bring, At Thine altars when we bow? Hearts...
Inasmuch as Your Name, which is Greatly Beloved, isAcceptable to...
... Chapter I. Inasmuch as your name, which is greatly beloved, isacceptable
to me in God? Inasmuch as your name, which is greatly...
The Fasts of the Jews are not True Fasts, norAcceptable to God.
... Chapter III."The fasts of the Jews are not true fasts, noracceptable to
God. He says then to them again concerning these things...
First Sunday after Epiphany. I Beseech You, Brethren, by the...
... I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy,acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service....
What are the Requisites of that Prayer, which isAcceptable to God...
... Lord's Day 45 Question 117 What are the requisites of that prayer, which
isacceptable to God, and which he will hear? What are...
That those who Put what is virtuous Before what is Useful are...
... Book III. Chapter VIII. That those who put what is virtuous before what
is useful areacceptable to God? That those who put what...
Thesaurus
Acceptable (48 Occurrences)... Capable, worthy, or sure of being accepted or received with pleasure; pleasing to
a receiver; gratifying; agreeable; welcome; as, an
acceptable present, one
...Acceptation (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Acceptance; reception; favorable reception or
regard; state of beingacceptable.... ACCEPT;ACCEPTABLE; ACCEPTATION....
Favor (184 Occurrences)
... In the American Standard Revised Version "theacceptable year of the Lord" (Isaiah
61:2) is changed Into "the year of Yahweh's favor"; "Do I now persuade men...
Duty (90 Occurrences)
... of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, doing priestly duties in connexion with God's
Good News so that the sacrifice--namely the Gentiles--may beacceptable to Him...
Blemish (71 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 5:27). Christ offered himself a sacrifice "without blemish,"acceptable
to God (1 Peter 1:19). Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (vt...
Accept (106 Occurrences)
... is then on its adoption.]. 7. (a.) Accepted. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ACCEPT;ACCEPTABLE; ACCEPTATION. ak-sept', ak-sep'-ta...
Meditation (15 Occurrences)
... the meditation of my heart beacceptable in thy sight"); of siach, "speech,"
"meditation" (Psalm 104:34, "Let my meditation be sweet unto him"); of sichah, a...
Acceptably (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In anacceptable manner; in a manner to please
or give satisfaction. Multi-Version Concordance Acceptably (1 Occurrence)....
Succor (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 6:2 (for he saith, At anacceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And
in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is theacceptable time...
Serving (85 Occurrences)
... NAS NIV). Romans 14:18 for he who in these things is serving the Christ,
'is'acceptable to God and approved of men. (YLT). Romans...
Resources
Is abuse an acceptable reason for divorce? | GotQuestions.orgIs it acceptable to God for a husband and wife to have sex while the wife is menstruating / having her period? | GotQuestions.orgIs it acceptable to have communion outside of the church? | GotQuestions.orgAcceptable: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
