θέλω (thelō)
thelō
to will/desire
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 202 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb thelō expresses a personal will, desire, or intention to do something. It conveys an active choice or preference rather than passive acquiescence. In the New Testament, it appears frequently in the Gospels and Pauline letters, often describing human decisions or divine purposes.
It is distinct from boulomai, which tends to imply a more settled, deliberate purpose. Thelō captures the immediate inclination of the heart. Jesus uses it to contrast human intention with God’s will, as when He laments that Jerusalem refused to accept Him despite His desire to gather them (Matthew 23:37). Paul also employs it to highlight the tension between what a person wants and what they actually accomplish (Romans 7:15).
Translators usually render it simply as "will" or "wish." This straightforward language reflects its common usage in everyday Greek, where it denotes a clear, personal preference. The word underscores the reality of human agency within God’s sovereign plan.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word thelō points to a genuine desire or intention. It is not merely a fleeting wish but a clear inclination of the heart. When you read this in Scripture, it often highlights the tension between what we want and what God desires. For example, Jesus expresses His own will to gather Jerusalem, yet acknowledges that human hearts can refuse Him (Matthew 23:37). This shows that God respects our freedom to choose, even when we choose against His best intentions.
In your daily life, this word invites you to examine your own desires. Do your choices align with the will of God? Jesus teaches that true discipleship involves a deliberate choice to follow Him, even when it means denying oneself (Matthew 16:24). This is not about forced obedience but a willing response to His love. When you desire what God desires, your life finds its true direction and peace.
Consider the leper in Matthew 8:3. He asks if Jesus is willing to heal him, and Jesus simply says, “I want to.” This simple affirmation shows that God’s will is often one of healing and restoration. You can bring your own desires to Him, trusting that He hears you and responds with grace. Let your heart be shaped by His will, knowing that it is always for your good.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 202 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- desiring10×
- I desire10×
- wishing8×
- shall desire7×
- desires7×
- I want7×
- you desire5×
- I wish5×
- I do want5×
- do you desire4×
- willing3×
- to will3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θέλω31×
- θέλει19×
- θέλεις15×
- ἤθελεν13×
- θέλων13×
- θέλετε13×
- θέλῃ8×
- ἠθέλησεν7×
- θέλομεν7×
- ἤθελον6×
- θέλοντες6×
- θέλουσιν4×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 8:3
Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Jesus uses thelō to affirm His immediate willingness to heal, showing that God's desire is often one of restoration and mercy.
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Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Here the word defines discipleship as a conscious choice to deny oneself and follow Jesus, highlighting human agency in responding to grace.
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Matthew 5:42
Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
The verse contrasts those who ask or desire with the believer’s call to give freely, showing how Christian will should flow from generosity rather than obligation.
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Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Jesus uses the word to invite a specific individual into a deeper commitment, illustrating that divine calling often meets human willingness at a point of surrender.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does thelō mean in the New Testament?
How is thelō different from boulomai?
Where does thelō appear most often?
Does thelō imply that God changes His mind?
Every Occurrence (202 verses across 22 books)
Matthew 41 verses
Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away…
Matthew 2:18“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be…
Matthew 5:40If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
Matthew 5:42Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
Matthew 7:12Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 8:2Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Matthew 8:3Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 9:13But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but…
Matthew 11:14If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.
Matthew 12:7But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
Matthew 12:38Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Matthew 13:28“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
Matthew 14:5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
Matthew 15:28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was…
Matthew 15:32Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now…
Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and…
Matthew 16:25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 17:4Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one…
Matthew 17:12but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to.…
Matthew 18:23Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
Matthew 18:30He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.
Matthew 19:17He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life,…
Matthew 19:21Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure…
Matthew 20:14Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
Matthew 20:15Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
Matthew 20:21He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand…
Matthew 20:26It shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
Matthew 20:27Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
Matthew 20:32Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Matthew 21:29He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
Matthew 22:3and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come.
Matthew 23:4For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will…
Matthew 23:37“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered…
Matthew 26:15and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of…
Matthew 26:17Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, “Where do you want us to prepare…
Matthew 26:39He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away…
Matthew 27:15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner whom they desired.
Matthew 27:17When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or…
Matthew 27:21But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
Matthew 27:34they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.
Matthew 27:43He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”