ἀνθρωπ-άρεσκος G0441
men-pleasers, those who seek to please people rather than God; one who performs service to curry human favor
This compound noun describes people who serve to please humans rather than God. Paul uses it in parallel passages addressing slaves: Ephesians 6:6 and Colossians 3:22. In both contexts, he contrasts superficial eye-service done to please masters with sincere service done for Christ. The term carries negative connotation—implying manipulation or insincerity in service motivated by human approval rather than divine calling. Translations (Spanish agradadores-de-hombres, German menschengefaellig) capture the pejorative sense of servile flattery.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both Pauline uses warn slaves against service performed merely when masters are watching—eye-service aimed at human favor. The alternative is serving as slaves of Christ, doing God's will from the heart. The compound ἀνθρωπάρεσκος combines ἄνθρωπος (human) and ἀρέσκω (to please), creating a word that diagnoses the spiritual danger of performing for human audiences. Paul's concern is authenticity: whether service flows from fear of human judgment or love for God. 2×
AR["مُرضي-النّاسِ"]·ben["মানুষ-তুষ্টিকারী"]·DE["menschengefaellig"]·EN["men-pleasers"]·FR["ἀνθρωπάρεσκοι"]·heb["מְחַנְּפֵי-אָדָם", "מְחַנְּפֵי-אָדָם;"]·HI["मनुश्योन-को-प्रसन्न-करने-वअले"]·ID["penyenang manusia", "yang-menyenangkan-manusia;"]·IT["anthrōpareskoi"]·jav["ingkang-nyenengaken-manungsa", "tiyang-remen-tiyang;"]·KO["사람-기쁘게-하는-자들", "사람을-기쁘게-하는-자들"]·PT["agradadores-de-homens", "que-agradam-a-homens;"]·RU["человекоугодники", "человекоугодники;"]·ES["agradadores-de-hombres", "hombres-que-agradan"]·SW["wapendeza-watu", "wapendezao-wanadamu"]·TR["insan-memnun-edenler", "insanlari-memnun-edenler"]·urd["آدمیوں-کو-خوش-کرنے-والے"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀνθρωπ-άρεσκος [ᾰρ], ὁ, man-pleaser, LXX+NT