Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Bryant J. Williams III" <bjwvmw AT com-pair.net>]

Dear George,

I do think you may be right here since the LXX uses EUDOKHSEN (from EUDOKEW),
"to think well, approve, acquiesce, take delight or pleasure." Colin Brown,
NIDNTT, Vol. II, pp. 817-8,
    "In the LXX EUDOKEW occurs 60 times. Where there is an underlying Heb. 
text,
it generally trans. RAZAH,, to take pleasure in, like, enjoy, decide upon,
elect, and denotes a passionate and positive volition. The godly man rejoices
over the sanctuary (I Chr. 29:3; Ps. 102[101]:15), and in works of truth (1 
Esd.
4:39). One decides for Alexander Balas (I Macc. 10:47), elects Simon as leader
(I Macc. 14:41). One is lenient and indulgent (2 Chr. 10:7; Sir. 18:31). With 
a
negative it means to psurn (Hab. 2:4).
    "Yahweh takes pleasure in his people (Ps. 44[43]:4; 149:4), in a pious man
(2 Sam. 22:20), in those who fear him (Ps. 147[146]:11). A man prays that it 
may
please Yahweh to deliver him (ps 40[39]:13). On the other hand, Yahweh has
pleasure in the calf (i.e. the strength) of a man's leg (Ps. 147[146]:10), nor
in anyone who does evil (Mal. 2:17). A penitent mind is more pleasing to 
Yahweh
than a >>sacrifice (Ps. 51:16ff[50:18ff.]; Jer. 14:12).
BDB, p. 958, "1. be please with, favourable to: a. of God, c. acc. pers. Is
42:1; Pss 44:4, 147:11; Job 33:26; c. acc. rei Ps 85:2; I Ch 29:17; Pr 16:7; 
Ec
9:7." See also TWOT, Vol. II, p. 859, "be pleased with, be favorable to."

On page 818 refernece is made to several DSS with the idea, "Good pleasure is
aterm of electing and predestrinanrian  thought" (J> Maier, Die Texte vom 
Toten
Meer, II, 1960, 105). It is thus not a matter of the good will of men, but of
the men who God has chosen >>specifically, the members of the Qumran 
community."

See BDB, P. 953, "1.  be pleased with, favourable to: a. fo God, c. acc. pers.
Is 32:1; Pss44:4, 147:11, Jb 33:26; c. acc. rei Ps 85;2, I Ch 29:3, Pr 16:7, 
Ec
9:7." See also, TWOT, Vol. II, p. 859.

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Athas" <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>
To: "B-Hebrew" <b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 12:20 PM
Subject: [b-hebrew] Qohelet 9.7 - רצה


> Qohelet 9.7 reads:
>
>
> ‏‏ לֵ֣ךְ אֱכֹ֤ל בְּשִׂמְחָה֙ לַחְמֶ֔ךָ וּֽשֲׁתֵ֥ה בְלֶב־ט֖וֹב יֵינֶ֑ךָ כִּ֣י
כְבָ֔ר רָצָ֥ה הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶֽת־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃
>
> I'm interested to hear from others about how they see the final clause 
> working
here. Almost all English versions go for something like '…for God has already
accepted your works'. This understands the verb רצה as meaning 'to accept', or
'to approve'. However, this seems to go against the context in my opinion.
Qohelet is known for producing tensions in his discussion, but they are 
usually
contextual and can be upheld. This one seems to defy that principle.
>
> The idea I'm toying with is that the verb רצה indicates the subject making a
decision for something—wanting something. The verb makes no express statement
about the objective merit of an external thing that would cause the subject to
make a decision, even though it might be used in a situation where an external
object impels the subject to 'like' or 'accept' it. But that is beside the
point. The point of the verb is to focus on the subject's positive decision
about something. In this case, it would read something like '…for God has
already decided your works'. This would be an expression of divine 
determinism,
which in the context would be entirely appropriate.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
> GEORGE ATHAS
> Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
> www.moore.edu.au
>
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>


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