Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of what "pleases" God is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, reflecting the relationship between the Creator and His creation. The term "pleases" is often associated with actions, attitudes, and offerings that are acceptable and delightful to God, as well as those that align with His will and commandments.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, the idea of pleasing God is frequently linked to obedience and faithfulness. For instance, in
Genesis 5:24, Enoch is described as having "walked with God," which implies a life that pleased the Lord. Similarly, in
Genesis 6:8-9, Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord because he was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.
The sacrificial system established in the Law of Moses also highlights what pleases God. Offerings made with a pure heart and in accordance with God's instructions were pleasing to Him. In
1 Samuel 15:22, the prophet Samuel emphasizes that obedience is more pleasing to God than sacrifice: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."
Wisdom LiteratureThe wisdom literature of the Old Testament, such as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, often addresses what pleases God.
Proverbs 16:7 states, "When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." This suggests that living a life in accordance with God's wisdom and righteousness brings about divine favor and peace.
Prophetic WritingsThe prophets frequently called the people of Israel back to actions that please God, often contrasting them with empty rituals. In
Micah 6:7-8, the prophet questions whether extravagant offerings can please God and concludes with the well-known directive: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the focus on what pleases God shifts to faith in Jesus Christ and living according to His teachings.
Hebrews 11:6 underscores the importance of faith: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
The apostle Paul frequently writes about living a life that pleases God. In
Romans 12:1-2, he urges believers to offer their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is their true and proper worship. Furthermore, in
Colossians 1:10, Paul prays that the Colossians may "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God."
Pleasing God through Love and ServiceThe New Testament also emphasizes that love and service to others are actions that please God. In 1
John 3:22-23, it is written, "And we will receive from Him whatever we ask, because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment: that we should believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us."
ConclusionThroughout Scripture, what pleases God is consistently linked to faith, obedience, righteousness, and love. These elements reflect a heart aligned with God's will and a life dedicated to His service.
Greek
5428. phronesis -- understanding, practical wisdom... Cognate: 5428 (another feminine noun from the same root, -) -- that brand of visceral
opinion which
pleases the Lord because God's inworkings of faith ("divine
...Strong's Hebrew
2895. tob -- to be pleasing or good... Word Usage any (1), did well (2), done well (1), fair (1), go well (1), good (1),
good (5), high (1), merry (3), please (2), pleased* (2),
pleases (4),
pleases...5869. ayin -- an eye
... 4), look* (3), looked* (3), looks* (1), maliciously* (1), notice (1), outward
appearance (1), own eyes (1), please* (3), pleased* (14),pleases* (1), prefer* (...
2580. chen -- favor, grace
... Definition favor, grace NASB Word Usage adornment (1), charm (1), charm* (1), charming*
(1), favor (51), grace (8), graceful (2), gracious (3),pleases* (1)....
2869. tab -- good
... Word Origin (Aramaic) from teeb Definition good NASB Word Usage fine (1),pleases
(1). fine, good. (Aramaic) from t'eb; the same as towb; good -- fine, good....
2655. chaphets -- delighting in, having pleasure in
... Word Origin from chaphets Definition delighting in, having pleasure in NASB Word
Usage delight (4), desires (1),pleases (1), takes pleasure (1), who delight (1...
7522. ratson -- goodwill, favor, acceptance, will
... 8), delight (5), desire (2), desired (1), desires (1), earnestly* (1), favor (17),
favorable (2), good will (1), please (1), pleased (1),pleases (3), self...
2654a. chaphets -- to delight in
... desire (9), desired (3), desired* (1), desires (5), favors (1), have any pleasure
(1), have...delight (2), have...pleasure (1), pleased (6),pleases (7), take...
2896a. tob -- pleasant, agreeable, good
... 1), more* (2), one (1), one who (1), one who (1), one who is good (1), one who is
pleasing (1), pleasant (2), please* (2), pleased (1),pleases (1), pleasing (5...
5921. al -- upon, above, over
... 4), ornamented* (1), over (538), over* (6), overflowing* (1), overflows* (1), overlooks*
(3), part (1), planned* (1), pleased* (1),pleases* (2), presence (2...
4672. matsa -- to attain to, find
... happened (2), has (1), have (2), here (1), hit (1), invents (1), left (2), located
(2), meet (2), met (3), overtake (2), overtook (1),pleases* (1), possessed...
Library
WhatPleases God.
... WHATPLEASES GOD. WHATPLEASES GOD. 8,8,8,8,4.... Be comforted! thou needst not
fear. Whatpleases God. The wisest will is God's own will;...
God, Then, Gives to Each Thing Its Own Body as HePleases...
... Chapter XIX. God, then, gives to each thing its own body as Hepleases?
God, then, gives to each thing its own body as Hepleases...
The Wills of Men are So Much in the Power of God, that He Can Turn...
... A Treatise on grace and free will, Chapter 41 [XX.]"The Wills of Men are So Much
in the Power of God, that He Can Turn Them Whithersoever ItPleases Him....
Of the Perplexity of a Heart which Loves Without Knowing Whether...
... GOOD-PLEASURE. CHAPTER XI. OF THE PERPLEXITY OF A HEART WHICH LOVES WITHOUT
KNOWING WHETHER ITPLEASES THE BELOVED. The musician...
God Operates on Men's Hearts to Incline their Wills Whithersoever...
... A Treatise on grace and free will, Chapter 43."God Operates on Men's Hearts
to Incline Their Wills Whithersoever HePleases. From...
Songs of the Cross Childlike Submission.
... [365]Paul Gerhardt.1653. Whatpleases God, O pious soul,. Accept with joy, though
thunders roll.... Thou knowest nought can thee betide. Butpleases God....
Absurd Opinions of the Philosophers Concerning God.
... [552] For even a human artist, when he gets material from some one, makes
of it what hepleases. But the power of God is manifested...
The Good Steward
... for all we have; but although a debtor is obliged to return what he has received,
yet until the time of payment comes, he is at liberty to use it as hepleases...
Do You Flatter Yourself on Account of the Attribute of virginity?...
... but she who is married careth for the things of this world, how she may please
[181] her husband." He thus affirms that the married womanpleases her husband...
Faith
... If any manpleases God, he does that which conduces most to his own temporal
and eternal welfare. Man cannot please God without...
Thesaurus
Pleases (51 Occurrences)...Pleases (51 Occurrences).
... 1 Corinthians 12:11 But all these things operates the one
and the same Spirit, dividing to each in particular according as he
pleases.
...Reverse (12 Occurrences)
... Esther 8:5 She said, "If itpleases the king, and if I have found favor in his sight,
and the thing seem right to the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let...
Chasing (12 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man whopleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he...
Decree (82 Occurrences)
... Esther 3:9 If itpleases the king, let it be written that they be destroyed; and
I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who are in...
Edict (22 Occurrences)
... Esther 8:8 Write also to the Jews, as itpleases you, in the king's name, and seal
it with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name...
Travail (54 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man whopleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he...
Sinner (88 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man whopleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he...
Pleaseth (13 Occurrences)
Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man whopleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he...
Unmarried (13 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 7:37 But if a father stands firm in his resolve, being free from all
external constraint and having a legal right to act as hepleases, and in...
Resources
How can I know what pleases God? | GotQuestions.orgIn the Song of Solomon, why is it said that we shouldn't awaken love until it pleases? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I learn to trust that God is in control? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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