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חָפֵץ

𐤇𐤐𐤑

châphêts

H2655 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

An adjective and sometimes verbal noun meaning 'taking pleasure in, delighted with, willing, desiring.' It describes a state of being inclined toward or having a favorable disposition toward something or someone, often with the nuance of genuine enjoyment or volitional desire. In other contexts, it refers to one who is willing or disposed to do something, rather than simply consenting or permitting.

Semantic Range

to delight in, to desire, to take pleasure in, to wish, to be willing, to have favor, to be disposed toward

Root / Etymology

From the root חפץ meaning 'to take delight in, to desire.' חָפֵץ is a stative adjective (sometimes functioning substantivally) derived from this root, conveying the sense of being disposed toward, or finding pleasure in, a person, action, or thing.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָפֵץ is used extensively throughout the Hebrew Bible, often to convey genuine desire, volition, or pleasure—not merely passive contentment but active delight or will. In wisdom literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs), it frequently marks an emotional or moral affinity (e.g., delighting in the Torah, Psalm 1:2). In narrative and legal contexts, it may refer to willingness to act, distinguishing between one who chooses freely versus one compelled or indifferent (e.g., Ruth 3:13). Some English translations (including KJV) render it as 'please' or 'willing,' but this can narrow its range: at core, it signals a deep and positive inclination or delight. It should not be confused with אָבָה (to be willing, consent), which can lack the nuance of genuine pleasure. The use of חָפֵץ in exilic and post-exilic texts (e.g., Isaiah 53:10) often expresses divine volition or pleasure, with implications for theological interpretation but not altering the basic lexical sense. Later Hebrew continued to use derivatives of this root for pleasure, desire, and will, but these sometimes take on more general or abstract senses.

Translation Consistency

primary "delight" 6 occurrences

חָפֵץ most commonly carries the sense of ‘taking pleasure in’ or ‘being delighted with’ (e.g. “delight in”), and using 'delight' as the single base verb yields natural, idiomatic English that also covers the close senses of desire/willingness or favorable disposition. 'Delight' fits typical Biblical usage better than more formal choices like 'take pleasure in' or 'be willing.'

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"delighters of" (3x) "desire" (1x) "willing" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָפֵץ; pleased with; delight in, desire, favour, please, have pleasure, whosoever would, willing, wish.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

חפץ (Chefetsi Bah) — to incline, to desire, to delight

Root חפץ to desire, to take pleasure in, to be inclined toward
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2654 חָפֵץ we delight
H2656 חֵפֶץ in desire
H2657 חֶפְצִי בָּהּ my delight

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2655-03 חֲפֵצֵ֪י chafetsey HAampc those delighting in delighters of delighters of 3
H2655-06 הֶֽ/חָפֵץ֙ hechafets HTd/Aamsa desires the desiring one the one who delights 3
H2655-01 חָפֵ֣ץ chafets HAamsa who takes pleasure he delights who delights 2
H2655-02 חֲפֵצָ֔ה chafetsah HAafsa willing she delighted willing 1
H2655-04 חֲפֵצִים֙ chafetsim HAampa delight in delighting ones delighting 1
H2655-05 הַֽ/חֲפֵצִים֙ hachafetsim HTd/Aampa who delight the delighting ones the delighting ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2655-06 1 Kings 13:33 הֶֽ/חָפֵץ֙ hechafets HTd/Aamsa who desired the desiring one the one who delights
H2655-01 1 Kings 21:6 חָפֵ֣ץ chafets HAamsa you prefer he delights you desire
H2655-04 Malachi 3:1 חֲפֵצִים֙ chafetsim HAampa delight in delighting ones delighting
H2655-01 Psalms 5:5 חָפֵ֘ץ chafets HAamsc who takes pleasure he delights who delights
H2655-06 Psalms 34:13 הֶ/חָפֵ֣ץ hechafets HTd/Aamsa desires the desiring one the one who delights
H2655-03 Psalms 35:27 חֲפֵצֵ֪י chafetsey HAampc who delight in delighters of delighters of
H2655-06 Psalms 35:27 הֶ֝/חָפֵ֗ץ hechafets HTd/Aamsa who delights the desiring one the one who delights
H2655-03 Psalms 40:15 חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י chafetsey HAampc who delight delighters of delighters of
H2655-03 Psalms 70:3 חֲ֝פֵצֵ֗י chafetsey HAampc those delighting in delighters of delighters of
H2655-05 Nehemiah 1:11 הַֽ/חֲפֵצִים֙ hachafetsim HTd/Aampa who delight the delighting ones the delighting ones
H2655-02 1 Chronicles 28:9 חֲפֵצָ֔ה chafetsah HAafsa willing she delighted willing
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