Hebrew word · H2974

יָאַל

vaiyo'el

be willing

The verb יָאַל appears only in the hiphil stem. Its meanings: to decide to, to resolve, to undertake, to set about doing something, to be willing or pleased to do it. The common thread is a decision to go ahead with something.

Appears 19 times in 19 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) to begin, make a beginning, show willingness, undertake to do, be pleased, be determined

1a) (Hiphil)

1a1) to agree to, show willingness, acquiesce, accept an invitation, be willing

1a2) to undertake

1a3) to resolve, be pleased, be determined

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Genesis 18:31

Range of meaning

The verb יָאַל appears only in the hiphil stem. Its meanings: to decide to, to resolve, to undertake, to set about doing something, to be willing or pleased to do it. It is used of a host's willingness ('be pleased to stay', Judg 19:6; 2 Kgs 5:23 'be pleased to take'), of starting a task (Deut 1:5, Moses 'undertook' to explain the law), and of resolving on a course (Josh 7:7, 'if only we had been content'). The common thread is a decision to go ahead with something.

Against the English

BSB and NASB have 'ventured'; ESV 'undertaken'; KJV and WEB 'taken upon me/myself'; NIV 'been so bold'; YLT 'willed'. 'Ventured' and 'been so bold' catch the tone of risk. 'Undertaken' and 'taken upon me' keep closer to the core idea of having resolved to do something. YLT's 'willed' is too thin.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDB groups the occurrences under 'show willingness, undertake'. HALOT gives 'to decide, to be determined, to undertake'. The Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation) seems to have linked the word to the idea of beginning: in v.27 it renders 'now I have begun to speak'. The Latin Vulgate does the same with 'quia semel coepi' ('since I have once begun').

From the study of 1 Samuel 12:22

Range of meaning

Found only in the hiphil form, which turns the verb into deliberate action: to show willingness, agree, resolve, undertake, take it upon oneself, venture. BDB gives "show willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake". HALOT gives "make up one's mind, undertake, be determined".

Against the English

KJV/WEB/ESV: "it (hath) pleased the LORD". BSB/NIV/NASB: "was/has been pleased". In 1611 English, "it pleased him" meant "he saw fit, he chose". Modern ears hear "it made him happy". The Hebrew stresses a willing, deliberate decision to take something on, more than an emotion.

How it drifted

"Please" has narrowed. The older sense of willing or choosing ("as you please", "if it please the court") has given way to the sense of gratification.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 18:27, 31: Abraham, "I have undertaken to speak to the Lord". Deut 1:5: "Moses undertook to expound this law". Josh 7:7: "if only we had been content to stay". Judg 17:11: the Levite "agreed to stay". 2 Sam 7:29: David prays, "be pleased to bless", i.e. "be willing to". Hos 5:11: Ephraim "was determined to go after" (a futile course). The Greek translation (LXX) of this verse renders it with epieikōs, "graciously, kindly".

From the study of Genesis 18:27

Range of meaning

In the causative form used here, the verb means 'to resolve, make up one's mind, undertake, take it upon oneself, consent, be pleased to do'. It describes someone choosing to do something that is not required of them and may be beyond their place. Lexicons such as HALOT and BDB keep it apart from a similar-looking root meaning 'to be foolish' (Num 12:11; Isa 19:13), though some older scholars tried to connect the two.

Against the English

KJV 'taken upon me', ESV 'undertaken', BSB/NASB 'ventured', NIV 'been so bold', YLT 'willed'. 'Ventured' and 'been so bold' catch the sense of daring best. 'Undertaken' sounds like a formal task, and 'willed' sounds weak in modern English.

Used elsewhere in the period

Abraham uses it again in Gen 18:31. Moses 'undertook to explain this law' (Deut 1:5). Joshua complains, 'if only we had been content to stay' (Josh 7:7). The Levite 'agreed' to stay with Micah (Judg 17:11). 'Be willing to stay the night' (Judg 19:6). 'The LORD has been pleased to make you his people' (1 Sam 12:22). Job says 'be pleased to look at me' (Job 6:28). The Greek Septuagint renders it here as ēr-xamēn, 'I have begun', and the Latin Vulgate as 'since I have once begun'. Both read it as starting something one now has to finish.

Where it appears

Genesis · 2

  1. Genesis 18:27 הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ I have undertaken

    Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes—

    Here: 'I have made up my mind to / I have taken it on myself to.' A form describing a finished act: Abraham has already crossed the line of speaking boldly to God and owns up to it. It carries a sense of daring, of presuming beyond one's place.

  2. Genesis 18:31 הוֹאַ֙לְתִּי֙ I have undertaken

    And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.”

    Here: 'I have made up my mind to,' 'I have dared to.' Abraham admits he has already gone further than his place would allow, and he says it as an apology. He used the same words in v.27.

Exodus · 1

  1. Exodus 2:21 וַיּ֥וֹאֶל and he was willing

    Moses agreed to stay with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses in marriage.

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 1:5 הוֹאִ֣יל he undertook

    On the east side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying:

Joshua · 2

  1. Joshua 7:7 הוֹאַ֣לְנוּ we had been willing

    “O, Lord GOD,” Joshua said, “why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be destroyed? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!

    Here: 'We had agreed, made up our minds, settled for it.' Paired with 'stay', it is a fixed expression for agreeing to settle somewhere (Exod 2:21; Judg 17:11).

  2. Joshua 17:12 וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ and he was determined

    But the descendants of Manasseh were unable to occupy these cities, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in this land.

    Here: 'He set himself to', 'he made up his mind to'. The subject is the Canaanite population taken as one. The word shows a will at work on the Canaanite side, which explains the failure in the first half of the verse.

Judges · 4

  1. Judges 1:27 וַיּ֙וֹאֶל֙ and it was determined

    At that time Manasseh failed to drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo, and their villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in that land.

    Here: The Canaanite is now the one acting: he 'was willing' or 'resolved' to stay. The word itself can be mild or firm, and the context here points toward a settled intention to remain. The Hebrew says only 'and', so 'for', 'but' and 'so' in English are the translators' inferences.

  2. Judges 1:35 וַיּ֤וֹאֶל and it was determined

    And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim. But when the house of Joseph grew in strength, they pressed the Amorites into forced labor.

  3. Judges 17:11 וַיּ֥וֹאֶל and he was willing

    and agreed to stay with him, and the young man became like a son to Micah.

    Here: This form of the verb means to make up your mind to do something, to consent or undertake it. The Levite accepts Micah's job offer. The exact same phrase, 'agreed to dwell with the man', is used of Moses in Exodus 2:21.

  4. Judges 19:6 הֽוֹאֶל־ be willing

    So they sat down and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the girl’s father said to the man, “Please agree to stay overnight and let your heart be merry.”

1 Samuel · 2

  1. 1 Samuel 12:22 הוֹאִ֣יל he was determined

    Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

    Here: "He resolved / took it upon himself": a free, deliberate decision to start something. The perfect form looks back on a decision already made, at the exodus and Sinai.

  2. 1 Samuel 17:39 וַיֹּ֣אֶל and he fell short

    David strapped his sword over the tunic and tried to walk, but he was not accustomed to them. “I cannot walk in these,” David said to Saul. “I am not accustomed to them.” So David took them off.

2 Samuel · 1

  1. 2 Samuel 7:29 הוֹאֵל֙ be willing

    Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

2 Kings · 2

  1. 2 Kings 5:23 הוֹאֵ֖ל be willing

    But Naaman insisted, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged Gehazi to accept them. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags along with two sets of clothing and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

  2. 2 Kings 6:3 ה֥וֹאֶל be willing

    Then one of them said, “Please come with your servants.” “I will come,” he replied.

1 Chronicles · 1

  1. 1 Chronicles 17:27 הוֹאַ֙לְתָּ֙ you have determined

    So now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

Job · 2

  1. Job 6:9 וְיֹאֵ֣ל and may he be willing

    that God would be willing to crush me, to unleash His hand and cut me off!

  2. Job 6:28 הוֹאִ֣ילוּ be willing

    But now, please look at me. Would I lie to your face?

Hosea · 1

  1. Hosea 5:11 הוֹאִ֔יל he was determined

    Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.