Strong's Lexicon theléma: Will, desire, purpose Original Word: θέλημα Word Origin: Derived from the verb θέλω (thelō), meaning "to will" or "to wish." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - חֵפֶץ (chephets) - Strong's Hebrew 2656: Desire, pleasure, delight - רָצוֹן (ratson) - Strong's Hebrew 7522: Will, favor, acceptance Usage: In the New Testament, theléma primarily refers to the will or desire of God, encompassing His sovereign plans and purposes. It can also denote human will or desire, though it is most often used in the context of divine will. The term emphasizes the intentional and purposeful nature of God's actions and commands. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of "will" was often associated with fate or destiny, but in the biblical context, theléma underscores a personal and relational God who actively engages with His creation. The Jewish understanding of God's will was deeply rooted in the Torah, where obedience to God's commandments was seen as aligning with His will. In the New Testament, the concept expands to include the revelation of God's will through Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. HELPS Word-studies 2307 thélēma (from 2309 /thélō, "to desire, wish") – properly, a desire (wish), often referring to God's "preferred-will," i.e. His "best-offer" to people which can be accepted or rejected. [Note the -ma suffix, focusing on the result hoped for with the particular desire (wish). 2307 (thélēma) is nearly always used of God, referring to His preferred-will. Occasionally it is used of man (cf. Lk 23:25; Jn 1:13.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom theló Definition will NASB Translation desire (1), desires (1), will (57). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2307: θέλημαθέλημα, θελήματος, τό (θέλω), a word purely Biblical and ecclesiastical (yet found in Aristotle, de plant. 1, 1, p. 815b, 21); the Sept. for חֵפֶץ and רָצון; will, i. e., a. what one wishes or has determined shall be done (i. e. objectively, thing willed): Luke 12:47; John 5:30; 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 2 Timothy 2:26; Hebrews 10:10; Revelation 4:11; θέλημα τοῦ Θεοῦ is used — of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ, Acts 22:14; Ephesians 1:9; Colossians 1:9; of what God wishes to be done by us, Romans 12:2; Colossians 4:12 (Winer's Grammar, 111 (105)); 1 Peter 4:2; and simply τό θέλημα, Romans 2:18 (Winer's Grammar, 594 (553)) (Sir. 43:16 (17) (but here the better text now adds αὐτοῦ, see Fritzsche; in patristic Greek, however, θέλημα is so used even without the article; cf. Ignatius ad Rom. 1, 1 [ET]; ad Eph. 20, 1 [ET], etc.)); τοῦ κυρίου, Ephesians 5:17; plural commands, precepts: (Mark 3:35 WH. marginal reading); Acts 13:22 (Psalm 102:7 b. equivalent to τό θέλειν (i. e. the abstract act of willing, the subjective) will, choice: 1 Peter 3:17 (cf. Winer's Grammar, 604 (562)); 2 Peter 1:21; ποιεῖν τό θέλημα τίνος (especially of God), Matthew 7:21; Matthew 12:50; Matthew 21:31; Mark 3:35 (here WH marginal reading the plural, see above); John 4:34; John 6:38; John 7:17; John 9:31; Ephesians 6:6; Hebrews 10:7, 9, 36; Hebrews 13:21; 1 John 2:17; τό θέλημα (L T Tr WH βούλημα) τίνος κατεργάζεσθαι, 1 Peter 4:3; γίνεται τό θέλημα τίνος, Matthew 6:10; Matthew 26:42; Luke 11:2 L R; Strong's Exhaustive Concordance desire, pleasure, will. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination -- desire, pleasure, will. see GREEK ethelo Forms and Transliterations θελημα θέλημα θέλημά θελήμασιν θεληματα θελήματα θελήματά θεληματι θελήματι θελήματί θεληματος θελήματος thelema thelēma thélema thélemá thélēma thélēmá thelemata thelēmata thelḗmata thelḗmatá thelemati thelēmati thelḗmati thelematos thelēmatos thelḗmatosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 6:10 N-NNSGRK: γενηθήτω τὸ θέλημά σου ὡς NAS: come. Your will be done, KJV: come. Thy will be done in INT: let be done the will of you as Matthew 7:21 N-ANS Matthew 12:50 N-ANS Matthew 18:14 N-NNS Matthew 21:31 N-ANS Matthew 26:42 N-NNS Mark 3:35 N-ANS Luke 11:2 Noun-NNS Luke 12:47 N-ANS Luke 12:47 N-ANS Luke 22:42 N-NNS Luke 23:25 N-DNS John 1:13 N-GNS John 1:13 N-GNS John 4:34 N-ANS John 5:30 N-ANS John 5:30 N-ANS John 6:38 N-ANS John 6:38 N-ANS John 6:39 N-NNS John 6:40 N-NNS John 7:17 N-ANS John 9:31 N-ANS Acts 13:22 N-ANP Acts 21:14 N-NNS Strong's Greek 2307 |