εὐδοκία

From the study of Ephesians 1:5

Range of meaning

Goodwill, favour, approval; what seems good to someone; a gracious intention or choice. It comes from eu ('well') + dokeō ('to seem, think'): 'what seemed good'.

Against the English

Most versions have 'good pleasure', which is accurate in older English ('as it pleases him' = as he chooses). Modern readers may hear 'pleasure' as enjoyment or a whim. NLT's 'it gave him great pleasure' leans toward that emotional sense.

How it drifted

In older English 'pleasure' meant will or choice ('at the King's pleasure'). That sense has mostly faded, leaving 'enjoyment'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mostly found in Jewish and Christian Greek. In the Septuagint it often renders Hebrew ratson, 'favour, acceptance, will' (e.g. Ps 51:18 [LXX 50:20]; frequent in Sirach). In the NT see Luke 2:14 (people of his 'favour'), Matt 11:26, Phil 2:13. The Dead Sea Scrolls speak of 'the sons of his good pleasure' (bene retsono) and say things are done 'according to his good pleasure' (kirtsono). Scholars such as K. G. Kuhn have noted how Ephesians' heaped-up phrases resemble Qumran Hebrew style.

From the study of Ephesians 1:9

Range of meaning

Goodwill, favour, approval. A resolve that comes from kindly intention, or 'what seemed good' to someone. The word is almost entirely Jewish and Christian. It translates the Hebrew ratson (favour, acceptance, will) in the Greek Psalms and in Sirach. The word combines two things: a free decision and a benevolent attitude.

Against the English

'Good pleasure' (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT) is an old idiom for 'what someone freely chose'. Modern readers can hear 'pleasure' as enjoyment, or as arbitrary preference ('at the king's pleasure'). NASB's 'kind intention' brings out the goodwill. ESV's 'purpose' keeps the idea of a decision but loses the warmth.

How it drifted

Since the 1500s the English phrase has lost its sense of 'favourable will' and now leans toward 'gratification' or 'whim'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 144(145):16 LXX ('you satisfy every living thing with eudokia', meaning favour). Luke 2:14 has 'people of his eudokia', meaning those God favours. Its Hebrew counterpart bene retsono, 'sons of his favour', appears in the Thanksgiving Hymns (1QH). Matt 11:26 has 'this was your eudokia', meaning this is what seemed good to you. Eph 1:5 has 'according to the eudokia of his will'.

From the study of Luke 10:21

Range of meaning

Good pleasure, goodwill, gracious will, favour: what someone freely decides because it delights them. Used of God, it means his sovereign, kindly choice.

Against the English

KJV “it seemed good in thy sight” can sound like a passing opinion. ESV “your gracious will” and NASB/BSB/WEB “well-pleasing” convey a deliberate, delighted decision. NIV “what you were pleased to do” is good.

How it drifted

“Seemed good” in modern English sounds tentative, though in 1611 it meant ‘was judged good, was decided’.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 2:14, ‘among people of his good pleasure (εὐδοκίας)’, matches the Dead Sea phrase ‘sons of his good pleasure’ (1QH), meaning those God has graciously chosen. In the Greek Psalms the related verb describes God taking delight (Ps 149:4, ‘the Lord takes pleasure in his people’).