ἀρέσκωaréskō
to be agreeable (or by implication, to seek to be so)
Greek (New Testament) · G700
Meanings
1. to please: with dative of person, Matthew 14:6, Mark 6:22, Romans 8:8, Romans 15:2, 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Corinthians 7:32, 1 Corinthians 7:33, 1 Corinthians 7:34, Galatians 1:10, 2 Timothy 2:4; followed by ἐνώπιον (= Heb. בּעֵנֵי, Bl., § 37, 1; 40, 7), Acts 6:5.
2. In late Gk., especially in Inscr., to render service to (see M, Th., ICC, 1 Corinthians 7:32, 1 Corinthians 7:33, 1 Corinthians 7:34; Cremer, 640 f.); Romans 15:1, Romans 15:3, 1 Corinthians 10:33, 1 Thessalonians 2:4.
Same root
- αἴρωaírō · G142to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebraism (compare H05375) to expiate sin
- ἀνθρωπάρεσκοςanthrōpáreskos · G441man-courting, i.e. fawning
- ἀρεστόςarestós · G701agreeable; by implication, fit
- ἀρεσκείαareskeía · G699complaisance
Where it appears
Appears 17 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 14:6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him,
- Mark 6:22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.”
- Acts 6:5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
- Romans 8:8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
- Romans 15:1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.
- Romans 15:2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.