Keraia
Lexicon

θέλω

thelōto will/desireHow to read Greek
greekNew TestamentVerb208 occurrences22 books199 verses

Definition

θέλω (the strengthened form ἐθέλω is found in Hom., and is the more frequently in Attic; see Rutherford, NPhr., 415f.),

[in LXX for חפץ ,אבה; with neg., מאן pi., etc. ;]

to will, be willing, wish, desire (more frequently than βούλομαι, which see, in vernac. and late Gk., also in MGr.; for various views as to its relation to β., see Thayer, 286; but see also BL, §24, see word): absol., Romans 9:16, 1 Corinthians 4:19; 12:18, James 4:15; τ. θεοῦ θέλοντος, Acts 18:21; with accusative of thing(s), Matthew 20:21, Mark 14:36, John 15:7, Romans 7:15, 16, 1 Corinthians 4:21; 7:36, Galatians 5:17; with inf., Matthew 5:40, Mark 10:43, John 6:21, 67, Romans 7:21, Galatians 4:9; with accusative and inf., Mark 7:24, Luke 1:62, John 21:22, 23, Romans 16:19, 1 Corinthians 14:5, Galatians 6:13; οὐ θέλω, Matthew 18:30, al.; id. with inf., Matthew 2:18, Mark 6:26, John 5:40, 1 Corinthians 16:7; before ἵνα, Matthew 7:12, Mark 6:25, John 17:24; opposite to ποιέω, πράσσω, ἐνεργέω, Romans 7:15, 19, 2 Corinthians 8:10, 11, Philippians 2:13; before ἤ (ICG, in l.; Deiss., LAE, 179:24), 1 Corinthians 14:19; θέλων ἐν ταπεινοφροσυνῄ (of his own mere will, by humility, R, mg), Colossians 2:18; in OT quotations, for Heb. חפץ, with accusative of person(s), Matthew 27:43; with accusative of thing(s), Matthew 9:13; 12:7, Hebrews 10:5, 8; with inf., 1 Peter 3:10; for אמר, with inf., Acts 7:28 (see Cremer, 726ff.).

θέλω (the strengthened form ἐθέλω is found in Hom., and is the more frequently in Attic; see Rutherford, NPhr., 415f.),

[in LXX for חפץ ,אבה; with neg., מאן pi., etc. ;]

to will, be willing, wish, desire (more frequently than βούλομαι, which see, in vernac. and late Gk., also in MGr.; for various views as to its relation to β., see Thayer, 286; but see also BL, §24, see word): absol., Romans 9:16, 1 Corinthians 4:19; 12:18, James 4:15; τ. θεοῦ θέλοντος, Acts 18:21; with accusative of thing(s), Matthew 20:21, Mark 14:36, John 15:7, Romans 7:15, 16, 1 Corinthians 4:21; 7:36, Galatians 5:17; with inf., Matthew 5:40, Mark 10:43, John 6:21, 67, Romans 7:21, Galatians 4:9; with accusative and inf., Mark 7:24, Luke 1:62, John 21:22, 23, Romans 16:19, 1 Corinthians 14:5, Galatians 6:13; οὐ θέλω, Matthew 18:30, al.; id. with inf., Matthew 2:18, Mark 6:26, John 5:40, 1 Corinthians 16:7; before ἵνα, Matthew 7:12, Mark 6:25, John 17:24; opposite to ποιέω, πράσσω, ἐνεργέω, Romans 7:15, 19, 2 Corinthians 8:10, 11, Philippians 2:13; before ἤ (ICG, in l.; Deiss., LAE, 179:24), 1 Corinthians 14:19; θέλων ἐν ταπεινοφροσυνῄ (of his own mere will, by humility, R, mg), Colossians 2:18; in OT quotations, for Heb. חפץ, with accusative of person(s), Matthew 27:43; with accusative of thing(s), Matthew 9:13; 12:7, Hebrews 10:5, 8; with inf., 1 Peter 3:10; for אמר, with inf., Acts 7:28 (see Cremer, 726ff.).

Hebrew words it translates

The Hebrew words that the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament renders as θέλω:

Usage patterns

Old TestamentNew Testament

Occurrences

208 total
  1. 1 Corinthians 7:32Θέλω · I want
    I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:36θέλει · he wishes
    However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:39θέλει · she wishes
    A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
  4. 1 Corinthians 10:1θέλω · I do not want
    I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
  5. 1 Corinthians 10:20θέλω · I do not want
    No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.
  6. 1 Corinthians 10:27θέλετε · you want
    If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.
  7. 1 Corinthians 11:3Θέλω · I want
    But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
  8. 1 Corinthians 12:1θέλω · I do not want
    Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
  9. 1 Corinthians 12:18ἠθέλησεν · His design
    But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:5Θέλω · I wish that
    I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:19θέλω · I would rather
    But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:35θέλουσιν · they wish
    If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.
  13. 1 Corinthians 15:38ἠθέλησεν · He has designed
    But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.
  14. 1 Corinthians 16:7θέλω · I do not want
    For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
  15. 2 Corinthians 1:8θέλομεν · We do not want
    We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
  16. 2 Corinthians 5:4θέλομεν · we do not wish
    For while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life.
  17. 2 Corinthians 8:10θέλειν · to have such a desire
    And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.
  18. 2 Corinthians 8:11θέλειν · desire
    Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.
  19. 2 Corinthians 11:12θελόντων · want
    But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
  20. 2 Corinthians 12:6θελήσω · I wanted
    Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me,
  21. 2 Corinthians 12:20θέλω · I wish; θέλετε · you wish
    For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
  22. Galatians 1:7θέλοντες · trying
    …which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
  23. Galatians 3:2θέλω · I would like
    I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
  24. Galatians 4:9θέλετε · Do you wish
    But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
  25. Galatians 4:17θέλουσιν · they want
    Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.
  26. Galatians 4:20ἤθελον · I wish
    …how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
  27. Galatians 4:21θέλοντες · want
    Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
  28. Galatians 5:17θέλητε · you want
    For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
  29. Galatians 6:12θέλουσιν · want
    Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
  30. Galatians 6:13θέλουσιν · they want
    For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
  31. Philippians 2:13θέλειν · to will
    For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
  32. Colossians 1:27ἠθέλησεν · has chosen
    To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
  33. Colossians 2:1Θέλω · I want
    For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me face to face,
  34. Colossians 2:18θέλων · who delights
    Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you with speculation about what he has seen. Such a person is puffed up without basis by his unspiritual mind.
  35. 1 Thessalonians 2:18ἠθελήσαμεν · we wanted
    For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
  36. 1 Thessalonians 4:13θέλομεν · we do not want
    Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
  37. 2 Thessalonians 3:10θέλει · is unwilling
    For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
  38. 1 Timothy 1:7θέλοντες · They want
    They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
  39. 1 Timothy 2:4θέλει · wants
    …who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
  40. 1 Timothy 5:11θέλουσιν · they will want
    But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
  41. 2 Timothy 3:12θέλοντες · desire
    Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
  42. Philemon 1:14ἠθέλησα · I did [not] want
    But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that your goodness will not be out of compulsion, but by your own free will.
  43. Hebrews 10:5ἠθέλησας · You did not desire
    Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.
  44. Hebrews 10:8ἠθέλησας · You did not desire
    In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law).
  45. Hebrews 12:17θέλων · when he wanted
    For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.
  46. Hebrews 13:18θέλοντες · [and] desire
    Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
  47. James 2:20Θέλεις · do you want
    O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
  48. James 4:15θελήσῃ · is willing
    Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
  49. 1 Peter 3:10θέλων · would
    For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.