Topical Bible: Pleases

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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 Context

In 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 Literature

The 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 Writings

The 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 Context

In 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 Service

The 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."

Conclusion

Throughout 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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5428.htm - 7k

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 ...
/hebrew/2895.htm - 6k

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* ( ...
/hebrew/5869.htm - 7k

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). ...
/hebrew/2580.htm - 6k

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. ...
/hebrew/2869.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/2655.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/7522.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/2654a.htm - 5k

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 ...
/hebrew/2896a.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/5921.htm - 8k

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 ...
/hebrew/4672.htm - 6k

Library

What Pleases God.
... WHAT PLEASES GOD. WHAT PLEASES GOD. 8,8,8,8,4. ... Be comforted! thou needst not
fear. What pleases God. The wisest will is God's own will; ...
/.../borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/what pleases god.htm

God, Then, Gives to Each Thing Its Own Body as He Pleases...
... Chapter XIX. God, then, gives to each thing its own body as He pleases?
God, then, gives to each thing its own body as He pleases ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xix god then gives.htm

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 It Pleases Him. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 41 xx the wills of.htm

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 IT PLEASES THE BELOVED. The musician ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi of the perplexity.htm

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 He Pleases. From ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 43 god operates on mens.htm

Songs of the Cross Childlike Submission.
... [365]Paul Gerhardt.1653. What pleases God, O pious soul,. Accept with joy, though
thunders roll. ... Thou knowest nought can thee betide. But pleases God. ...
/.../songs of the cross childlike.htm

Absurd Opinions of the Philosophers Concerning God.
... [552] For even a human artist, when he gets material from some one, makes
of it what he pleases. But the power of God is manifested ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter iv absurd opinions of the.htm

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 he pleases ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 51 the good steward.htm

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 woman pleases her husband ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter viii do you flatter.htm

Faith
... If any man pleases God, he does that which conduces most to his own temporal
and eternal welfare. Man cannot please God without ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/faith.htm

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. ...
/p/pleases.htm - 21k

Reverse (12 Occurrences)
... Esther 8:5 She said, "If it pleases 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 ...
/r/reverse.htm - 11k

Chasing (12 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he ...
/c/chasing.htm - 10k

Decree (82 Occurrences)
... Esther 3:9 If it pleases 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 ...
/d/decree.htm - 34k

Edict (22 Occurrences)
... Esther 8:8 Write also to the Jews, as it pleases 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 ...
/e/edict.htm - 14k

Travail (54 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he ...
/t/travail.htm - 26k

Sinner (88 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he ...
/s/sinner.htm - 32k

Pleaseth (13 Occurrences)

/p/pleaseth.htm - 10k

Vanity (100 Occurrences)
... Ecclesiastes 2:26 For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he ...
/v/vanity.htm - 39k

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 he pleases, and in ...
/u/unmarried.htm - 10k

Resources

How can I know what pleases God? | GotQuestions.org

In the Song of Solomon, why is it said that we shouldn't awaken love until it pleases? | GotQuestions.org

How can I learn to trust that God is in control? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Pleases (51 Occurrences)

Matthew 23:27
"Alas for you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are just like whitewashed sepulchres, the outside of which pleases the eye, though inside they are full of dead men's bones and of all that is unclean.
(WEY)

John 3:8
The wind goes where its pleasure takes it, and the sound of it comes to your ears, but you are unable to say where it comes from and where it goes: so it is with everyone whose birth is from the Spirit.
(See NIV)

John 8:29
and He who sent me is with me; the Father did not leave me alone, because I, the things pleasing to Him, do always.'
(See NIV)

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 he pleases, and in his own mind has come to the decision to keep his daughter unmarried, he will do well.
(WEY)

1 Corinthians 12:11
But all these things operates the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each in particular according as he pleases.
(DBY)

Colossians 3:20
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
(WEB RSV NIV)

1 John 3:22
and whatever we may ask, we receive from Him, because His commands we keep, and the things pleasing before Him we do,
(See RSV NIV)

Genesis 20:15
Abimelech said, "Behold, my land is before you. Dwell where it pleases you."
(WEB RSV)

Genesis 30:27
Laban said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake."
(See NAS)

Deuteronomy 23:16
he shall dwell with you, in the midst of you, in the place which he shall choose within one of your gates, where it pleases him best: you shall not oppress him.
(WEB NAS RSV)

Judges 14:3
Then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there never a woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines?" Samson said to his father, "Get her for me; for she pleases me well."
(WEB DBY RSV)

1 Samuel 23:20
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king's hand."
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 19:27
He has slandered your servant to my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God. Do therefore what is good in your eyes.
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 19:37
Please let your servant turn back again, that I may die in my own city, by the grave of my father and my mother. But behold, your servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good to you."
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 19:38
The king answered, "Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good to you. Whatever you require of me, that I will do for you."
(See NIV)

2 Samuel 24:22
Araunah said to David, "Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good to him. Behold, the cattle for the burnt offering, and the threshing instruments and the yokes of the oxen for the wood:
(See NIV)

1 Kings 20:6
but I will send my servants unto thee tomorrow about this time, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away.'
(See RSV)

1 Kings 21:6
He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him,'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' He answered,'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
(WEB NAS)

1 Chronicles 21:23
Ornan said to David, Take it for yourself, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: behold, I give you the oxen for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meal offering; I give it all.
(See NIV)

Ezra 5:17
Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let search be made in the king's treasure-house there, which is at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.'
(See NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 2:5
And I said unto the king: 'If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may build it.'
(See RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 2:7
Moreover I said unto the king: 'If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through till I come unto Judah;
(See RSV NIV)

Esther 1:19
If it please the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, that Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus, and that the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
(See NAS NIV)

Esther 2:4
and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti." The thing pleased the king, and he did so.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 3:9
If it pleases 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 charge of the king's business, to bring it into the king's treasuries."
(WEB NIV)

Esther 5:4
Esther said, "If it seems good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him."
(See NAS NIV)

Esther 5:8
if I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request--let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.'
(See NAS NIV)

Esther 7:3
Then Esther the queen answered and said: 'If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request;
(See NAS NIV)

Esther 8:5
She said, "If it pleases 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 it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Esther 8:8
Write also to the Jews, as it pleases 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, and sealed with the king's ring, may not be reversed by any man."
(WEB)

Esther 9:13
Then Esther said, "If it pleases the king, let it be granted to the Jews who are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according to this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows."
(WEB NAS NIV)

Job 23:13
But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? What his soul desires, even that he does.
(See NIV)

Psalms 115:3
But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 135:6
Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that hath He done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 15:8
The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 21:1
Rivulets of waters 'is' the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.
(See NIV)

Ecclesiastes 2:26
For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:26
I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and traps, whose hands are chains. Whoever pleases God shall escape from her; but the sinner will be ensnared by her.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 8:3
Don't be hasty to go out of his presence. Don't persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 11:7
And the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
(See NIV)

Song of Songs 2:7
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken not, nor stir up love, until it please.'
(See NAS)

Song of Songs 3:5
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken not, nor stir up love, until it please.'
(See NAS)

Song of Songs 8:4
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem: Why should ye awaken, or stir up love, until it please?'
(See NAS)

Isaiah 56:4
For thus saith the LORD concerning the eunuchs that keep My sabbaths, and choose the things that please Me, and hold fast by My covenant:
(See NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 46:5
and the meal offering shall be an ephah for the ram, and the meal offering for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 46:11
In the feasts and in the solemnities the meal offering shall be an ephah for a bull, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.
(See NIV)

Daniel 4:35
And all the people of the earth are as nothing: he does his pleasure in the army of heaven and among the people of the earth: and no one is able to keep back his hand, or say to him, What are you doing?
(See NIV)

Daniel 11:3
And a strong king will come to power, ruling with great authority and doing whatever is his pleasure.
(See NAS NIV)

Daniel 11:16
And he who comes against him will do his pleasure, and no one will be able to keep his place before him: he will take up his position in the beautiful land and in his hand there will be destruction.
(See NAS NIV)

Daniel 11:36
And the king hath done according to his will, and exalteth himself, and magnifieth himself against every god, and against the God of gods he speaketh wonderful things, and hath prospered till the indignation hath been completed, for that which is determined hath been done.
(See NAS NIV)

Amos 4:5
offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim free will offerings and brag about them: for this pleases you, you children of Israel," says the Lord Yahweh.
(WEB)

Subtopics

Pleases

Related Terms

Task (37 Occurrences)

Pleases (51 Occurrences)

Likeness (52 Occurrences)

Liking (2 Occurrences)

Liken (12 Occurrences)

Inclineth (10 Occurrences)

Free-offerings (2 Occurrences)

Freewill-offerings (8 Occurrences)

Thank-offering (5 Occurrences)