ἀρέσκω

ἀρέσκω impf. ἤρεσκον; fut. ἀρέσω; 1 aor. ἤρεσα. Mid. impf. ἠρέσκετο (Tat. 2, 1) (s. ἀρεσκεία; Hom.+). In Gk. lit. ἀ. is used in a variety of senses ranging from conciliatory action (s. Od. 22, 55, of satisfaction pledged to Odysseus) to undertaking of civic responsibility that meets with public approval (s. 2 below). Most oft. w. dat. of pers.

① to act in a fawning manner, win favor, please, flatter, w. focus on the winning of approval (Aristot., EN 2, 7, 13; 4, 6, 1; Theophr., Char. 5 [e.g. in a dispute the flatterer endeavors to please friend and foe alike; and he will tell foreigners that they speak with greater sense of justice than do his fellow citizens]. That the original sense of basic civility in human relations [s. 2a below] suffered debasement is affirmed by Anaxandrides Com., cited Athen. 6, 255b: τὸ γαρ κολακεύειν νῦν ἀρέσκειν ὄνομʼ ἔχει ‘flattery’ is now called ‘being accommodating’; s. ἀνθρωπαρεσκέω, ἀνθρωπάρεσκος) ἀνθρώποις (Pla., Ep. 4, 321b; Simplicius in Epict. p. 118, 30 ἀρέσκειν ἀνθρώποις βουλόμενος) Gal 1:10ab (conative impf.); 1 Th 2:4 here in both a neg. and a positive sense: ‘flattering’ humans, but ‘pleasing’ God (in the sense of 2 below), who tests (δοκιμάζω) for motivation.

② to give pleasure/satisfaction, please, accommodate.

ⓐ a favored term in the reciprocity-conscious Mediterranean world, and frequently used in honorary documents to express interest in accommodating others by meeting their needs or carrying out important obligations. Oft. almost serve Nägeli 40. The use of the term in a good sense in our lit. contributes a tone of special worth and diginity to some of the relationships that are depicted. τινί someone τῷ πλησίον Ro 15:2 (w. τὸ ἀγαθόν and οἰκοδομή as decisive semantic components); cp. Hs 5, 2, 7 a servant doing good work. Lord/God ἀ. τ. κυρίῳ 1 Cor 7:32; 1 Th 4:1; inability to do so Ro 8:8; cp. 1 Th 2:15; rather than humans 1 Th 2:4 (s. 1 above); IRo 2:1 (note the semantic problem cited 1 above). God/Lord as commander (military imagery) IPol 6:2; cp. 2 Ti 2:4.—Concern for a broad public is a common theme in honorary documents (e.g. OGI 339, 29f; s. Danker, Benefactor 336f) and other lit. (cp. Demosth., Ep. 3, 27 πᾶσιν ἀ.; Ath. 26:1 τοῖς πολλοῖς ἀρέσκοντες θεοί) πάντα πᾶσιν ἀ. in everything I endeavor to please all, i.e. without deference to one at the expense of another, 1 Cor 10:33 (w. σύμφορον, q.v., along w. συμφέρω, for cultural significance); sim. κατὰ πάντα τρόπον πᾶσιν ἀ. ITr 2:3. (Cp. the negative appraisal 1 Th 2:15.)—Sacrifice of self-interest is a major component of the foregoing theme, hence the caution μὴ ἑαυτῷ ἀ. Ro 15:1, and the exhibition of Jesus as role model vs. 3; cp. 2 Cl 13:1 (w. ἀνθρωπάρεσκος s. 1 above); Hs 9, 22, 1; in a marriage relationship, wife or husband ἀ. τ. γυναικί 1 Cor 7:33; ἀ. τ. ἄνδρι vs. 34.

ⓑ of pleasure (without any suggestion of mere amusement) as a condition generated by an action (cp. POxy 1153, 25 ἐὰν αὐτῷ ἀρέσκῃ; PGiss 20, 15). A fine line cannot always be drawn between a focus on endeavor to please and focus on the impact of pleasure produced by the activity. Some of the pass. cited in 2a may equally belong here and some of those included here could be cited above. But the gener. sense in those that follow is satisfaction produced by the behavior of another please God ἀ. θεῷ (Theopomp. [IV B.C.]: 115 Fgm. 344 Jac. τ. θεοῖς ἀ. here the concern is to meet divine expectations; Num 23:27; Ps 68:32; Mal 3:4; Jos., Ant. 6, 164; 13, 289) Ro 8:8; 1 Th 2:15; cp. Hs 5, 2, 7; ἀ. τ. κυρίῳ 1 Cor 7:32 (on these four last pass. s. also a above); 1 Cl 52, 2 (Ps 68, 32); wife/husband 1 Cor 7:33f (s. a above); 2 Ti 2:4; Herod Mt 14:6; Mk 6:22. W. focus on someth. that provides pleasure (Ael. Aristid. 46, 380 D.: θεοῖς ἀρέσκοντα) Hv 1, 4, 2; Hs 5, 6, 6. ἤρεσεν ὁ λόγος ἐνώπιον (for בְּעֵינֵי or לִפְנֵי) τοῦ πλήθους (= τῷ πλήθει) the saying pleased the whole group (cp. 2 Ch 30:4; 1 Macc 6:60; 8:21; Jos., Vi. 238) Ac 6:5 (B-D-F §4, p. 4, 5; 187, 2; 214, 6).—Salome, daughter of Herodias, pleases Herod and his company, and in keeping w. Mediterranean reciprocity system receives her award, in this instance a grisly one Mt 14:6; Mk 6:22.—Implied, i.e. impers. (Philo, Aet. M. 87; Jos., Ant. 14, 205; 207) ἀρέσκει μοι it pleases me (=mihi placet) w. inf. foll. (Hdt. 8, 19; Josh 24:15; 1 Macc 14:23; 15:19; Jos., Ant. 14, 352) Hm 6, 1, 5.—B. 1099. DELG. M-M. TW. Sv.