θέλημα (G2307) — Greek Lexicon

θέλημα

thélēma

G2307 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An act of willing or the product thereof; the intention, purpose, desire, or decision of a person, especially as an expression of personal or authoritative volition. In various contexts, it denotes not only the inner resolve or preference, but also the expressed wish, order, or (particularly of God or an authority) that which is willed or decreed; can refer both to the process of wishing or choosing and to the result or object of that choice (that which is willed, a decree).

Semantic Range

act of willing, intention, desire, wish, purpose, inclination, decision, decree, what is willed or commanded, personal preference, authoritative intention (esp. of a deity or ruler)

Root / Etymology

From the verb θέλω ('to will, to wish, to desire'), with the suffix -μα indicating the result or object of the verbal action; thus, θέλημα denotes 'that which is willed' or 'an act of will.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, θέλημα is rare and typically refers to a wish, desire, or will, both human and divine, though it is much less common than the related term βούλημα (which often points to counsel or a plan as opposed to merely a wish or desire). In the Septuagint, θέλημα appears more frequently, often as a rendering of the Hebrew רָצוֹן (ratson, 'good pleasure, will') or חֵפֶץ (chephets, 'delight, desire'). In the New Testament and later Koine, the term most often refers to the will, intention, or purpose of God, but it is also used of human will or desire. Nuances depend on the agent and context: it may signify a command, a wish, an inner disposition, or the effective purpose of an authority. English translations often render θέλημα as 'will' (e.g., 'the will of God'), but the term can encompass both the act of willing and the content of what is willed or commanded, and so 'purpose,' 'wish,' or 'decree' may sometimes better capture its force. Unlike some English uses, θέλημα does not have the philosophical sense of free agency or determinative will unless the context specifies. Distinct from βούλημα, which may stress deliberation or plan rather than desire or will as such.

Translation Consistency

primary "will" 61 occurrences

'will' is by far the dominant English rendering in the corpus (54 of 62) and naturally covers the full SILEX range — inner intention, desire, purpose, decision, and authoritative decree (e.g. 'God’s will'). It is idiomatic in English for both personal preference and authoritative volition, so it provides the most consistent, natural single word for all forms of θέλημα. Alternatives like 'desire' or 'wish' are narrower or less common.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):

"desires" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the prolonged form of θέλω; a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination:-- desire, pleasure, will.

Root Family

θέλημα (thelēma) — will, intention, desire, purpose, decree

Root θελ- to will, to wish, to desire

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2307-01`	θέλημά	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will	40
`G2307-04`	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will	14
`G2307-03`	θελήματι	thelemati	`N DAT N SG`	will	to the will	will	6
`G2307-02`	θελήματά	thelemata	`N ACC N PL`	desires	acts of will	desires	2

Occurrences in Scripture

62 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2307-01`	Matthew 6:10	θέλημά	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Matthew 7:21	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Matthew 12:50	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Matthew 18:14	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	the will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Matthew 21:31	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Matthew 26:42	θέλημά	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Mark 3:35	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Luke 12:47	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Luke 12:47	θέλημα	thelema-2	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Luke 22:42	θέλημά	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-03`	Luke 23:25	θελήματι	thelemati	`N DAT N SG`	will	to the will	will
`G2307-04`	John 1:13	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	John 1:13	θελήματος	thelematos-2	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-01`	John 4:34	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 5:30	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 5:30	θέλημα	thelema-2	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 6:38	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 6:38	θέλημα	thelema-2	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 6:39	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 6:40	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 7:17	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	John 9:31	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-02`	Acts 13:22	θελήματά	thelemata	`N ACC N PL`	wills	acts of will	wills
`G2307-01`	Acts 21:14	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Acts 22:14	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-03`	Romans 1:10	θελήματι	thelemati	`N DAT N SG`	will	to the will	will
`G2307-01`	Romans 2:18	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Romans 12:2	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-04`	Romans 15:32	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	1 Corinthians 1:1	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	the will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	1 Corinthians 7:37	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-01`	1 Corinthians 16:12	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-04`	2 Corinthians 1:1	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	the will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	2 Corinthians 8:5	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-01`	Galatians 1:4	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-04`	Ephesians 1:1	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	the will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	Ephesians 1:5	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	Ephesians 1:9	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	Ephesians 1:11	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-02`	Ephesians 2:3	θελήματα	thelemata	`N ACC N PL`	desires	acts of will	desires
`G2307-01`	Ephesians 5:17	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Ephesians 6:6	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-04`	Colossians 1:1	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	the will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-04`	Colossians 1:9	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-03`	Colossians 4:12	θελήματι	thelemati	`N DAT N SG`	will	to the will	will
`G2307-01`	1 Thessalonians 4:3	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	1 Thessalonians 5:18	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-04`	2 Timothy 1:1	θελήματος	thelematos	`N GEN N SG`	the will	of the will	of the will
`G2307-01`	2 Timothy 2:26	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Hebrews 10:7	θέλημά	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Hebrews 10:9	θέλημά	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-03`	Hebrews 10:10	θελήματι	thelemati	`N DAT N SG`	will	to the will	will
`G2307-01`	Hebrews 10:36	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Hebrews 13:21	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	1 Peter 2:15	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	1 Peter 3:17	θέλημα	thelema	`N NOM N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-03`	1 Peter 4:2	θελήματι	thelemati	`N DAT N SG`	will	to the will	to the will
`G2307-01`	1 Peter 4:19	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-03`	2 Peter 1:21	θελήματι	thelemati	`N DAT N SG`	by the will	to the will	by the will
`G2307-01`	1 John 2:17	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	1 John 5:14	θέλημα	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will
`G2307-01`	Revelation 4:11	θέλημά	thelema	`N ACC N SG`	will	will	will

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