H2974 H2974
Be willing, consent, be pleased to do; determine, resolve, undertake; venture, dare (with humility before a superior).
The Hiphil of ya'al captures three shades of volition — from gracious willingness through firm resolve to humble daring. In its most common use (12 occurrences), it simply means 'be willing' or 'consent': Moses was content to dwell with Jethro in Midian (Exod 2:21), and God was not willing to destroy his people (1 Sam 12:22). Spanish consentir and French consentir both mirror this willingness. But ya'al also carries a sterner note of determination: the Canaanites 'were determined' to dwell in the land despite Israel's advance (Judg 1:27, 35), and Moses 'undertook' to expound the Torah (Deut 1:5). Most memorably, Abraham twice uses the venture sense when he dares to address God: 'I have ventured to speak to the Lord, though I am but dust and ashes' (Gen 18:27, 31) — a delicate blend of boldness and self-abasement that German ich habe es gewagt ('I have dared it') captures perfectly.
Senses
1. be willing, consent, be pleased — Being willing, consenting, or being pleased to do something — expressing gracious agreement or contentment to undertake an action, often with overtones of condescension or acquiescence. This dominant sense (12 occurrences) spans from Moses being 'content to dwell' with Jethro (Exod 2:21) to the Levite being 'content to stay' as a household priest (Judg 17:11), Naaman asking Gehazi to 'please accept' silver (2 Kgs 5:23), and God not being 'willing' to destroy Israel (1 Sam 12:22; 2 Kgs 5:23). Spanish consentir/quiso, French consentir, and German bereit sein/einwilligen all cluster around willing agreement. The imperative 'Be pleased!' in Judg 19:6 and 2 Sam 7:29 adds a polite-request dimension. 12×
AR["ارْتَضِ", "ارْضَوْا", "اِرْضَ", "تَفَضَّلْ", "تَنازَل", "رَضينا", "رَضِيتَ", "سُرَّ", "فَ-رَضِيَ", "قَبِلَ", "وَلِيَرْضَى"]·ben["khushi-kori-nāo", "এবং-রাজি-হলেন", "এবং-সম্মত-হন", "ও-ইচ্ছুক-হল", "রাজি-হও", "সন্তুষ্ট-হও", "সন্তুষ্ট-হয়েছে", "সন্তুষ্ট-হয়েছেন", "সম্মত-হও", "সম্মত-হতাম"]·DE["[הואיל]", "[הואילו]", "[הואלת]", "[ויאל]", "er-war-pleased", "sein-bereit", "sein-pleased", "sein-willig", "und-er-war-content", "und-war-content", "wir-hatte-gewesen-willig"]·EN["and-he-was-content", "and-was-content", "and-would-be-willing", "be-pleased", "be-willing", "he-was-pleased", "he-willingly", "we-had-been-willing", "you-were-pleased"]·FR["[הואלת]", "consentir", "et-il-était-content", "et-était-content", "et-ויאל", "il-fut-pleased", "nous-avait-été-disposé", "être-disposé", "être-pleased", "הואילו"]·heb["הואיל", "הואילו", "הואל", "הואלנו", "הואלת", "ו-הואיל", "ו-יואל"]·HI["और-चाहे", "और-राज़ी-हुआ", "कृपा-करके", "चाहो", "प्रसन्न-था", "प्रसन्न-हुआ", "प्रसन्न-हुआ-है", "प्रसन्न-हो", "स्वीकार-कर", "हम-राजी-होते", "होएल"]·ID["Dan-Musa-setuju", "Dan-bersedia", "Dan-rela", "Engkau-berkenan", "Silakan", "TUHAN-berkenan", "berkenanlah", "bersedialah-", "dia-berkeras", "kami-mau", "relakanlah"]·IT["[הואיל]", "[הואלת]", "be-willing", "e-e-would-be-willing", "e-egli-fu-content", "e-fu-content", "egli-era-compiaciuto", "essere-compiaciuto", "essere-disposto", "essere-willing", "noi-ebbe-stato-willing"]·jav["Lan-kersa", "Lan-sarujuk", "Sumangga", "kaparengna", "karsa", "kawula-sarujuk", "kersa", "kersa-", "kersa-Panjenengan", "lan-kersa", "mugi-kersa", "remen"]·KO["그리고-기꺼이하시기를", "그리고-동의했다", "기꺼이", "기꺼이-하라", "기뻐하소서", "기뽐하셨다", "동의하라", "맞추어", "시작하셨다", "원하소서", "원하였더라면"]·PT["E-concordou", "E-consentiu", "agradou", "consente", "consente-", "dignai-vos", "e-quisesse", "queiras", "quiseste", "resolveu", "tivéssemos-consentido"]·RU["И-согласился", "если-бы-мы-согласились", "захотел", "и-согласился-бы", "начни", "пожалуйста", "соблаговолил-Ты", "соблаговолите", "согласись", "соизволил"]·ES["Consiente", "Consíntelo", "Y-consintiera", "Y-consintió", "dignaos", "dígnate", "hubiéramos-consentido", "le-plugo", "tuviste-a-bien", "voluntariamente"]·SW["Kubali", "Na-akakubali", "alikubali", "imempendeza", "na-angekubali", "tafadhali", "tafadhali-kubali", "tungelikubali", "ukubali", "umekubali"]·TR["Ve-razı-oldu", "hoşnut-oldu", "lutfen", "lütfedin", "lütfen", "razı-ol-", "razı-oldu", "razı-oldun", "razı-olsaydık", "ve-istese"]·urd["اور-راضی-ہوا", "اور-چاہے", "تو-نے-چاہا-ہے", "راضی-ہو", "راضی-ہوتے-ہم", "رضامند-ہو", "چاہا"]
2. determine, resolve, undertake — Determining, resolving, or undertaking to begin a significant action — emphasizing the decisive initiation rather than mere willingness. Five occurrences mark deliberate commencements: Moses 'undertook' to expound the Torah across the Jordan (Deut 1:5), the Canaanites and Amorites 'were determined' to hold their territory (Josh 17:12; Judg 1:27, 35), and Saul 'set about' putting on David's armor (1 Sam 17:39). Spanish comenzar/quiso and the shift in several translations from 'was willing' to 'undertook' signal the added force of resolve. The distinction from sense 1 is that here the subject does not merely agree but actively initiates. 5×
AR["شَرَعَ", "وَ-حَاوَلَ", "وَ-عَزَمَ"]·ben["এবং-রাজি-হল", "এবং-সন্তুষ্ট-হল", "এবং-সম্মত-হল", "শুরু-করলেন"]·DE["und-determined", "und-er-war-bereit", "und-war-determined", "undertook"]·EN["and-determined", "and-he-was-willing", "and-was-determined", "undertook"]·FR["et-determined", "et-il-fut-disposé", "et-était-determined", "undertook"]·heb["הואיל", "ו-הואיל", "ו-ניסה"]·HI["आरम्भ-किया", "और-कोशिश-कि", "और-ठाना", "और-लगा"]·ID["Dan-bertekunlah", "dan-berkeras", "dan-bertekunlah", "dan-dia-berusaha", "mulai"]·IT["e-determined", "e-egli-era-disposto", "e-fu-determined", "undertook"]·jav["Lan-purun", "dipunwiwiti", "lan-nekat", "lan-nyobi", "lan-purun"]·KO["그리고-감행했다", "그리고-결심하였다", "그리고-시도했다", "시작하였다"]·PT["E-quis", "começou", "e-insistiu", "e-quis", "e-tentou"]·RU["И-начал", "и-начал", "и-попытался", "и-решил", "начал"]·ES["Y-quiso", "comenzó", "y-quiso"]·SW["alianza", "na-akajaribu", "na-wakaamua", "na-wakaazimia"]·TR["başladı", "ve-denedi", "ve-kararladı", "ve-kararlıydı"]·urd["اور-پکڑا", "اور-چاہا", "شروع-کیا"]
3. venture, dare — Venturing or daring to do something presumptuous, carrying a nuance of humble boldness before a superior. Only 2 occurrences, but both are among the most memorable dialogues in Genesis: Abraham interceding for Sodom says, 'I have ventured to speak to the Lord, though I am but dust and ashes' (Gen 18:27), and repeats, 'Let not the Lord be angry, and I will venture to speak just once more' (Gen 18:31). Spanish he osado ('I have dared'), German ich habe es gewagt, and French j'ai osé all shift to audacity vocabulary. Abraham's self-deprecating 'dust and ashes' alongside his persistent intercession makes this a quintessential example of reverent boldness. 2×
AR["تَجَاسَرْتُ"]·ben["সাহস-করেছি"]·DE["ich-habe-es-gewagt"]·EN["I-have-ventured"]·FR["Je-avoir-ventured"]·heb["הואלתי"]·HI["मैने-हिम्मत-कि"]·ID["berani-aku"]·IT["io-avere-ventured"]·jav["kula-sampun-wanton"]·KO["내가-감히-했다"]·PT["ousei"]·RU["решился-я"]·ES["he-osado"]·SW["nimethubutu"]·TR["cesaret-ettim"]·urd["جرأت-کی-ہے-میں-نے"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)G2309 1. want, desire (166×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† II. [יָאַל] vb. only Hiph. shew willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake to do anything (and do it) (v. Ki Thes; Arabic وَأَلَ is take refuge with, escape, hasten to a place; cf. II. אול be in front of, NöMBAk 1880, 775; Sab. ואל in n.pr. מואלת DHMEpigr. Denkm. 53; perhaps Assyrian âlû, accept, LyonSargontexte 72)— Hiph. Pf. 3 ms. הוֹאִיל Ho 5:11 + 2 times; 2 ms. הוֹאַלְתָּ 1 Ch 17:27; 1…