רָצָה
to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy adebt
Definition
The Hebrew verb רָצָה (râtsâh) primarily means 'to be pleased with' or 'to accept favorably.' In cultic contexts, it describes God's acceptance of a sacrifice, as when a burnt offering is offered 'to make atonement' and it is 'accepted' before the Lord (Leviticus 1:4). In relational contexts, it signifies showing favor or goodwill, such as when Esau accepts Jacob's gift (Genesis 33:10). A distinct, less common meaning is 'to pay off' or 'satisfy' a debt, particularly regarding the land receiving its missed Sabbaths (Leviticus 26:34, 43).
Biblical Usage
This verb is used most frequently in Leviticus (over 20 times) in priestly instructions about sacrifices, detailing when an offering will or will not be 'accepted' by God (e.g., Leviticus 7:18, 19:7, 22:23-27). It also appears in narratives about interpersonal favor (Genesis 33:10) and in prophetic or covenantal contexts about divine acceptance or the land's satisfaction (Leviticus 26:34). The usage is concentrated in the Pentateuch, especially in legal texts defining acceptable worship.
Etymology
It is a primitive root. Cognates in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, support the core meanings of 'being pleased' or 'willing.' The Hebrew noun רָצוֹן (ratson, H7522), meaning 'favor' or 'acceptance,' is derived from this root, showing the concept's development from an action (to accept) to a state (favor).
Semantic Range
This word is central to understanding the theology of acceptable worship and divine-human relationship in the Old Testament. It underscores that God is not mechanically appeased by rituals; offerings must be brought with right intent and according to His commands to be 'accepted.' It also touches on covenant faithfulness, as God's acceptance is linked to obedience (Leviticus 22:20-21). The concept of God finding pleasure or favor in His people (Psalm 147:11 uses a related noun) foreshadows the New Testament truth of believers being 'accepted in the Beloved' (Ephesians 1:6).
In ancient Israel's sacrificial system, an offering being 'accepted' (רָצָה) meant it was efficacious and pleasing to God, securing atonement or expressing thanksgiving. This was not merely a transactional ritual but involved the worshiper's state (e.g., offering from a willing heart) and the offering's condition (without defect). The idea of the land 'accepting' its Sabbaths personifies the land as a participant in the covenant, receiving its due rest.
אָהֵב ('âhêb, H157) — denotes deep, committed love, whereas רָצָה focuses on favorable acceptance or pleasure. חָפֵץ (châphêts, H2654) — means 'to delight in' or 'desire,' often with a stronger sense of will or choice, overlapping with רָצָה in contexts of divine pleasure (e.g., 1 Samuel 18:22).
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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