ἄκων (akōn)
akōn
unwilling
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective akōn describes a state of being unwilling or acting against one’s own will. Derived from a negative prefix combined with the root for "willing," it literally means "not willing." In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
Paul uses it to describe his preaching of the gospel when he feels compelled by duty rather than personal desire. He notes that if he preaches voluntarily, he has a reward, but if he does so unwillingly, he is still entrusted with a stewardship (1 Corinthians 9:17). The word captures the tension between internal reluctance and external obligation.
While rare in Scripture, its meaning is precise. It highlights that faithful service can occur even when the heart is not fully eager. Paul’s usage reminds readers that responsibility sometimes requires acting despite a lack of personal enthusiasm.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word akōn describes a state of being unwilling or acting against one’s own will. It captures the tension between internal reluctance and external obligation. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians to explain his preaching duty, noting that even when he feels compelled by responsibility rather than personal desire, he is still entrusted with a stewardship.
This reality can be comforting when service feels like a burden. Faithful action does not always require enthusiasm or eagerness. Sometimes, simply showing up and doing what is required, despite a lack of inner motivation, is enough. God sees the heart behind the duty.
You do not need to manufacture excitement to serve well. Trust that your obedience, even when reluctant, is valued. This word reminds us that reliability often matters more than feeling inspired in the moment.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- unwillingly,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἄκων,1×