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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)

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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 3 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. John 6:67 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”

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  2. John 7:1 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.

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  3. John 7:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.

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  4. John 7:44 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him.

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  5. John 8:44 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

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  6. John 9:27 · BSB · 2 occurrences

    He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

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  7. John 12:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”

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  8. John 15:7 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

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  9. John 16:19 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?

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  10. John 17:24 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

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  11. John 21:18 · BSB · 2 occurrences

    Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

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  12. John 21:22 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

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  13. John 21:23 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”

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  14. Acts 2:12 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

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  15. Acts 7:28 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’

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  16. Acts 7:39 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt.

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  17. Acts 10:10 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

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  18. Acts 14:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.

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  19. Acts 16:3 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, so he took him and circumcised him on account of the Jews in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

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  20. Acts 17:18 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.

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  21. Acts 17:20 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”

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  22. Acts 18:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.

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  23. Acts 19:33 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward to explain himself, and he motioned for silence so he could make his defense to the people.

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  24. Acts 24:27 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And wishing to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

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  25. Acts 25:9 · BSB · 2 occurrences

    But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem to stand trial before me on these charges?”

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  26. Acts 26:5 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, adhering to the strictest sect of our religion.

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  27. Romans 1:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to come to you (but have been prevented from visiting until now), in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.

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  28. Romans 7:15 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do.

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  29. Romans 7:16 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good.

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  30. Romans 7:18 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

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  31. Romans 7:19 · BSB · 2 occurrences

    For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.

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  32. Romans 7:20 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

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  33. Romans 7:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

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  34. Romans 9:16 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

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  35. Romans 9:18 · BSB · 2 occurrences

    Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

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  36. Romans 9:22 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?

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  37. Romans 11:25 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

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  38. Romans 13:3 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Then do what is right, and you will have his approval.

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  39. Romans 16:19 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice over you. But I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil.

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  40. 1 Corinthians 4:19 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.

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  41. 1 Corinthians 4:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

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  42. 1 Corinthians 7:7 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

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  43. 1 Corinthians 7:32 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    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.

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  44. 1 Corinthians 7:36 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    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.

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  45. 1 Corinthians 7:39 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    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.

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  46. 1 Corinthians 10:1 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    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.

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  47. 1 Corinthians 10:20 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons.

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  48. 1 Corinthians 10:27 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat anything set before you without raising questions of conscience.

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  49. 1 Corinthians 11:3 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    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.

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  50. 1 Corinthians 12:1 · BSB · 1 occurrence

    Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.

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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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