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
Usage patterns
Occurrences
- 1 Peter 3:17θέλοι · [it is]For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- 2 Peter 3:5θέλοντας · deliberatelyBut they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
- 3 John 1:13θέλω · I would preferI have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
- Revelation 2:21θέλει · she is unwillingEven though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
- Revelation 11:5θέλει · wants; θελήσῃ · wantsIf anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouths and devours their enemies. In this way, anyone who wants to harm them must be killed.
- Revelation 11:6θελήσωσιν · they wishThese witnesses have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, and power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
- Revelation 22:17θέλων · desiresThe Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.