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(
, 7522), “favor; goodwill; acceptance; will; desire; pleasure.” The 56
occurrences of this word are scattered throughout Old Testament literature.
represents a concrete reaction of the superior to an inferior. When used of
God,
may represent that which is shown in His blessings: “And for the precious
things of the earth and fullness thereof, and for the
(
of him that dwelt in the
bush” (Deut. 33:16). Thus Isaiah speaks of the day, year, or time of divine “favor”-in
other words, the day of the Lord when all the blessings of the covenant shall be heaped
upon God’s people (Isa. 49:8; 58:5; 61:2). In wisdom literature, this word is used in the
sense of “what men can bestow”: “He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor: but he
that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him” (Prov. 11:27). In Prov. 14:35,
refers
to what a king can or will do for someone he likes.
This word represents the position one enjoys before a superior who is favorably
disposed toward him. This nuance is used only of God and frequently in a cultic context:
“… And it [the plate engraved with “holy to the Lord”] shall be always upon his [the high
priest’s] forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord” (Exod. 28:38). Being
“accepted” means that God subjectively feels well disposed toward the petitioner.
also signifies a voluntary or arbitrary decision. Ezra told the people of Israel
to do the “will” of God, to repent and observe the law of Moses (Ezra 10:11). This law
was dictated by God’s own nature; His nature led Him to be concerned for the physical
well-being of His people. Ultimately, His laws were highly personal; they were simply
what God wanted His people to be and do. Thus the psalmist confessed his delight in
doing God’s “will,” or His law (Ps. 40:8). When a man does according to his own “will,”
he does “what he desires”: “I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and
southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could
deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his willand became great” (Dan. 8:4). In
Ps. 145:16, the word
means “one’s desire” or “what one wants” (cf. Esth. 1:8).
This emphasis is found in Gen. 49:6 (the first occurrence): “… And in their self-will they
[brought disaster upon themselves].”
B. Verb.
(
, 7521), “to be pleased with or favorable to, be delighted with, be
pleased to make friends with; be graciously received; make oneself favored.” This verb,
which occurs 50 times in the Old Testament, has cognates in Ugaritic, Aramaic, Syriac,
and Arabic. Gen. 33:10 contains one appearance of this word: “… thou wast pleased with
me.”
TO FEAR
A. Verb.
(
, 3372), “to be afraid, stand in awe, fear.” This verb occurs in Ugaritic and
Hebrew (both biblical and post-biblical). The Bible attests it approximately 330 times and
in all periods.
Basically, this verb connotes the psychological reaction of “fear.”
'
may indicate
being afraid of something or someone. Jacob prayed: “Deliver me, I pray thee, from the