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thelō G2309

θέλω (thelō) means “to will/desire” in the TBESG Greek lexicon from STEPBible.

θέλω Greek · G2309 207 tagged occurrences in 198 verses

Pronunciation guide: thel'-o Strong’s Greek pronunciation spelling.

Lexicon entries

TBESG · G2309

θέλω · thelō · to will/desire

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., Rom.9:16, 1Co.4:19 12:18, Jas.4:15; τ. θεοῦ θέλοντος, Act.18:21; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.20:21, Mrk.14:36, Jhn.15:7, Rom.7:15, 16 1Co.4:21 7:36, Gal.5:17; with inf., Mat.5:40, Mrk.10:43, Jhn.6:21, 67 Rom.7:21, Gal.4:9; with accusative and inf., Mrk.7:24, Luk.1:62, Jhn.21:22, 23 Rom.16:19, 1Co.14:5, Gal.6:13; οὐ θέλω, Mat.18:30, al.; id. with inf., Mat.2:18, Mrk.6:26, Jhn.5:40, 1Co.16:7; before ἵνα, Mat.7:12, Mrk.6:25, Jhn.17:24; opposite to ποιέω, πράσσω, ἐνεργέω, Rom.7:15, 19 2Co.8:10, 11 Php.2:13; before ἤ (ICG, in l.; Deiss., LAE, 179:24), 1Co.14:19; θέλων ἐν ταπεινοφροσυνῄ (of his own mere will, by humility, R, mg), Col.2:18; in OT quotations, for Heb. חפץ, with accusative of person(s), Mat.27:43; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.9:13 12:7, Heb.10:5, 8; with inf., 1Pe.3:10; for אמר, with inf., Act.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., Rom.9:16, 1Co.4:19 12:18, Jas.4:15; τ. θεοῦ θέλοντος, Act.18:21; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.20:21, Mrk.14:36, Jhn.15:7, Rom.7:15, 16 1Co.4:21 7:36, Gal.5:17; with inf., Mat.5:40, Mrk.10:43, Jhn.6:21, 67 Rom.7:21, Gal.4:9; with accusative and inf., Mrk.7:24, Luk.1:62, Jhn.21:22, 23 Rom.16:19, 1Co.14:5, Gal.6:13; οὐ θέλω, Mat.18:30, al.; id. with inf., Mat.2:18, Mrk.6:26, Jhn.5:40, 1Co.16:7; before ἵνα, Mat.7:12, Mrk.6:25, Jhn.17:24; opposite to ποιέω, πράσσω, ἐνεργέω, Rom.7:15, 19 2Co.8:10, 11 Php.2:13; before ἤ (ICG, in l.; Deiss., LAE, 179:24), 1Co.14:19; θέλων ἐν ταπεινοφροσυνῄ (of his own mere will, by humility, R, mg), Col.2:18; in OT quotations, for Heb. חפץ, with accusative of person(s), Mat.27:43; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.9:13 12:7, Heb.10:5, 8; with inf., 1Pe.3:10; for אמר, with inf., Act.7:28 (see Cremer, 726ff.). (AS)

STEPBible, Tyndale House Cambridge · CC BY 4.0

Dodson Greek Lexicon

I will, wish, desire, am willing, intend, design.

John Jeffrey Dodson · CC0

How translators render G2309

Counts below follow each translation’s tagged words. A rendering can cover a phrase. Differences in text editions and tagging can produce different totals.

BSB rendering counts
Rendering Count
do you want 18
wants 17
i want 9
i do not want 8
want 7
you want 6
wanted 5
desire 4
i wish 4
you are willing 4
you wish 4
he refused 3
i am willing 3
is willing 3
they want 3
wanting 3
we do not want 3
we want 3
wishing 3
are you willing 2
desires 2
he did not want 2
he wishes 2
i desire 2
i do not want to do 2
i have longed 2
i want to do 2
i wish that 2
refused 2
they like 2
they wanted 2
they wish 2
they wished 2
trying 2
will 2
you did not desire 2
you were unwilling 2
you would have 2
and desire 1
are not willing 1
deliberately 1
desired 1
do you prefer 1
do you wish 1
does 1
has chosen 1
he had wanted 1
he has designed 1
he intended 1
he wanted 1
he wants him 1
he wants to harden 1
he wants to have mercy 1
herod wanted 1
his design 1
hoping 1
i did not want 1
i please 1
i wanted 1
i will not 1
i would like 1
i would prefer 1
i would rather 1
intending 1
is unwilling 1
it is 1
it wishes 1
jesus decided 1
jesus did not want 1
mean 1
not wanting anyone 1
refusing 1
she is unwilling 1
she wishes 1
so he 1
their choosing 1
they are willing 1
they refused 1
they were willing 1
they will want 1
to have such a desire 1
to will 1
unwilling even 1
wanted something 1
was unwilling 1
we do not wish 1
we wanted 1
were unwilling for 1
were willing 1
when he wanted 1
who delights 1
who wants 1
wish 1
would 1
you desire 1
you do not want to go 1
you refuse 1
you wanted 1
KJV rendering counts
Rendering Count
would 19
will 17
i would 13
wilt thou 12
i will 11
thou wilt 7
will ye 7
willing 7
he would 6
desire 5
they would 5
we would 5
thou wouldest 4
would have 4
ye will 4
ye would 4
and would have 3
have 3
he will 3
i would have 3
they will 3
to will 3
desirous 2
i will have 2
i will that 2
it hath pleased him 2
they listed 2
when 2
a voluntary 1
any man will 1
be so 1
desireth 1
desiring 1
have desired 1
he that will 1
he will have 1
he would have 1
him that would 1
i desire 1
i had rather 1
i would desire 1
if 1
intending 1
it listeth 1
love 1
mean 1
of him that willeth 1
she will 1
that 1
that will 1
they 1
they were desirous 1
they willingly 1
thou diddest 1
to be forward 1
we will 1
we would have 1
were willing 1
what he will 1
when he would have 1
which desire 1
whosoever will 1
will have 1
will i 1
willingly 1
wilt thou that 1
would i 1
would i have 1
would ye 1
would ye that 1
ye be disposed 1
ye desire 1

Verses containing G2309

Page 1 of 4. 198 verses in the selected STEP text, printed below in BSB where available. Read each verse in its chapter to follow the author’s thought.

  1. Matthew 1:19 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.

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  2. Matthew 2:18 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

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  3. Matthew 5:40 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;

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  4. Matthew 5:42 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

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  5. Matthew 7:12 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

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  6. Matthew 8:2 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

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  7. Matthew 8:3 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

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  8. Matthew 9:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

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  9. Matthew 11:14 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

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  10. Matthew 12:7 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

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  11. Matthew 12:38 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

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  12. Matthew 13:28 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. So the servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’

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  13. Matthew 14:5 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

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  14. Matthew 15:28 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    “O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

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  15. Matthew 15:32 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.”

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  16. Matthew 16:24 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

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  17. Matthew 16:25 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

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  18. Matthew 17:4 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If You wish, I will put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

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  19. Matthew 17:12 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.”

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  20. Matthew 18:23 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

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  21. Matthew 18:30 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.

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  22. Matthew 19:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

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  23. Matthew 19:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

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  24. Matthew 20:14 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Take your pay and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you.

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  25. Matthew 20:15 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Do I not have the right to do as I please with what is mine? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

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  26. Matthew 20:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    “What do you want?” He inquired. She answered, “Declare that in Your kingdom one of these two sons of mine may sit at Your right hand, and the other at Your left.”

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  27. Matthew 20:26 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

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  28. Matthew 20:27 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave—

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  29. Matthew 20:32 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want Me to do for you?” He asked.

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  30. Matthew 21:29 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went.

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  31. Matthew 22:3 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.

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  32. Matthew 23:4 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

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  33. Matthew 23:37 · BSB · 2 occurrences

    O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

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  34. Matthew 26:15 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.

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  35. Matthew 26:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

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  36. Matthew 26:39 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

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  37. Matthew 27:15 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Now it was the governor’s custom at the feast to release to the crowd a prisoner of their choosing.

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  38. Matthew 27:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    So when the crowd had assembled, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

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  39. Matthew 27:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they replied.

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  40. Matthew 27:34 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    they offered Him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it.

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  41. Matthew 27:43 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

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  42. Mark 1:40 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

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  43. Mark 1:41 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”

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  44. Mark 3:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.

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  45. Mark 6:19 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,

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  46. Mark 6:22 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”

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  47. Mark 6:25 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”

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  48. Mark 6:26 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

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  49. Mark 6:48 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    He could see that the disciples were straining to row, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. He intended to pass by them,

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  50. Mark 7:24 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Jesus left that place and went to the region of Tyre. Not wanting anyone to know He was there, He entered a house, but was unable to escape their notice.

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Sources and text

Data created by www.STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). STEPBible data · License.

We convert source tables to JSON, expand grammar labels and count tagged words. Greek counts use the SBL edition in TAGNT. Hebrew counts use the main reading in TAHOT, including Qere readings and restored text. Source numbering follows NRSV; alternate references appear where supplied.

Berean Standard Bible translation tables, public domain, Berean Bible. CrossWire KJV 3.1 , public domain text with Bible Foundation and KJV2003 Project tags, licensed for any purpose. Dodson Greek Lexicon , CC0. Strong’s Hebrew dictionary , Open Scriptures transcription, CC BY-SA; converted Hebrew entries retain those terms. Greek pronunciation spellings come from Strong's Greek dictionary, XML edition 1.4 , public domain.

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