Hebrew · H2654, G2309 · unreviewed

חָפֵץ

Properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend ; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire · to will/desire

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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

חָפֵץ H2654 properly, to incline to; by implication (literally but rarely) to bend ; figuratively, to be pleased with, desire

Pronunciation ḥāp̄ēṣ

Inclination of will toward pleasure: God's delight in covenant obedience; human desire as moral alignment.

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θέλω G2309 to will/desire

Pronunciation thélō

Immediate willing or desire, more emotional and practical than the deliberative choice of βούλομαι.

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What does חָפֵץ (chaphets) mean in the Bible?

חָפֵץ · θέλω is a Hebrew word meaning "to take pleasure in, desire strongly".

Full entry for חָפֵץ (H2654, G2309) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to take pleasure in, desire strongly

Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 69×

Perfect 1Kgs 9:1 · 1Kgs 10:9 · 1Sam 2:25 · 1Sam 18:22 · 1Sam 19:1 · 2Chr 9:8 · 2Sam 20:11 · 2Sam 22:20 · 2Sam 24:3 · Esth 2:14 · Esth 6:6 · Esth 6:7 · Esth 6:9 · Esth 6:11 · Gen 34:19 · Isa 42:21 50×

Imperfect Deut 25:7 · Eccl 8:3 · Esth 6:6 · Job 9:3 · Job 40:17 · Prov 18:2 · Prov 21:1 · Ps 37:23 · Ps 147:10 · Ruth 3:13 · Ezek 18:23 · Ezek 18:32 · Ezek 33:11 · Job 13:3 · Isa 13:17 · Jer 6:10 19×

Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 69 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form

Perfect 50 Imperfect 19

Stem

Qal 69

Mood

Indicative 50 Indicative/jussive 15 Indicative/cohortative 4

OT Occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 18 — The Lord Strengthens the Mission in Corinth and Beyond Acts 7 — Stephen Testifies to Israel’s Resistance and Christ’s Glory John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness Luke 5 — The Authority of Jesus to Call, Cleanse, Forgive, and Make New Mark 1 — The Beginning of the Gospel: The Servant-King Appears with Authority Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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