θέλω

thélō · Greek · Strong's G2309 · 208 occurrences

The KJV renders 36 different Hebrew and Greek words as “desire”

What it means

to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 (βούλομαι) properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in

apparently strengthened from the alternate form of G138 (αἱρέομαι);

How the KJV renders it

desire, be disposed, intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, will have, ling

Where that flattens a distinction

The same English word is also used for these other originals, so the distinction between them disappears in translation.

“desire”

also renders eudokía (G2107), zētéō (G2212), aitéō (G154), epithymía (G1939), orégomai (G3713), axióō (G515), parakaléō (G3870), epizētéō (G1934), zēlóō (G2206), thélēma (G2307), erōtáō (G2065), epithyméō (G1937), epipothéō (G1971), exaitéomai (G1809), eperōtáō (G1905), ʼâbeh (H15), ʼâvâh (H183), ʼavvâh (H185), bᵉʻâʼ (H1156), châmad (H2530), chemdâh (H2532), châphêts (H2654), châphêts (H2655), chêphets (H2656), châshaq (H2836), chêsheq (H2837), kâçaph (H3700), maʼăvay (H3970), machmâd (H4261), mishʼâlâh (H4862), nephesh (H5315), râtsôwn (H7522), taʼăvâh (H8378), tâv (H8420), tᵉshûwqâh (H8669)

“love”

also renders philéō (G5368), agápē (G26), ʼahab (H158), ʼahăbâh (H160), dôwd (H1730), châbab (H2245), râcham (H7355), raʻyâh (H7474)

“please”

also renders dokéō (G1380), eudokéō (G2106), euarestéō (G2100), aréskō (G700), arestós (G701), châphêts (H2655), shᵉphar (H8232)

“mean”

also renders méllō (G3195), ásēmos (G767), gâmal (H1580), dâmâh (H1819), châshab (H2803)

“intend”

also renders méllō (G3195), boúlomai (G1014)

“ling”

also renders yânaq (H3243), nâbêl (H5034)

“be disposed”

also renders boúlomai (G1014)

“list”

also renders boúlomai (G1014)

Answers that weigh this word

Where it appears

208 occurrences in the Greek text, first 60 verses shown.

1 Corinthians 4:19 · V-AAS-3S

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

1 Corinthians 4:21 · V-PAI-2P

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

1 Corinthians 7:7 · V-PAI-1S

Yet I wish that all men were like me. However, each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

1 Corinthians 7:32 · V-PAI-1S

But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

1 Corinthians 7:36 · V-PAI-3S

But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry.

1 Corinthians 7:39 · V-PAI-3S

A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:1 V-PAI-1S1 Corinthians 10:20 V-PAI-1S1 Corinthians 10:27 V-PAI-2P1 Corinthians 11:3 V-PAI-1S1 Corinthians 12:1 V-PAI-1S1 Corinthians 12:18 V-AAI-3S1 Corinthians 14:5 V-PAI-1S1 Corinthians 14:19 V-PAI-1S1 Corinthians 14:35 V-PAI-3P1 Corinthians 15:38 V-AAI-3S1 Corinthians 16:7 V-PAI-1S1 Peter 3:10 V-PAP-NSM1 Peter 3:17 V-PAO-3S1 Thessalonians 2:18 V-AAI-1P1 Thessalonians 4:13 V-PAI-1P1 Timothy 1:7 V-PAP-NPM1 Timothy 2:4 V-PAI-3S1 Timothy 5:11 V-PAI-3P2 Corinthians 1:8 V-PAI-1P2 Corinthians 5:4 V-PAI-1P2 Corinthians 8:10 V-PAN2 Corinthians 8:11 V-PAN2 Corinthians 11:12 V-PAP-GPM2 Corinthians 12:6 V-AAS-1S2 Corinthians 12:20 V-PAI-1S2 Peter 3:5 V-PAP-APM2 Thessalonians 3:10 V-PAI-3S2 Timothy 3:12 V-PAP-NPM3 John 1:13 V-PAI-1SActs 2:12 V-PAI-3SActs 7:28 V-PAI-2SActs 7:39 V-AAI-3PActs 10:10 V-IAI-3SActs 14:13 V-IAI-3SActs 16:3 V-AAI-3SActs 17:18 V-PAO-3SActs 17:20 V-PAI-3SActs 18:21 V-PAP-GSMActs 19:33 V-IAI-3SActs 24:27 V-PAP-NSMActs 25:9 V-PAI-2SActs 26:5 V-PAS-3PColossians 1:27 V-AAI-3SColossians 2:1 V-PAI-1SColossians 2:18 V-PAP-NSMGalatians 1:7 V-PAP-NPMGalatians 3:2 V-PAI-1SGalatians 4:9 V-PAI-2PGalatians 4:17 V-PAI-3PGalatians 4:20 V-IAI-1SGalatians 4:21 V-PAP-NPMGalatians 5:17 V-PAS-2PGalatians 6:12 V-PAI-3PGalatians 6:13 V-PAI-3P

Occurrences and morphology are taken from the primary Greek text, never from an English translation. Strong's Hebrew lexicon and Westminster Leningrad Codex morphology used under CC BY-SA 4.0 / CC BY 4.0 (OpenScriptures). Strong's Greek lexicon is public domain.