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 4 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 Corinthians 12:18 · BSB · 1 occurrence
But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design.
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1 Corinthians 14:5 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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1 Corinthians 14:19 · BSB · 1 occurrence
But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
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1 Corinthians 14:35 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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1 Corinthians 15:38 · BSB · 1 occurrence
But God gives it a body as He has designed, and to each kind of seed He gives its own body.
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1 Corinthians 16:7 · BSB · 1 occurrence
For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
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2 Corinthians 1:8 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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2 Corinthians 5:4 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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2 Corinthians 8:10 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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2 Corinthians 8:11 · BSB · 1 occurrence
Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.
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2 Corinthians 11:12 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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2 Corinthians 12:6 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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,
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2 Corinthians 12:20 · BSB · 2 occurrences
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.
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Galatians 1:7 · BSB · 1 occurrence
which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.
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Galatians 3:2 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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?
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Galatians 4:9 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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?
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Galatians 4:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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Galatians 4:20 · BSB · 1 occurrence
how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you.
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Galatians 4:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, do you not understand what the law says?
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Galatians 5:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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Galatians 6:12 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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Galatians 6:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence
For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
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Philippians 2:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
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Colossians 1:27 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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Colossians 2:1 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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,
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Colossians 2:18 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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1 Thessalonians 2:18 · BSB · 1 occurrence
For we wanted to come to you—indeed I, Paul, tried again and again—but Satan obstructed us.
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1 Thessalonians 4:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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2 Thessalonians 3:10 · BSB · 1 occurrence
For even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat.”
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1 Timothy 1:7 · BSB · 1 occurrence
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.
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1 Timothy 2:4 · BSB · 1 occurrence
who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
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1 Timothy 5:11 · BSB · 1 occurrence
But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry,
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2 Timothy 3:12 · BSB · 1 occurrence
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
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Philemon 1:14 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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Hebrews 10:5 · BSB · 1 occurrence
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.
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Hebrews 10:8 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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).
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Hebrews 12:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence
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.
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Hebrews 13:18 · BSB · 1 occurrence
Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
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James 2:20 · BSB · 1 occurrence
O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?
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James 4:15 · BSB · 1 occurrence
Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
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1 Peter 3:10 · BSB · 1 occurrence
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
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1 Peter 3:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence
For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
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2 Peter 3:5 · BSB · 1 occurrence
But 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,
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3 John 1:13 · BSB · 1 occurrence
I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink.
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Revelation 2:21 · BSB · 1 occurrence
Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
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Revelation 11:5 · BSB · 2 occurrences
If 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.
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Revelation 11:6 · BSB · 1 occurrence
These 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.
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Revelation 22:17 · BSB · 1 occurrence
The 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.
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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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