← G2308 G2310 →

θέλω

thélō

G2309 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To wish, to desire, or to will; to express one's will or intention toward some action or outcome. The core meaning is a conscious act of wishing or willing, ranging from strong desire to deliberate intent. In various contexts, it can convey: to want, to be willing, to intend, to resolve, to have in mind, to take pleasure or delight in something, or to request/ask (rare).

Semantic Range

to wish, to desire, to want, to resolve, to intend, to be willing, to take pleasure in, to be disposed to, to request (rare), to mean (intend), to be about to (impersonal/future sense)

Root / Etymology

The word θέλω appears to be related to the earlier form ἐθέλω, attested from classical Greek onward. Its connection to the verb αἱρέομαι (to choose) is not certain in current lexicographical consensus. More likely, θέλω and ἐθέλω derive from a Proto-Indo-European root *wel- (to wish, to desire).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, both θέλω and ἐθέλω were used, but ἐθέλω was more common in earlier stages, with θέλω gaining prominence in later Greek and the Koine period. The word ranges in strength from simple willingness ('wish, want') to deliberate resolve ('determine, purpose'). It can denote both internal inclination and outward choice, often overlapping with βούλομαι, but βούλομαι typically expresses a considered or reasoned preference, whereas θέλω emphasizes active will or impulse. In the Septuagint and New Testament, θέλω is used for a range of volitional acts — divine, human, or even impersonal ('be going to, about to' in future tense). In some cases, it translates Hebrew חָפֵץ (to take pleasure or delight in) or אָבָה (to be willing). Traditional English translations sometimes render θέλω as 'will,' 'want,' 'intend,' or 'wish,' but these may not always convey the nuance between inner desire and deliberate choice. The word does not inherently carry the theological connotation attached to 'will' in later English usage; such developments are later interpretive layers.

Translation Consistency

primary "want" 186 occurrences

'Want' is the most natural, commonly used English verb that covers the typical senses of thélō—desire, be willing, intend—without the ambiguity of 'will.' It reads naturally in a wide range of contexts (e.g., personal desire, divine intent, willingness) and keeps consistent, idiomatic translation across all forms.

Alternatives (22 occurrences):
"willing" (6x) "will" (5x) "wills" (2x) "willed" (2x) "might wish" (1x) "desiring" (1x) "having willed" (1x) "does it mean" (1x) "means" (1x) "delighting" (1x) "might desire" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently strengthened from the alternate form of αἱρέομαι; to determine (as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas βούλομαι 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)).

Root Family

θέλω (thelō) — to wish, to will, to desire, to want, to intend

Root θελ- to wish, to will, to desire, to want, to intend

Word Forms

31 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2309-20 θέλω thelo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I want I will I want 38
G2309-19 θέλητε thelete V PRS ACT SUBJ 2P PL do you want you (pl) might will you (pl) may want 21
G2309-11 θέλει thelei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG wants he/she/it wills he/she/it wants 19
G2309-13 θέλεις theleis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG do you want you desire you want 18
G2309-01 ἤθελεν ethelen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG wanted was willing he was wanting 14
G2309-23 θέλων thelon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG wanting willing wanting 13
G2309-09 ἤθελον ethelon V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL they wanted they were willing they were wanting 8
G2309-10 θέλῃ thele V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG wants may will may want 8
G2309-08 ἠθέλησεν ethelesen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG wanted he/she willed he wanted 8
G2309-22 θέλομεν thelomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we want we desire we want 7

Occurrences in Scripture

208 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2309-23 Matthew 1:19 θέλων thelon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG willing willing wanting
G2309-01 Matthew 2:18 ἤθελεν ethelen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG would was willing he was wanting
G2309-27 Matthew 5:40 θέλοντί thelonti V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG wanting to the one willing to the one wanting
G2309-24 Matthew 5:42 θέλοντα thelonta V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG wanting the one willing one willing
G2309-19 Matthew 7:12 θέλητε thelete V PRS ACT SUBJ 2P PL you desire you (pl) might will you (pl) may want
G2309-14 Matthew 8:2 θέλῃς theles V PRS ACT SUBJ 2P SG you are willing you may desire you may want
G2309-20 Matthew 8:3 θέλω thelo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I will I will I want
G2309-20 Matthew 9:13 θέλω thelo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I desire I will I want
G2309-19 Matthew 11:14 θέλετε thelete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL you are willing you (pl) might will you (pl) may want
G2309-20 Matthew 12:7 θέλω thelo V PRS ACT IND 1P SG I desire I will I want
← G2308 Greek Lexicon G2310 →