The concept of "appease" in the biblical context often involves the idea of pacifying anger or wrath, particularly that of God, through specific actions or offerings. This term is closely related to the notions of atonement, reconciliation, and propitiation, which are central themes in the Bible.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of appeasing God's wrath is frequently associated with sacrifices and offerings. The sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law was a means by which the Israelites could atone for their sins and restore their relationship with God. Leviticus 1-7 outlines various offerings, including burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings, which were intended to appease God's righteous anger against sin.

One notable example is found in the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, fearing Esau's wrath, sought to appease him with gifts. Genesis 32:20 states, "And you are to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’ For he thought, ‘I will appease him with these gifts that are going before me. After that I can face him, and perhaps he will accept me.’" Here, the act of appeasement is seen in the context of human relationships, reflecting a broader principle of reconciliation.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of appeasement is transformed through the work of Jesus Christ. The sacrificial death of Christ is presented as the ultimate means of appeasing God's wrath against sin. Romans 3:25 states, "God presented Him as the atoning sacrifice through faith in His blood, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand." The term "atoning sacrifice" (often translated as "propitiation") indicates that Christ's sacrifice satisfies the demands of God's justice, thus appeasing His wrath.

The Epistle to the Hebrews further elaborates on this theme, emphasizing that the sacrifices of the Old Covenant were insufficient to fully appease God's wrath, but Christ's once-for-all sacrifice is entirely sufficient (Hebrews 10:1-14). This underscores the belief that true appeasement of divine wrath is achieved not through human efforts or offerings, but through faith in the redemptive work of Jesus.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of appeasement in the Bible underscores the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. It highlights the necessity of a mediator who can bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament pointed forward to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who, as both God and man, is uniquely qualified to appease God's wrath and reconcile humanity to Him.

The idea of appeasement also emphasizes God's love and mercy. While God's justice demands satisfaction for sin, His love provides the means of appeasement through the sacrifice of His Son. This dual aspect of God's character—His justice and His mercy—is a central theme in Christian theology and is vividly portrayed in the doctrine of atonement.

In summary, the biblical concept of appease involves the pacification of divine wrath through sacrifice, culminating in the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the ultimate atoning sacrifice. This reflects the profound truth of God's justice and mercy, offering believers the assurance of reconciliation with God through faith in Christ.(v. t.) To pacify; to dispel anger or hatred; to make quiet; to calm; as to appease hunger or thirst; to reduce to a state of peace; to still; as, to appease the tumult of the ocean, or of the passions.APPEASE

a-pez': "To make one at peace." Esau is appeased, i.e. placated, won over by means of presents (Genesis 32:20). One "slow to anger appeaseth strife," i.e. puts an end to it (Proverbs 15:18). the Revised Version (British and American) changes "appeased" of the King James Version in Acts 19:35 into "quieted" (Greek katastello, "put down," "suppress," "restrain," referring to a popular commotion).

2687. katastello -- to keep down
... to keep down. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katastello Phonetic Spelling:
(kat-as-tel'-lo) Short Definition: I appease, restrain Definition: I let down ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2687.htm - 6k

2433. hilaskomai -- to be propitious, make propitiation for
... divine wrath on sin") -- properly, to extend , showing mercy by satisfying (literally,
propitiating) the wrath of God on sin; "to conciliate, appease, (so the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2433.htm - 7k

2470b. chalah -- to mollify, appease, entreat the favor of
... 2470a, 2470b. chalah. 2471 . to mollify, appease, entreat the favor
of. Transliteration: chalah Short Definition: entreat. Word ...
/hebrew/2470b.htm - 5k

3722. kaphar -- to cover over, pacify, make propitiation
... 3721, 3722. kaphar. 3722a . to cover over, pacify, make propitiation.
Transliteration: kaphar Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-far') Short Definition: appease. ...
/hebrew/3722.htm - 5k

8252. shaqat -- to be quiet or undisturbed
... appease, idleness, at, be at, be in, give quietness, be at, be in,. A primitive
root; to repose (usually figurative) -- appease, idleness ...
/hebrew/8252.htm - 6k

7918. shakak -- to decrease, abate
... root Definition to decrease, abate NASB Word Usage lessen (1), lying in wait
(1), subsided (3). appease, assuage, make to cease, pacify, set. ...
/hebrew/7918.htm - 6k

3722a. kaphar -- to cover over, pacify, make propitiation
... Word Origin denominative verb from kopher Definition to cover over, pacify, make
propitiation NASB Word Usage appease (1), appease* (1), atone (3), atoned (2 ...
/hebrew/3722a.htm - 6k

6440. panim -- face, faces
... 1), after* (1), again (1), against (6), against* (2), aged* (1), ahead (15), along*
(1), anger (1), another* (1), appearance (2), appease* (1), around (1 ...
/hebrew/6440.htm - 8k

5117. nuach -- to rest
... root Definition to rest NASB Word Usage abandon (2), allays (1), allow (1), appease
(1), appeased (1), been at rest (1), calm (1), came to rest (1), camped (1 ...
/hebrew/5117.htm - 7k

Dissension About a Successor to Auxentius, Bishop of Milan. ...
... Ambrose, Governor of the Province, going to appease the Tumult, is by General Consent
and with the Approval of the Emperor Valentinian elected to the Bishopric ...
/.../chapter xxx dissension about a successor.htm

Reply to the Arguments of the Adversaries.
... they imitate them, and think that through similar works they merit the remission
of sins and grace; they think that through these works they appease the wrath ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 7 reply to the.htm

Article xv (viii): of Human Traditions in the Church.
... They altogether condemn the second part, in which we say that human traditions
instituted to appease God, to merit grace, and make satisfactions for sins are ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 20 article xv viii .htm

Letter Lix to the Duchess of Burgundy
... LETTER LIX To the Duchess of Burgundy. To the Duchess of Burgundy [90] He tries
to appease her anger against Hugo, and asks her assent to a certain marriage. ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter lix to the duchess.htm

Of the Rituals of False Gods Instituted by the Kings of Greece in ...
... Then the musical games were instituted for the Delphic Apollo, to appease his anger,
through which they thought the regions of Greece were afflicted with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 12 of the rituals of.htm

Christ Crucified.
... Scourging was the usual preliminary of the Romans to an execution, but Pilate still
hoped to appease the Jews by the suffering and humiliation of Jesus ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ crucified.htm

What a Sacrifice Is, and what are the Species of Sacrifice.
... The Latins called a victim that which in great calamities, where God seemed to be
especially enraged, was offered to appease God's wrath, a piaculum; and they ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 30 what a sacrifice.htm

On the Nativity of John the Baptist the First Sermon
... And, however much they may do in outward discipline, it will not really help them
at all; they will anger God much more than they will appease Him. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon x on the nativity.htm

"And for Sin Condemned Sin in the Flesh. "
... coming, certainly by tradition from the fathers, who have looked afar off to this
day, when this sweet-smelling sacrifice should be offered up to appease Heaven ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xiii and for sin.htm

Election and Ordination of Bishops: Form of Service on Sundays.
... may feed Thy holy flock, and discharge the office of an high priest to Thee, and
minister to Thee, unblameably night and day; that he may appease Thee, and ...
/.../constitutions of the holy apostles/sec ii election and ordination of.htm

Appease (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To pacify; to dispel anger or hatred; to make quiet;
to calm; as to appease hunger or ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. APPEASE. ...
/a/appease.htm - 10k

Conciliate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To win over; to appease; to gain friendship from
a state of hostility; to gain the good will or favor of; to make friendly; to ...
/c/conciliate.htm - 7k

Appeased (11 Occurrences)

/a/appeased.htm - 9k

Appears (38 Occurrences)

/a/appears.htm - 17k

Quiet (167 Occurrences)
... 9. (vt) To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize; as,
to quiet the passions; to quiet clamors or disorders; to quiet pain or grief. ...
/q/quiet.htm - 37k

Rizpah (4 Occurrences)
... David anxious, and in seeking a reason for the affliction he concluded that it lay
in Saul's unavenged conduct to the Gibeonites (21:2). To appease Yahweh he ...
/r/rizpah.htm - 10k

Reg'em-mel'ech (1 Occurrence)
... Reg'em-mel'ech (1 Occurrence). Zechariah 7:2 And Beth-El sendeth Sherezer and
Regem-Melech, and its men, to appease the face of Jehovah, (See RSV). ...
/r/reg'em-mel'ech.htm - 6k

Mollify
... 2. (vt) To assuage, as pain or irritation, to appease, as excited feeling or passion;
to pacify; to calm. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MOLLIFY. ...
/m/mollify.htm - 7k

Propitiate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To appease to render favorable; to conciliate;
to atone. Multi-Version Concordance Propitiate (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/propitiate.htm - 6k

Peradventure (35 Occurrences)
... For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward
I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. (KJV JPS ASV WBS). ...
/p/peradventure.htm - 18k

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