I like reflexive verbs that please me

In a language such as English, one can say "I like it." (for whatever it is that "it" represents).

In English, one can also say "It pleases me.".

Is there a difference in meaning or perceived meaning?

Note: The noun "please" (as a request) is a different word and is left for another time, if you like (or it pleases you).

In some languages, such as Greek, some verbs, such as "like" are used in a reflexive way. One cannot say "I like it.". Rather, one must say, "It pleases me.".

Such is the case for the modern Greek phrase "μου αρέσει" (mu a-REH-see) ≈ "I like it" or, literally, "me it pleases.".

The ancient Greek word "αρέσκω" (a-REH-sko) ≈ "please, satisfy".

This Greek word (according to Wictionary) appears to be derived from the ancient Greek word "αίρω" (EH-ro) ≈ "lift, remove" as a contracted form of the ancient Greek word "αείρω" (a-EE-ro) ≈ "lift, remove". The connection is not immediately clear. Perhaps the lifting or removal of a burden is something that is pleasing or liked (at least by the person with the burden). Perhaps one lifts ones arms when pleased when a burden is lifted.

Here are a few verses using this Greek word for lift or remove.

John 1:29

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KJV: The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Greek: τη επαυριον βλεπει ο ιωαννης τον ιησουν ερχομενον προς αυτον και λεγει ιδε ο αμνος του θεου ο αιρων την αμαρτιαν του κοσμου

Latin: altera die videt Iohannes Iesum venientem ad se et ait ecce agnus Dei qui tollit peccatum mundi

Wessex: Oþre daeg Iohannes ge-seah þanne haelend to hym cumende & cwaeð. Her ys godes lamb. her ys se þe deð a-weig midden-eardes synne.

Wycliffe: Anothir day Joon say Jhesu comynge to hym, and he seide, Lo! the lomb of God; lo! he that doith awei the synnes of the world.

Tyndale: The nexte daye Iohn sawe Iesus commyge vnto him and sayde: beholde the lambe of God which taketh awaye the synne of the worlde.

Luther: Des andern Tages siehet Johannes Jesum zu ihm kommen und spricht: Siehe, das ist Gottes Lamm, welches der Welt Sünde trägt!

Isaiah 49:22

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KJV: Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

Hebrew: כה אמר אדני יהוה הנה אשא אל גוים ידי ואל עמים ארים נסי והביאו בניך בחצן ובנתיך על כתף תנשאנה׃

Greek: ουτως λεγει κυριος ιδου αιρω εις τα εθνη την χειρα μου και εις τας νησους αρω συσσημον μου και αξουσιν τους υιους σου εν κολπω τας δε θυγατερας σου επ ωμων αρουσιν

Latin: haec dicit Dominus Deus ecce levo ad gentes manum meam et ad populos exaltabo signum meum et adferent filios tuos in ulnis et filias tuas super umeros portabunt

Wycliffe: The Lord God seith these thingis, Lo! Y reise myn hond to hethene men, and Y schal enhaunce my signe to puplis; and thei schulen brynge thi sones in armes, and thei schulen bere thi douytris on shuldris.

Luther: So spricht der Herr Herr: Siehe, ich will meine Hand zu den Heiden aufheben und zu den Völkern mein Panier aufwerfen, so werden sie deine Söhne in den Armen herzubringen und deine Töchter auf den Achseln hertragen.

There are many verses in the GNT (Greek New Testament) that use this reflexive expression of "like" or "please". For each, ask yourself the following. Does it make a difference if one changes the translation "pleases" to "like" (in a grammatical way that is appropriate for the text)?

John 8:29

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KJV: And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

Greek: και ο πεμψας με μετ εμου εστιν ουκ αφηκεν με μονον ο πατηρ οτι εγω τα αρεστα αυτω ποιω παντοτε

Latin: et qui me misit mecum est non reliquit me solum quia ego quae placita sunt ei facio semper

Wycliffe: And he that sente me is with me, and lefte me not aloone; for Y do euermore tho thingis, that ben plesynge to hym.

Gothic: jah saei sandida mik mith mis ist; ni bilaith mis ainamma atta, unte ik thatei leikaith imma tauja sinteino.

The Latin word "placitus" ≈ "pleasing, agreeable, acceptable".

The English word "placebo" comes from the Latin verb "placebo" ≈ "I will please" from the Latin verb "placeo" ≈ "please".

A placebo is something that cannot be easily distinguished from the real thing and is used in a test to reduce bias from expectations. A placebo is sometimes called a sugar pill.

These words are related to the Latin word "placo" ≈ "appease, placate" and is the origin of the English word "placate".

2 Chronicles 30:20

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KJV: And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people.

Hebrew: וישמע יהוה אל יחזקיהו וירפא את העם׃

Greek: και επηκουσεν κυριος τω εζεκια και ιασατο τον λαον

Latin: quem exaudivit Dominus et placatus est populo

Wycliffe: And the Lord herde hym, and was plesid to the puple.

Geneva: And the Lord heard Hezekiah, and healed the people.

Luther: Und der Herr erhörete Hiskia und heilete das Volk.

Acts 6:2

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KJV: Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Greek: προσκαλεσαμενοι δε οι δωδεκα το πληθος των μαθητων ειπον ειπαν ουκ αρεστον εστιν ημας καταλειψαντας τον λογον του θεου διακονειν τραπεζαις

Latin: convocantes autem duodecim multitudinem discipulorum dixerunt non est aequum nos derelinquere verbum Dei et ministrare mensis

The KJV (King James Version) changes the "like" or "pleasing" to "reason". How does it sound as follows?

It is not "pleasing" that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

Acts 12:3

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KJV: And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread. )

Greek: και ιδων δε οτι αρεστον εστιν τοις ιουδαιοις προσεθετο συλλαβειν και πετρον ησαν δε ημεραι των αζυμων

Latin: videns autem quia placeret Iudaeis adposuit adprehendere et Petrum erant autem dies azymorum

Wycliffe: And he siy that it pleside to Jewis, and keste to take also Petre; and the daies of therf looues weren.

Luther: Und da er sah, daß es den Juden gefiel, fuhr er fort und fing Petrus auch. Es waren aber eben die Tage der süßen Brote.

Romans 8:8

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KJV: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Greek: οι δε εν σαρκι οντες θεω αρεσαι ου δυνανται

Latin: qui autem in carne sunt Deo placere non possunt

Wycliffe: And thei that ben in fleisch, moun not plese to God.

Gothic: aththan thai in leika wisandans guda galeikan ni magun.

Luther: Die aber fleischlich sind, mögen Gott nicht gefallen.

Romans 15:2

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KJV: Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Greek: εκαστος γαρ ημων τω πλησιον αρεσκετω εις το αγαθον προς οικοδομην

Latin: unusquisque vestrum proximo suo placeat in bonum ad aedificationem

Wycliffe: Eche of vs plese to his neiybore in good, to edificacioun.

1 Corinthians 7:33

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KJV: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

Greek: ο δε γαμησας μεριμνα τα του κοσμου πως αρεσει αρεση τη γυναικι

Latin: qui autem cum uxore est sollicitus est quae sunt mundi quomodo placeat uxori et divisus est

Wycliffe: But he that is with a wijf, is bysy what thingis ben of the world, hou he schal plese the wijf, and he is departid.

Tyndale: But he that hath maried careth for the thinges of the worlde howe he maye please his wyfe.

Luther: Wer aber freiet, der sorget, was der Welt angehöret, wie er dem Weibe gefalle. Es ist ein Unterschied zwischen einem Weibe und einer Jungfrau.

1 Corinthians 10:33

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KJV: Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Greek: καθως καγω παντα πασιν αρεσκω μη ζητων το εμαυτου συμφερον συμφορον αλλα το των πολλων ινα σωθωσιν

Latin: sicut et ego per omnia omnibus placeo non quaerens quod mihi utile est sed quod multis ut salvi fiant

Wycliffe: as Y bi alle thingis plese to alle men, not sekynge that that is profitable to me, but that that is profitable to manye men, that thei be maad saaf.

Gothic: swaswe ik allaim all leika, ni sokjands thatei mis bruk sijai, ak thatei thaim managam, ei ganisaina.

Luther: gleichwie ich auch jedermann in allerlei mich gefällig mache und suche nicht, was mir, sondern was vielen frommet, daß sie selig werden.

1 John 3:22

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KJV: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

Greek: και ο εαν αν αιτωμεν λαμβανομεν παρ απ αυτου οτι τας εντολας αυτου τηρουμεν και τα αρεστα ενωπιον αυτου ποιουμεν

Latin: et quodcumque petierimus accipiemus ab eo quoniam mandata eius custodimus et ea quae sunt placita coram eo facimus

Luther: und was wir bitten, werden wir von ihm nehmen; denn wir halten seine Gebote und tun, was vor ihm gefällig ist.

Genesis 3:6

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KJV: And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Hebrew: ותרא האשה כי טוב העץ למאכל וכי תאוה הוא לעינים ונחמד העץ להשכיל ותקח מפריו ותאכל ותתן גם לאישה עמה ויאכל׃

Greek: και ειδεν η γυνη οτι καλον το ξυλον εις βρωσιν και οτι αρεστον τοις οφθαλμοις ιδειν και ωραιον εστιν του κατανοησαι και λαβουσα του καρπου αυτου εφαγεν και εδωκεν και τω ανδρι αυτης μετ αυτης και εφαγον

Latin: vidit igitur mulier quod bonum esset lignum ad vescendum et pulchrum oculis aspectuque delectabile et tulit de fructu illius et comedit deditque viro suo qui comedit

Wycliffe: Therfore the womman seiy that the tre was good, and swete to ete, and fair to the iyen, and delitable in bi holdyng; and sche took of the fruyt therof, and eet, and yaf to hir hosebande, and he eet.

Genesis 16:6

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KJV: But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.

Hebrew: ויאמר אברם אל שרי הנה שפחתך בידך עשי לה הטוב בעיניך ותענה שרי ותברח מפניה׃

Greek: ειπεν δε αβραμ προς σαραν ιδου η παιδισκη σου εν ταις χερσιν σου χρω αυτη ως αν σοι αρεστον η και εκακωσεν αυτην σαρα και απεδρα απο προσωπου αυτης

Tyndale: Than sayde Abra to Sarai: beholde thy mayde is in thy hande do with hyr as it pleaseth the. And because Sarai fared foule with her she fled from her.

Proverbs 12:21

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KJV: There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

Hebrew: לא יאנה לצדיק כל און ורשעים מלאו רע׃

Greek: ουκ αρεσει τω δικαιω ουδεν αδικον οι δε ασεβεις πλησθησονται κακων

Proverbs 21:3

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KJV: To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Hebrew: עשה צדקה ומשפט נבחר ליהוה מזבח׃

Greek: ποιειν δικαια και αληθευειν αρεστα παρα θεω μαλλον η θυσιων αιμα

Proverbs 24:18

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KJV: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Hebrew: פן יראה יהוה ורע בעיניו והשיב מעליו אפו׃

Greek: οτι οψεται κυριος και ουκ αρεσει αυτω και αποστρεψει τον θυμον αυτου απ αυτου

Latin: ne forte videat Dominus et displiceat ei et auferat ab eo iram suam