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The Blue Letter Bible

Lexicon :: Strong's G2309 - thelō

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θέλω
Transliteration
thelō (Key)
Pronunciation
thel'-o
Listen
Part of Speech
verb
Root Word (Etymology)
Apparently strengthened from the alternate form of αἱρέω (G138)
mGNT
208x in 35 unique form(s)
TR
210x in 40 unique form(s)
LXX
115x in 29 unique form(s)
Dictionary Aids

Vine's Expository Dictionary: View Entry

TDNT Reference: 3:44,318

Strong’s Definitions

θέλω thélō, thel'-o; apparently strengthened from the alternate form of G138; to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in:—desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).


KJV Translation Count — Total: 210x

The KJV translates Strong's G2309 in the following manner: will/would (159x), will/would have (16x), desire (13x), desirous (3x), list (3x), to will (2x), miscellaneous (4x).

KJV Translation Count — Total: 210x
The KJV translates Strong's G2309 in the following manner: will/would (159x), will/would have (16x), desire (13x), desirous (3x), list (3x), to will (2x), miscellaneous (4x).
  1. to will, have in mind, intend

    1. to be resolved or determined, to purpose

    2. to desire, to wish

    3. to love

      1. to like to do a thing, be fond of doing

    4. to take delight in, have pleasure

Strong’s Definitions [?](Strong’s Definitions Legend)
θέλω thélō, thel'-o; apparently strengthened from the alternate form of G138; to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations), i.e. choose or prefer (literally or figuratively); by implication, to wish, i.e. be inclined to (sometimes adverbially, gladly); impersonally for the future tense, to be about to; by Hebraism, to delight in:—desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)).
STRONGS G2309:
θέλω (only in this form in the N. T.; in Greek authors also ἐθέλω (Veitch, under the word; Lob. ad Phryn., p. 7; Buttmann, 57 (49))); imperfect ἤθελον; (future 3 person singular θελήσει, Revelation 11:5 WH marginal reading); 1 aorist ἠθέλησα; (derived apparently from ἑλεῖν with a fuller aspiration, so that it means properly, to seize with the mind; but Curtius, p. 726, edition 5, regards its root as uncertain (he inclines, however, to the view of Pott, Fick, Vanicek, and others, which connects it with a root meaning to hold to)); the Sept. for אָבָה and חָפֵץ; to will (have in mind) intend; i. e.:
1. to be resolved or determined, to purpose: absolutely, θέλων, Romans 9:16; τοῦ Θεοῦ θέλοντος if God will, Acts 18:21; ἐάν κύριος θελήσῃ. (in Attic ἐάν θεός θέλῃ, ἦν οἱ Θεοί θέλωσιν (cf. Lob. as above)), 1 Corinthians 4:19; James 4:15; καθώς ἠθέλησε, 1 Corinthians 12:18; 1 Corinthians 15:38; τί, Romans 7:15f, 19; 1 Corinthians 7:36; Galatians 5:17; with the aorist infinitive, Matthew 20:14; Matthew 26:15; John 6:21 (where the meaning is, they were willing to receive him into the ship, but that was unnecessary, because unexpectedly the ship was nearing the land; cf. Lücke, B-Crusius, Ewald (Godet), others at the passage; Winers Grammar, § 54, 4; (Buttmann, 375 (321))); John 12:44; Acts 25:9; Colossians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; Revelation 11:5, etc.; with the present infinitive, Luke 10:29 R G; John 6:67; John 12:17; John 8:44; Acts 24:6 (Rec.); Romans 7:21; Galatians 4:9 (here T Tr text WH text 1 aorist infinitive); with an infinitive suggested by the context, John 5:21 (οὕς θέλει, namely, ζοωποιησαι); Matthew 8:2; Mark 3:13; Mark 6:22; Romans 9:18; Revelation 11:6, etc. οὐ θέλω to be unwilling: with the aorist infinitive, Matthew 2:18; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 22:3; Mark 6:26; Luke 15:28; John 5:40; Acts 7:39; 1 Corinthians 16:7; Revelation 2:21 (not Rec.), etc.; with the present infinitive, John 7:1; Acts 14:13; Acts 17:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:10, etc.; with the infinitive omitted and to be gathered from the context, Matthew 18:30; Matthew 21:29; Luke 18:4, etc.; θέλω and οὐ θέλω followed by the accusative with an infinitive, Luke 1:62; 1 Corinthians 10:20; on the Pauline phrase οὐ θέλω ὑμᾶς ἀγνοεῖν, see ἀγνοέω, a.; corresponding to θέλω ὑμᾶς εἰδέναι, 1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 2:1. θέλειν, used of a purpose or resolution, is contrasted with the carrying out of the purpose into act: opposed to ποιεῖν, πράσσειν, Romans 7:15, 19; 2 Corinthians 8:10f (on which latter passage cf. DeWette and Meyer; Winer's Grammar, § 61, 7b.); to ἐνεργεῖν, Philippians 2:13, cf. Mark 6:19; John 7:44. One is said also θέλειν that which he is on the point of doing: Mark 6:48; John 1:43 (44); and it is used thus also of things that tend or point to some conclusion (cf. Winers Grammar, § 42, 1 b.; Buttmann, 254 (219)): Acts 2:12; Acts 17:20. λανθάνει αὐτούς τοῦτο θέλοντας this (viz., what follows, ὅτι etc.) escapes them of their own will, i. e. they are purposely, wilfully, ignorant, 2 Peter 3:5, where others interpret as follows: this (viz. what has been said previously) desiring (i. e. holding as their opinion (for examples of this sense see Sophocles Lexicon, under the word, 4)), they are ignorant etc.; but cf. DeWette at the passage and Winers Grammar, § 54, 4 note; (Buttmann, § 150, 8 Rem.). τάς ἐπιθυμίας τοῦ πατρός ὑμῶν θέλετε ποιεῖν it is your purpose to fulfil the lusts of your father, i. e. ye are actuated by him of your own free knowledge and choice, John 8:44 (Winers Grammar, as above; Buttmann, 375 (321)).
2. equivalent to to desire, to wish: τί, Matthew 20:21; Mark 14:36; Luke 5:39 (but WH in brackets); John 15:7; 1 Corinthians 4:21; 2 Corinthians 11:12; followed by the aorist infinitive, Matthew 5:40; Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:25; Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:43; Luke 8:20; Luke 13:8; John 5:6, 35 (ye were desirous of rejoicing); John 12:21; Galatians 3:2; James 2:20; 1 Peter 3:10; followed by the present infinitive, John 9:27; Galatians 4:20 (ἤθελον I could wish, on which imperfect see εὔχομαι, 2); the infinitive is lacking and to be supplied from the neighboring verb, Matthew 17:12; Matthew 27:15; Mark 9:13; John 21:18; followed by the accusative and infinitive, Mark 7:24; Luke 1:62; John 21:22; Romans 16:19; 1 Corinthians 7:7, 32; 1 Corinthians 14:5; Galatians 6:13; οὐ θέλω to be unwilling (desire not): followed by the aorist infinitive, Matthew 23:4; Luke 19:14, 27; 1 Corinthians 10:20; followed by ἵνα, Matthew 7:12; Mark 6:25; Mark 9:30; Mark 10:35; Luke 6:31; John 17:24; cf. Winers Grammar, § 44, 8 b.; (Buttmann, § 139, 46); followed by the deliberative subjunctive (aorist): θέλεις συλλέξωμεν αὐτά (cf. the German willstdu,sollenwirzusammenlesen? (Goodwin § 88)), Matthew 13:28; add, Matthew 20:32 (where L brackets adds ἵνα); Matthew 26:17; 27:17,21; Mark 10:51; Mark 14:12; Mark 15:9, 12 (Tr brackets θέλεις); Luke 9:54; Luke 18:41; Luke 22:9 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 41 a. 4 b.; Buttmann, § 139, 2); followed by εἰ, Luke 12:49 (see εἰ, I. 4); followed by , to prefer, 1 Corinthians 14:19 (see , 3 d.).
3. equivalent to to love; followed by an infinitive, to like to do a thing, be fond of doing: Mark 12:38; Luke 20:46; cf. Winers Grammar, § 54, 4; (Buttmann, § 150, 8).
4. in imitation of the Hebrew חָפֵץ, to take delight, have pleasure (opposite by Buttmann, § 150, 8 Rem.; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 33, a.; but see examples below): ἐν τίνι, in a thing, Colossians 2:18 (ἐν καλῷ, to delight in goodness, Test xii. Patr., p. 688 (test. Ash. 1; (cf. εἰς ζωήν, p. 635, test. Zeb. 3); Psalm 111:1 (Ps. 112:1); Psalm 146:10 (Ps. 147:10)); ἐν τίνι, the dative of the person, 1 Samuel 18:22; 2 Samuel 15:26; (1 Kings 10:9); 2 Chronicles 9:8; for בְּ רָצָה, 1 Chronicles 28:4). τινα, to love one: Matthew 27:43 (Psalm 21:9 (Ps. 22:9); (Psalm 17:20 (Ps. 18:20); Psalm 40:12 (Ps. 41:12); Ezekiel 18:32, cf. Ezekiel 18:23; Tobit 13:6; epp. to μισεῖν, Ignatius ad Rom. 8, 3 [ET]; θεληθῆναι is used of those who find favor, ibid. 8, 1). τί, Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7 (from Hosea 6:6); Hebrews 10:5, 8 (fr. Psalm 39:7 (Ps. 40:7)). As respects the distinction between βούλομαι and θέλω, the former seems to designate the will which follows deliberation, the latter the will which proceeds from inclination. This appears not only from Matthew 1:19, but also from the fact that the Sept. express the idea of pleasure, delight, by the verb θέλειν (see just above). The reverse of this distinction is laid down by Alexander Buttmann (1873) Lexil. i., p. 26 (English translation, p. 194); Delitzsch on Hebrews 6:17. According to Tittmann (Syn., i., p. 124) θέλειν denotes mere volition, βούλεσθαι inclination; (cf. Whiston on Demosthenes 9, 5; 124, 13). (Philip Buttmanns statement of the distinction between the two words is quoted with approval by Schmidt (Syn., iii., chapter 146), who adduces in confirmation (besides many examples) the assumed relationship between βούλομαι and Φελπις, ἐλπίς; the use of θέλω in the sense of 'resolve' in such passages as Thucydides 5, 9; of θέλων equivalent to ἡδέως in the poets; of βούλομαι as parallel to ἐπιθυμέω in Demosthenes 29, 45, etc.; and passages in which the two words occur together and βούλομαι is apparently equivalent to 'wish' while θέλω stands for 'will' as Xenophon, an. 4, 4, 5; Euripides, Alc. 281, etc., etc. At the same time it must be confessed that scholars are far from harmonious on the subject. Many agree with Prof. Grimm that θέλω gives prominence to the emotive element, βούλομαι emphasizes the rational and volitive; that θέλω signifies the choice, while βούλομαι marks the choice as deliberate and intelligent; yet they acknowledge that the words are sometimes used indiscriminately, and especially that θέλω as the less sharply-defined term is put where βούλομαι would be proper; see Ellendt, Lex. Sophocles; Pape, Handwörterb.; Seiler, Wörterb. d. Homer, under the word βούλομαι; Suhle und Schneidewin, Handwörterb.; Crosby, Lex. to Xenophon, an., under the word ἐθέλω; (Arnold's) Pillon, Greek Syn. § 129; Webster, Synt. and Syn. of the Greek Testament, p. 197; Wilke, Clavis N. T., edition 2, 2:603; Schleusner, N. T. Lex. see under the word, βούλομαι; Munthe, Observations, phil. in N. T. ex Diodorus Siculus, etc., p. 3; Valckenaer, Scholia etc. ii. 23; Westermann on Demosthenes 20, 111; the commentators generally on Matt. as above; Lightfoot on Philemon 1:13, 14; Riddle in Schaff's Lange on Eph., p. 42; this seems to be roughly intended by Ammonius also: βούλεσθαι μέν ἐπί μόνου λεκτεον τοῦ λογικου. τό δέ θέλειν καί ἐπί ἀλογου ζοωυ; (and Eustathius on Iliad 1, 112, p. 61, 2, says ὀυχ' ἁπλῶς θέλω, ἀλλά βούλομαι, ὅπερ ἐπίτασις τοῦ θέλειν ἐστιν). On the other hand, Liddell and Scott (under the word ἐθέλω); Passow, edition 5; Rost, Wörterb. edition 4; Schenkl, Schulwörterb.; Donaldson, Crat. § 463f; Wahl; Clay. Apocrypha, under the word βούλομαι; Cremer, under the words, βούλομαι and θέλω; especially Stallb. on Platos de repub. 4, 13, p. 437 b. (cf. too Cope on Aristotle, rhet. 2, 19, 19); Franke on Demosthenes 1, 1, substantially reverse the distinction, as does Ellicott on 1 Timothy 5:14; Wordsworth on 1 Thessalonians 2:18. Although the latter opinion may seem to be favored by that view of the derivation of the words which allies βούλομαι with voluptas (Curtius, § 659, compare p. 726), and makes θέλω signify 'to hold to something,' 'form a fixed resolve' (see above, at the beginning), yet the predominant usage of the N. T. will be evident to one who looks up the passages referred to above (Fritzsche's explanation of Matthew 1:19 is hardly natural); to which may be added such as Matthew 2:18; Matthew 9:13; Matthew 12:38; Matthew 15:28; Matthew 17:4 (Matthew 20:21,32); Matthew 26:15,39 (cf. Luke 22:42); Mark 6:19; Mark 7:24; Mark 9:30; Mark 10:35; Mark 12:38; Mark 15:9 (cf. John 18:39), Mark 15:15 (where R. V. wishing is questionable; cf. Luke 23:20); Luke 10:24; Luke 15:28; Luke 16:26; John 5:6; John 6:11; John 12:21; Acts 10:10; Acts 18:15; Romans 7:19 (cf. Romans 7:15, its opposed to μισῶ, and indeed the use of θέλω throughout this chapter); 1 Corinthians 7:36, 39; 1 Corinthians 14:35; Ephesians 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10, etc. Such passages as 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9 will be ranged now on one side, now on the other; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:11, 18. θέλω occurs in the N. T. about five times as often as βούλομαι (on the relative use of the words in classic writers see Tycho Mommsen in Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 415f). The usage of the Sept. (beyond the particular specified by Prof. Grimm) seems to afford little light; see e. g. Genesis 24:5, 8; Deuteronomy 25:7; Psalm 39:7, 9 (Ps. 40:7,9), etc. In modern Greek θέλω seems to have nearly driven βούλομαι out of use; on θέλω as an auxiliary cf. Jebb in Vincent and Dickson's Handbook, Appendix §§ 60, 64. For examples of the associated use of the words in classic Greek, see Stephanus' Thesaurus under the word βούλομαι, p. 366 d.; Lightfoot, Cremer, and especially Schmidt, as above.)
THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc.
All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com

BLB Scripture Index of Thayer's

Genesis
24:5; 24:8
Deuteronomy
25:7
1 Samuel
18:22
2 Samuel
15:26
1 Kings
10:9
1 Chronicles
28:4
2 Chronicles
9:8
Psalms
18:20; 21:9; 22:9; 39:7; 39:7; 39:9; 40:7; 40:7; 40:9; 40:12; 41:12; 111:1; 112:1; 146:10; 147:10
Ezekiel
18:23; 18:32
Hosea
6:6
Matthew
1:19; 1:19; 2:18; 2:18; 5:40; 7:12; 8:2; 9:13; 9:13; 12:7; 12:38; 12:38; 13:28; 15:28; 15:32; 16:25; 17:4; 17:12; 18:30; 19:17; 20:14; 20:21; 20:21; 20:32; 20:32; 21:29; 22:3; 23:4; 26:15; 26:15; 26:17; 26:39; 27:15; 27:17; 27:21; 27:43
Mark
3:13; 6:19; 6:19; 6:22; 6:25; 6:26; 6:48; 7:24; 7:24; 9:13; 9:30; 9:30; 10:35; 10:35; 10:43; 10:51; 12:38; 12:38; 14:12; 14:36; 15:9; 15:9; 15:12; 15:15
Luke
1:62; 1:62; 5:39; 6:31; 8:20; 9:54; 10:24; 10:29; 12:49; 13:8; 15:28; 15:28; 16:26; 18:4; 18:41; 19:14; 19:27; 20:46; 22:9; 22:42; 23:20
John
1:43; 5:6; 5:6; 5:21; 5:35; 5:40; 6:11; 6:21; 6:67; 7:1; 7:44; 8:44; 8:44; 9:27; 12:17; 12:21; 12:21; 12:44; 15:7; 17:24; 18:39; 21:18; 21:22
Acts
2:12; 7:39; 10:10; 14:13; 17:18; 17:20; 18:15; 18:21; 24:6; 25:9
Romans
7:15; 7:15; 7:15; 7:19; 7:19; 7:19; 7:21; 9:16; 9:18; 16:19
1 Corinthians
4:19; 4:21; 7:7; 7:32; 7:36; 7:36; 7:39; 10:20; 10:20; 11:3; 12:11; 12:18; 12:18; 14:5; 14:19; 14:35; 15:38; 16:7
2 Corinthians
8:10; 11:12
Galatians
3:2; 4:9; 4:20; 5:17; 6:13
Ephesians
1:11
Philippians
2:13
Colossians
1:27; 2:1; 2:18
1 Thessalonians
2:18; 2:18
2 Thessalonians
3:10; 3:10
1 Timothy
2:4; 5:14
Philemon
1:13; 1:14
Hebrews
6:17; 10:5; 10:8
James
2:20; 4:15
1 Peter
3:10
2 Peter
3:5; 3:9
Revelation
2:21; 11:5; 11:5; 11:6

Word / Phrase / Strong's Search

Strong's Number G2309 matches the Greek θέλω (thelō),
which occurs 14 times in 13 verses in 'Act' in the MGNT Greek.

Unchecked Copy BoxAct 2:12 - And they all continued in astonishment and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean G2309?”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 7:28 - ‘DO YOU INTEND G2309 TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY?’
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 7:39 - “Our fathers were unwilling G2309 to be obedient to him, but rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 10:10 - But he became hungry and was desiring G2309 to eat. And while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 14:13 - And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was [fn]just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and was wanting G2309 to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 16:3 - Paul wanted G2309 this man to [fn]go with him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 17:18 - And also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were [fn]conversing with him. Some were saying, “What would this [fn]idle babbler wish G2309 to say?” Others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,”—because he was proclaiming the good news of Jesus and the resurrection.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 17:20 - “For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. So we want to know what these things mean G2309.”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 18:21 - but taking leave of them and saying, “I will return to you again if God wills G2309,” he set sail from Ephesus.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 19:33 - And some of the crowd [fn]concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward; and having motioned with his hand, Alexander was intending G2309 to make a defense to the [fn]assembly.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 24:27 - But after two years had passed, Felix [fn]was succeeded by Porcius Festus, and wishing G2309 to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul imprisoned.
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 25:9 - But Festus, wishing G2309 to do the Jews a favor, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing G2309 to go up to Jerusalem and to be tried before me on these matters?”
Unchecked Copy BoxAct 26:5 - since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing G2309 to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
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