Bible Dictionary
APPEASE
To appease means to make peace, calm anger, or end strife. In Scripture it may describe Jacob seeking to win Esau’s favor, a gentle person quieting conflict, or a disturbance being restrained.
Definition
To appease is to make someone peaceful, placate anger, win favor, or bring an end to strife. The word may describe conciliatory action toward an offended person, the effect of patient conduct in conflict, or the restraining of a public disturbance.
Biblical Usage
Jacob appeased Esau by means of presents. Proverbs uses the term of one who is slow to anger and thereby ends strife. In Acts, the Revised Version uses “quieted” for the suppression of a popular commotion.
Historical Background
The underlying sense is “to make one at peace.” The Revised Version changes the wording in Acts to “quieted,” reflecting the meaning “put down,” “suppress,” or “restrain.”
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>a-pez': "To make one at peace." Esau is appeased, i.e. placated, won over by means of presents (Ge 32:20). One "slow to anger appeaseth strife," i.e. puts an end to it (Pr 15:18). the Revised Version (British and American) changes "appeased" of the King James Version in Ac 19:35 into "quieted" (Greek katastello, "put down," "suppress," "restrain," referring to a popular commotion).</p>