Lexical Summary ratsah: To be pleased with, to accept favorably, to delight in, to satisfy Original Word: רָצָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be acceptable, accomplish, set affection, approve, consent withA primitive root; to be pleased with; specifically, to satisfy a debt -- (be) accept(-able), accomplish, set affection, approve, consent with, delight (self), enjoy, (be, have a) favour(-able), like, observe, pardon, (be, have, take) please(-ure), reconcile self. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be pleased with, accept favorably NASB Translation accept (11), accepted (6), approve (1), approved (1), delight (4), delights (2), enjoy (2), enjoyed (1), favor (2), favorable (1), favored (2), favors (1), find pleasure (1), fulfills (1), make (1), make himself acceptable (1), make amends (1), making amends (1), please (1), pleased (6), pleasing (1), receive (1), received me favorably (1), removed (1), restored (1), showed favor (1), take delight (1), take pleasure (1), taken...delight (1), takes pleasure (1), took pleasure (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs רָצָה verb be pleased with, accept favourably (Late Hebrew id., will, be willing; Arabic  (originally  ) be well pleased with, NöZMG liv (1900), 155; Sabean רצֿו favour CISiv, no. 77, 9 and others, compare HomSüdar. Chrest. 123, רצֿים good, acceptable, CISiv, no. 73, 9, and others, of a coin, good, Idib. no. 21, 5; Aramaic רְעָא,  have pleasure in, compare II. רָעָה above); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular ׳ר Ecclesiastes 9:7; suffix רָצָם Jeremiah 14:10; 1singular וְרָצִאתִי Ezekiel 43:27 consecutive (metaplastic Ges§ 75rr; Aramaism, Krae; but Co וְרָצִיתִי), etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular יִרְצֶה Psalm 147:10 +, suffix יִרְצְךָ Malachi 1:8; 3feminine singular jussive תִּ֫רֶץ Leviticus 26:43; 3feminine plural תִּרְצֶנָה Proverbs 23:6 Kt ( < Qr תִּצֹּרְנָה, √ נצר, compare Toy), etc.; Imperative רְצֵה Psalm 40:14; Psalm 119:108; Infinitive construct רְצוֺת Proverbs 16:7; Psalm 77:8, etc.; Participle רוֺצֶה Psalm 147:11; Psalm 149:4, suffix רֹצָם Jeremiah 14:12; passive רְצוּי Esther 10:3, construct רְצוּי Deuteronomy 33:24; — 1 be pleased with, favourable to: a. of God, with accusative of person Isaiah 42:1; Psalm 44:4; Psalm 147:11; Job 33:26; with accusative of thing Psalm 85:2; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Proverbs 16:7; Ecclesiastes 9:7; with ב person Psalm 149:4; ב of thing Psalm 147:10; Haggai 1:8; absolute Hag 77:8. b. of men: with accusative of person, subject father Malachi 1:8, "" אהב Proverbs 3:12; of brother Genesis 33:10 (JE), monarch 2 Chronicles 10:7; with accusative of thing Psalm 62:5; Psalm 102:15; Job 14:6; Proverbs 23:26 (but see above); with בְּ of thing 1 Chronicles 29:3; Psalm 49:14; עִם person Job 34:9; Psalm 50:18; passive participle רָצוּי favoured, acceptable to Deuteronomy 33:24 (poem), Esther 10:3. 2 accept: of God, with accusative of person, sacrificing, 2 Samuel 24:23; Hosea 8:13; Jeremiah 14:10,12; Ezekiel 20:40,41; Ezekiel 43:27; with accusative of sacrifice Deuteronomy 33:11; Malachi 1:10,13; Psalm 51:18; Psalm 119:108; with בְ of sacrifice Micah 6:7; absolute Ani Micah 5:22. 3 be pleased: a. determined, with infinitive Psalm 40:14. b. with בּ person 1 Chronicles 28:4. 4 make acceptable, satisfy (by paying off debt), subject land, paying off its sabbaths (Di Dr and others accept, be satisfied with [in payment]) Leviticus 26:34,43; 2Chronicles 36:21, with accusative of guilt incurred (עָוֺן) Leviticus 26:41,43 ( < point all these as Hiph`il, so SS Gerber). Niph`al Perfect3masculine singular נִרְצָה Leviticus 1:4; Isaiah 40:2; Imperfect3masculine singular יֵרָצֶה Leviticus 7:18 +, etc.; — 1 passive of Qal 2, be accepted, of sacrifices, with ל person, Leviticus 1:4; Leviticus 22:25; with ל of sacrifice Leviticus 22:23,27; absolute Leviticus 7:18; Leviticus 19:7. 2 passive of Qal 4: נִרְצָח עֲוֺנָהּ Isaiah 40:2 her punishment is accepted (as satisfactory). Pi`el Imperfect3masculine plural יְרַצּוּ Job 20:10, with accusative דַּלִּים seek the favour of the poor (but Bu SS Gerber from רצץ). Hiph`il Perfect3feminine singular וְהִרְצָת (Ges§ 75m) consecutive Leviticus 26:34 the land shall pay off her sabbaths (accusative), compare Qal 4. Hithpa`el Imperfect3masculine singular יִתְרַצֵּה 1 Samuel 29:4 with what shall he make himself acceptable unto (אֶל) his lord? + 3 masculine plural יִתְרַצּוּ Hosea 4:10 ᵐ5 We Now (for ᵑ0 יפרצּו) they shall not have delight. Topical Lexicon Root Concept of רָצָהThe verb depicts acceptance, delight, satisfaction, or the granting of favor. Whether applied to God or to man, it always denotes a disposition that moves toward the object with goodwill, never with indifference. In most contexts it describes God’s favorable response toward persons, offerings, or prayers; in some, it records His refusal of the same. Occurrences and Distribution Approximately fifty-seven times, רָצָה appears across the Pentateuch (especially Leviticus), the Historical Books, the Psalms, and the Prophets. Nearly half of the uses occur in Leviticus, underscoring its importance in the sacrificial system. The later prophets employ the verb to expose Israel’s failure to secure divine favor through empty ritual, while the Psalms turn it into a frequent petition of the faithful. Sacrificial Acceptance 1. The burnt offering was to be presented “so that he may be accepted before the LORD” (Leviticus 1:3). Through these laws, Israel learned that: • God alone defines what pleases Him. Divine Pleasure in Covenant People and Land Psalm 85:1 links רָצָה to national restoration: “You showed favor to Your land; You restored Jacob from captivity.” The verb frames large-scale redemptive acts: exile reversed, Jerusalem rebuilt (Psalm 102:13–16), the Law magnified (Isaiah 42:21). God’s pleasure is not mere sentiment; it initiates historical deliverance. Human Plea for Acceptance David exemplifies earnest petition: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation… Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices” (Psalm 51:12,19). The order is critical: internal renewal precedes acceptable worship. Similar prayers appear in Job 33:26; Psalm 69:13; Daniel 9:17, binding the verb to intercession and repentance. Divine Displeasure When רָצָה shifts to the negative, it exposes covenant breach: • “I have no pleasure in you… and I will accept no offering from your hands” (Malachi 1:10). Such texts warn that outward religion, divorced from obedience, forfeits divine favor. Messianic Trajectory Isaiah 42:21 declares: “The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law and make it glorious.” The Servant Songs culminate in Yahweh’s supreme delight in the obedient Servant, fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:17). The Synoptic testimony that the Father is “well pleased” in the Son echoes רָצָה theology, announcing the arrival of the perfectly acceptable sacrifice (Hebrews 10:5–10). Pastoral and Devotional Applications 1. Gospel proclamation: Only in Christ does the believer stand “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6, NKJV; conceptually linked). Relation to Cognate Terms רָצוֹן (Strong’s 7522) is the noun “favor” that often follows the verb’s action; רַצּוֹן (Strong’s 7523) “acceptance” occurs less frequently. Together they form a semantic field of delight, goodwill, and gracious reception, culminating in the New Testament doctrine of grace. Summary רָצָה weaves through Scripture as a theological thread tying sacrificial worship, covenant relationship, national destiny, and personal piety to the steadfast pleasure of God. Its ultimate fulfillment is realized in Jesus Christ, the once-for-all offering by which believers are eternally accepted. Forms and Transliterations אֶרְצֵ֔ם אֶרְצֶ֑ה אֶרְצֶ֣ה אֶרְצֶ֥ה ארצה ארצם בִּ֝רְצֹת֗וֹ בִּרְצ֣וֹת בִּרְצוֹתִי֙ ברצות ברצותי ברצתו הֲיִרְצְךָ֙ הֲיִרְצֶ֤ה הַאֶרְצֶ֥ה הארצה הירצה הירצך וְאֶרְצֶה־ וְהִרְצָ֖ת וְנִרְצָ֥ה וְרָצ֖וּי וְרָצִ֣אתִי וְתִ֣רֶץ וַיִּרְצֵ֗הוּ וַתִּ֣רֶץ וַתִּרְצֵֽנִי׃ וּרְצִיתָ֔ם וארצה־ והרצת וירצהו ונרצה ורצאתי ורצוי ורציתם ותרץ ותרצני׃ יְרַצּ֣וּ יִ֝רְצֶ֗ה יִרְצ֣וּ יִרְצ֥וּ יִרְצ֪וּ יִרְצֶֽה׃ יִרְצֶֽךָ׃ יִתְרַצֶּ֥ה יֵרָצ֖וּ יֵרָצֶ֕ה יֵרָצֶֽה׃ יֵרָצֶה֒ ירצה ירצה׃ ירצו ירצך׃ יתרצה לִרְצ֣וֹת לרצות נִרְצָ֖ה נרצה רְצִיתָֽם׃ רְצֵ֣ה רְצֵה־ רְצוּי֙ רָצ֣וּ רָצְתָ֣ה רָצְתָ֥ה רָצִ֣יתָ רָצָ֑ם רָצָ֔ה רָצָ֔ם רָצָ֥ה רֹצָ֑ם רוֹצֶ֣ה רוצה רצה רצה־ רצו רצוי רצית רציתם׃ רצם רצתה תִּרְצֶ֑ה תִּרְצֶ֨ה תִרְצֶֽה׃ תִּצֹּֽרְנָה תצרנה תרצה תרצה׃ ’er·ṣeh ’er·ṣêm ’erṣeh ’erṣêm bir·ṣō·ṯōw bir·ṣō·w·ṯî bir·ṣō·wṯ birṣōṯōw birṣōwṯ birṣōwṯî birTzot birtzoTi birtzoTo erTzeh erTzem ha’erṣeh ha·’er·ṣeh hă·yir·ṣə·ḵā hă·yir·ṣeh haerTzeh hăyirṣeh hăyirṣəḵā hayirtzeCha hayirTzeh lir·ṣō·wṯ lirṣōwṯ lirTzot nir·ṣāh nirṣāh nirTzah rā·ṣāh rā·ṣām rā·ṣə·ṯāh rā·ṣî·ṯā rā·ṣū rāṣāh rāṣām rāṣəṯāh rāṣîṯā rāṣū raTzah raTzam ratzeTah raTzita raTzu rə·ṣêh rə·ṣêh- rə·ṣî·ṯām rə·ṣui rəṣêh rəṣêh- rəṣîṯām rəṣui reTzeh retziTam reTzui rō·ṣām rō·w·ṣeh rōṣām roTzam roTzeh rōwṣeh tir·ṣeh ṯir·ṣeh tirṣeh ṯirṣeh tirTzeh tiṣ·ṣō·rə·nāh tiṣṣōrənāh titzTzorenah ū·rə·ṣî·ṯām ūrəṣîṯām uretziTam vaiyirTzehu vatTiretz vattirTzeni veertzeh vehirTzat venirTzah veraTziti veraTzui veTiretz wat·ti·reṣ wat·tir·ṣê·nî wattireṣ wattirṣênî way·yir·ṣê·hū wayyirṣêhū wə’erṣeh- wə·’er·ṣeh- wə·hir·ṣāṯ wə·nir·ṣāh wə·rā·ṣi·ṯî wə·rā·ṣui wə·ṯi·reṣ wəhirṣāṯ wənirṣāh wərāṣiṯî wərāṣui wəṯireṣ yê·rā·ṣeh yê·rā·ṣū yə·raṣ·ṣū yêrāṣeh yəraṣṣū yêrāṣū yeraTzeh yeratzTzu yeraTzu yir·ṣe·ḵā yir·ṣeh yir·ṣū yirṣeh yirṣeḵā yirṣū yirTzecha yirTzeh yirTzu yiṯ·raṣ·ṣeh yiṯraṣṣeh yitratzTzehLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 33:10 HEB: פְּנֵ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים וַתִּרְצֵֽנִי׃ NAS: of God, and you have received me favorably. KJV: of God, and thou wast pleased with me. INT: the face of God have received Leviticus 1:4 Leviticus 7:18 Leviticus 19:7 Leviticus 22:23 Leviticus 22:25 Leviticus 22:27 Leviticus 26:34 Leviticus 26:34 Leviticus 26:41 Leviticus 26:43 Leviticus 26:43 Deuteronomy 33:11 Deuteronomy 33:24 1 Samuel 29:4 2 Samuel 24:23 1 Chronicles 28:4 1 Chronicles 29:3 1 Chronicles 29:17 2 Chronicles 10:7 2 Chronicles 36:21 Esther 10:3 Job 14:6 Job 20:10 Job 33:26 57 Occurrences |
    |