A gratifying emotion, used in Scripture to refer to both human and divine emotions. Believers are invited to take pleasure in every aspect of God's creation, while not allowing pleasure in the creation to overshadow pleasure in the Creator himself.
Divine pleasure
That which gives God pleasure
Psalm 147:11; Jeremiah 9:24 See also Psalm 37:23, Psalm 149:4; Proverbs 11:20, Proverbs 12:22; Matthew 11:25–26 parallel Luke 10:21; Matthew 12:18; Isaiah 42:1; Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 1:9
The LORD is pleased with those who fear Him, who hope in His loving devotion.
But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth — for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
That which does not give God pleasure
Psalm 5:4; Ezekiel 18:23 See also Psalm 51:16, Psalm 147:10; Isaiah 1:11; Ezekiel 18:32, Ezekiel 33:11
For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; no evil can dwell with You.
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
Human pleasure
God provides everything for the enjoyment of life
Ecclesiastes 8:15; 1 Timothy 6:17
So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this joy will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun.
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
Pleasure in human physical relationships
Song of Solomon 4:10 See also Song of Solomon 1:2, Song of Solomon 2:3, Song of Solomon 7:6
How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.
Such pleasures are not satisfying in themselves
Ecclesiastes 2:10–11 See also Ecclesiastes 2:1–2, Ecclesiastes 2:24–25
Anything my eyes desired, I did not deny myself. I refused my heart no pleasure. For my heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I considered all the works that my hands had accomplished and what I had toiled to achieve, I found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind; there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
True pleasure is found in the things of God
Psalm 16:11, Psalm 37:4; Romans 7:22 See also Psalm 1:2, Psalm 35:9, Psalm 43:4, Psalm 111:2, Psalm 112:1, Psalm 119:16; Proverbs 10:23, Proverbs 16:13, Proverbs 18:2; Isaiah 55:2; Jeremiah 6:10, Jeremiah 15:16
You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.
Pleasures may also be misleading or positively sinful
Luke 8:14; Titus 3:3 See also Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 2:14; Ecclesiastes 7:4; Isaiah 66:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Timothy 5:6; 2 Timothy 3:4; Hebrews 11:25; James 4:3; 2 Peter 2:13–14
The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures — living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.