Chephets
Chephets
Chephets חָפֵץ spelled with the Hebrew letters ChetPeiTzadik, appears in the Bible more than 125 times as a verb, adjective, and noun and is said to mean delight but is also translated pleasure, have pleasure, pleasant, please, if it please, desire, would desire, favour, like, moveth, delight, delightsome, purpose, acceptable, matter, whosoever would, will, willing, willingly, or wish.
- ח Chet The Life Force - Dynamic nature of - cause and effect - give life and live.[fence, thread, hedge, chamber...cycle] (Numeric value: 8)
- פ ף Pei Communication; follows Ayin to suggest that seeing and understanding must preceed: The Oral Torah The mouth, blow, edge. [Mouth speak open word] (Numeric value: 80)
- צ ץ Tzadik is always related to The Faith of the Righteous One, the foundation of the word "to hunt" or Harvest even eat or desire. [Harvest, pant, desire] (Numeric value: 90)
In the New Testament we see 2106 eudokeo [1] meaning be well pleased, please, have pleasure, be willing much like Chephets חָפֵץ.
The Verb
The Hebrew verb chephets חָפֵץ 02654[2] frequently negates God’s pleasure in mere ceremony: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings... as much as in obedience...?” (1 Samuel 15:22). This prophetic critique culminates in Isaiah 1:11 and Amos 5:22 (using synonyms), underscoring that moral covenant fidelity is the true object of divine pleasure.
Ezekiel confronts the exiles with the heart of God: “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?... Would I not prefer that he turn from his ways and live?” (Ezekiel 18:23; cf. Ezekiel 18:32; Ezekiel 33:11). Micah agrees: “He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion” (Micah 7:18). Judgment never delights Him; redemption does.
The idea "Delight" should be considered as synonymous with or at least inseparable from the will of God, His purpose. Divine will is only accomplished through a covenant of His love which is inclusive of justice and righteousness without which there is no salvation. Man can find no true delight if he merely mirrors the rituals without attending or heading God’s priorities found in the word of God. The Blood of Christ who willingly took up the cross perfectly unites divine will but man must also take up his own Christ to find the true redemption (Isaiah 53:10 with Matthew 26:42).
Adjective
As an adjective Chephets 02655 חָפֵץ[3] reveals the heartbeat of covenant relationship because God delights in redeeming a people who, hear, obey, and harken to His word. In Psalms 5:4 we see it declared, “For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with You.” God’s חָפֵץ is always consistent with His holiness. He never finds enjoyment in sin, yet He does delight in righteousness (Psalm 35:27) and in the covenant Messenger (Malachi 3:1). Believers may therefore rest in the certainty that the Lord’s pleasures are unchanging, righteous, and ultimately benevolent toward His people.
The Noun
As a noun Chephets 02656 חָפֵץ[4] is used approximately thirty-nine times across the whole Hebrew Bible appears in narratives, wisdom poetry, prophetic oracles, and post-exilic writings. It attempts to describe the position of the heart toward an object or purpose, ranging from ordinary human longings to the "delight" of the LORD. Its common occurrences should display a consistent theology.
What individuals and cultures promote as desirable will not only reveal but direct the outcomes of societies and lives of the people. The ten Statements of God given to Moses outline divine precepts that promote the character of God.
The sacred scripture written by the revelation of God remain and extension of the language of men and therefore be influenced by the Doctrines of men through their private interpretation.
can in reveals His purposes for creation and redemption.
Psalms 40 and Isaiah 53 converge in Hebrews 10:5-10, where the writer reads both passages christologically. The incarnate Son embodies perfect delight in the Father’s will, accomplishing what animal sacrifices never could. Thus חֵפֶץ becomes a keyword for Christ’s obedient passion and the believer’s sanctification.
Footnotes
- ↑ 2106 εὐδοκέω eudokeo [yoo-dok-eh’-o] from 2095 and 1380; v; TDNT-2:738,273; [{See TDNT 269 }] AV-be well pleased 7, please 5, have pleasure 4, be willing 2, be (one’s) good pleasure 1, take pleasure 1, think good 1; 21
- 1) it seems good to one, is one’s good pleasure
- 1a) think it good, choose, determine, decide
- 1b) to do willingly
- 1c) to be ready to, to prefer, choose rather
- 2) to be well pleased with, take pleasure in, to be favourably inclined towards one
- 1) it seems good to one, is one’s good pleasure
- ↑ 02654 חֵפֶץ chephets [khaw-fates] a primitive root; v; [BDB-342b, BDB-343b] [{See TWOT on 712 }] [{See TWOT on 713 }] AV-delight 39, please 14, desire 9, will 3, pleasure 3, favour 2, like 2, moveth 1, would 1, at all 1; 75
- 1) to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) of men
- 1a1a) to take pleasure in, delight in
- 1a1b) to delight, desire, be pleased to do
- 1a2) of God
- 1a2a) to delight in, have pleasure in
- 1a2b) to be pleased to do
- 1a1) of men
- 1a) (Qal)
- 2) to move, bend down
- 2a) (Qal) to bend down
- 1) to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with
- ↑ 02655 חָפֵץ chaphets khaw-fates’ from 02654 Chephets; adj; [BDB-343a] {See TWOT on 712 @@ "712a" } AV-desire 3, have pleasure 2, whosoever would 1, if it please 1, willing 1, favour 1, wish 1, delight 1; 11
- 1) desiring, delighting in, having pleasure in
- ↑ 02656 חֵפֶץ chephets [khay’-fets] from 02654 חָפֵץ; n m; [BDB-343a] [{See TWOT on 712 @@ "712b" }] AV-pleasure 16, desire 12, delight 3, purpose 3, acceptable 1, delightsome 1, matter 1, pleasant 1, willingly 1; 39
- 1) delight, pleasure
- 1a) delight
- 1b) desire, longing
- 1c) the good pleasure
- 1d) that in which one takes delight
- 1) delight, pleasure