noun · neuter
thelēmem
Greekθέλημα (thelēma)
Strong’sG2307
will, wish, desire
stem thelēm-62 times in the New Testamentin 18 of 27 books3 of 6 forms occur
Translated as
What it means
† θέλημα, -τος, τό
(< θέλω), [in LXX chiefly for חָפֶץ, also for רָצוֹן, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2307 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidthel'-ay-mah
a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination
Fromfrom the prolonged form of G2309;
King Jamesdesire, pleasure, will.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Every form
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject or object direct | thelēmem14×θέλημα | thelēmeim |
| of, belonging to genitive | thelēmeu14×θελήματος | thelēmeiu |
| to, for dative | thelēme6×θελήματι | thelēmei |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
thelēme is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
62 occurrences, every one of them listed
thelēmem“will”subject or objectdirect singular14×
Matthew 6:10“will”erchatar tas basileias su, ginitar tem thelēmem su, hōs en ourano kai epi gēau;Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 18:14“will”houtōs ouk atō thelēmem emprosthen tou patērou vu tou en ouranoi hina apollueteia henem teiu mikreiu houteiu.In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 26:42“will”palin ek deutereu apercharatos proseucheta legarōtos; Patēror mu, ei ouk dunetō houtem parerchara ean mē autem pinameia, ginitar tem thelēmem su.A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
Luke 22:42“will”legarōtos; Patēror, ei boulesō paraferasar houtem tem potēriem apo mu; plēn mē tem thelēmem mu alla tem sem ginetōr.“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
John 6:39“will”houtem de atō tem thelēmem tou pemparatou min hina pantem hem dōatē mi mē apolluameia ek auteu alla anistanameia autem ta eschata hēmera.And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.
John 6:40“will”houtem gar atō tem thelēmem tou patērou mu hina pantos tos theōrarōtos ton huion kai pisteuarōtos eis auton echateiō zōan aiōnian, kai anistanami auton mis ta eschata hēmera.For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Acts 21:14“will”mē peithirōtou de autou hēsuchazana legaratois; Tou kuriou tem thelēmem ginetōr.When he would not be dissuaded, we quieted down and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
Romans 12:2“will”kai mē suschēmatizevōr to aiōno houto, alla metamorfivōr ta anakainōsia tou nouou, eis tem dokimazarō vin tinem tem thelēmem tou theou, tem agathem kai euarestem kai teleiem.Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
1 Corinthians 16:12“willing”Peri de Apollou tou adelfou, polleim parakalama auton hina erchateia pros vin meta toiu adelfoiu; kai pantōs ouk ate thelēmem hina nun erchateia, ercheti de hotan eukairateia.Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
Ephesians 5:17“will”dia houtem mē ginevōr afrōnois, alla suniēkavōr tinem tem thelēmem tou kuriou;Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
1 Thessalonians 4:3“will”houtem gar atō thelēmem tou theou, tos hagiasmos vu, apecherō vin apo tau porneiau,For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thessalonians 5:18“will”en pante eucharistavōr; houtem gar thelēmem theou en Christo Iēso eis vin.Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 2:15“will”hoti houtōs atō tem thelēmem tou theou, agathopoiarōtoin fimarō tan toiu afrōnoiu anthrōpoiu agnōsian;For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
1 Peter 3:17“will”kreittōnem gar agathopoiarōtoin, ei thelatoiō tem thelēmem tou theou, pascharō ē kakopoiarōtoin.For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
thelēmeu“will”of, belonging togenitive singular14×
John 1:13“will”hois ouk ek haimeiu oude ek thelēmeu sarxau oude ek thelēmeu anērou alla ek theou gennila.children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
John 1:13“will”hois ouk ek haimeiu oude ek thelēmeu sarxau oude ek thelēmeu anērou alla ek theou gennila.children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
Romans 15:32“will”hina en chara ercharatos pros vin dia thelēmeu theou sunanapauemeia vi.so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
1 Corinthians 1:1“will”Paulos klētos apostolos Christou Iēsu dia thelēmeu theou kai Sōsthenos tos adelfosPaul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
1 Corinthians 7:37“will”hos de histanatē en ta kardia autou hedraios mē echarōtos anankan, exousian de echatō peri teu idieu thelēmeu, kai houtem krinatē en ta idia kardia, tērarō tan heautou parthenan, kalōs poiati;But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
2 Corinthians 1:1“will”Paulos apostolos Christou Iēsu dia thelēmeu theou kai Timotheos tos adelfos ta ekklēsa tou theou ta arōta en Korintha, sun toi hagioi pantoi toi arōtoi en hola ta Achaia;Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
2 Corinthians 8:5“will”kai ouk kathōs elpizana alla heautoin dōala prōtem to kurio kai ni dia thelēmeu theou,And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.
Ephesians 1:1“will”Paulos apostolos Christou Iēsu dia thelēmeu theou toi hagioi toi arōtoi en Efesa kai pistoi en Christo Iēso;Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 1:5“will”proorizaratos nin eis huiothesian dia Iēsu Christou eis auton, kata tan eudokian teu thelēmeu autou,He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Ephesians 1:9“will”gnōrizaratos ni tem mustēriem teu thelēmeu autou, kata tan eudokian autou han protitheta en autoAnd He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
Ephesians 1:11“will”en ho kai klērina prooriziratois kata prothesian tou teim panteim energarōtou kata tan boulan teu thelēmeu autou,In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
Colossians 1:1“will”Paulos apostolos Christou Iēsu dia thelēmeu theou kai Timotheos tos adelfosPaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Colossians 1:9“will”Dia houtem kai nis, apo hau hēmerau akouana, ouk pauenō huper vu proseucherōtois kai aiterōtois hina plēriveia tan epignōsian teu thelēmeu autou en panta sofia kai sunesia pneumatika,For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
2 Timothy 1:1“will”Paulos apostolos Christou Iēsu dia thelēmeu theou kata epangelian zōau tau en Christo IēsoPaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
thelēme“will”to, fordative singular6×
Luke 23:25“will”apoluata de ton dia stasian kai fonon ballirēton eis fulakan hon aitele, ton de Iēsun paradōata te thelēme autoiu.As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over to their will.
Romans 1:10“will”pantote epi taiu proseuchaiu mu, derōtos ei pōs ēdē pote euodimi en te thelēme tou theou erchara pros vin.in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
Colossians 4:12“will”aspazetō vin Epafros tos ek vu, doulos Christou, pantote agōnizerōtos huper vu en tai proseuchai, hina histaniveia teleiois kai plēroforirētois en pante thelēme tou theou.Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
Hebrews 10:10“will”en he thelēme hagiazirētois anō dia tau prosforau teu sōmeu Iēsu Christou efapax.And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1 Peter 4:2“will”eis tem mēketi anthrōpoiu epithumiai alla thelēme theou ton epiloipon en sarxa biara chronon.Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
2 Peter 1:21“will”ouk gar thelēme anthrōpou ferita profēteias pote, alla hupo pneumeu hagieu ferirōtois lalala apo theou anthrōpois.For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
thelēmem26×
Matthew 7:21“will”Ouk pantos tos legarōtos mi; Kurior kurior eisercheti eis tan basileian toiu ouranoiu, alla tos poiarōtos tem thelēmem tou patērou mu tou en toi ouranoi.Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 12:50“will”hotinos gar an poiateia tem thelēmem tou patērou mu tou en ouranoi, autos mu adelfos kai adelfas kai mētēras atō.For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 21:31“will”tinos ek toiu duo poiata tem thelēmem tou patērou? legalō; Tos prōtos. legatō autoi tos Iēsus; Amēn legamō vi hoti tois telōnois kai tais pornais proagalō vin eis tan basileian tou theou.Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
Mark 3:35“will”hos gar an poiateia tem thelēmem tou theou, houtos adelfos mu kai adelfas kai mētēras atō.For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
Luke 12:47“will”ekeinos de tos doulos tos gnōskaratos tem thelēmem tou kuriou autou kai mē hetoimazaratos ē poiaratos pros tem thelēmem autou deriti pollain;That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
Luke 12:47“will”ekeinos de tos doulos tos gnōskaratos tem thelēmem tou kuriou autou kai mē hetoimazaratos ē poiaratos pros tem thelēmem autou deriti pollain;That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
John 4:34“will”legatō autoi tos Iēsus; Ēmem brōmem atō hina poiameia tem thelēmem tou pemparatou min kai teleiameia autou tem ergem.Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
John 5:30“will”Ouk dunemō mis poiarō apo miautou oudenem; kathōs akouamō krinamō, kai tas krisias tas ēmas dikaias atō, hoti ouk zētamō tem thelēmem tem ēmem alla tem thelēmem tou pemparatou min.I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 5:30“will”Ouk dunemō mis poiarō apo miautou oudenem; kathōs akouamō krinamō, kai tas krisias tas ēmas dikaias atō, hoti ouk zētamō tem thelēmem tem ēmem alla tem thelēmem tou pemparatou min.I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 6:38“will”hoti katabainamē apo tou ouranou ouk hina poiameiō tem thelēmem tem ēmem alla tem thelēmem tou pemparatou min;For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
John 6:38“will”hoti katabainamē apo tou ouranou ouk hina poiameiō tem thelēmem tem ēmem alla tem thelēmem tou pemparatou min;For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
John 7:17“will”ean tinos thelateiō tem thelēmem autou poiarō, gnōsketi peri tau didachau poteron ek tou theou atō ē mis apo miautou lalamō.If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
John 9:31“will”oidanē hoti hamartōloiu tos theos ouk akouatō, alla ean tinos theosebos ateiō kai tem thelēmem autou poiateiō houtou akouatō.We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
Acts 22:14“will”tos de legata; Tos theos toiu patēroiu nu procheirizeta sin gnōskara tem thelēmem autou kai horara ton dikaion kai akouara fōnan ek teu stomeu autou,Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and to hear His voice.
Romans 2:18“will”kai gnōskasō tem thelēmem kai dokimazasō teim diaferarōteim katēchirōtos ek tou nomou,if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;
Galatians 1:4“will”tou dōaratou heauton huper taiu hamartaiu nu hopōs exaireteia nin ek tou aiōnou tou enistanarētou ponērou kata tem thelēmem tou theou kai patērou nu,who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
Ephesians 6:6“will”mē kata ofthalmodoulian hōs anthrōpareskois alla hōs doulois Christou poiarōtois tem thelēmem tou theou, ek psuchauAnd do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
2 Timothy 2:26“will”kai ananēfaleia ek tau tou diabolou pagiau, zōgrirētois hupo autou eis tem ekeinou thelēmem.Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
Hebrews 10:7“will”tote legama; Idou hēkamō, en kefalia biblieu grafitē peri mu, teu poiara, tor theor, tem thelēmem su.Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”
Hebrews 10:9“will”tote legatē; Idou hēkamō teu poiara tem thelēmem su; anairatō tem prōtem hina tem deuterem histanateia.Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.
Hebrews 10:36“will”hupomonau gar echavō chreian hina tem thelēmem tou theou poiaratois komizeveia tan epangelian;You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
Hebrews 13:21“will”katartizatoia vin en pante agathe eis tem poiara tem thelēmem autou, poiarōtos en ni tem euarestem enōpion autou dia Iēsu Christou, ho tas doxas eis toin aiōnoin; amēn.equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:19“will”hōste kai tois pascharōtois kata tem thelēmem tou theou pisto ktisto paratithelōr tain psuchain autoiu en agathopoia.So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
1 John 2:17“will”kai tos kosmos paragitō kai tas epithumias autou, tos de poiarōtos tem thelēmem tou theou menatō eis ton aiōnon.The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
1 John 5:14“will”kai houtas atō tas parrēsias han echanō pros auton, hoti ean tinem aiteneiō kata tem thelēmem autou akouatō nu.And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Revelation 4:11“will”Axios asō, tor kurior kai tor theor nu, lambara tan doxan kai tan timan kai tan dunamian, hoti sis ktizasa teim panteim, kai dia tem thelēmem su ale kai ktizila.“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”
thelēmeim2×
Acts 13:22“will”kai methistanaratos auton egeirata ton David autoi eis basilevon, ho kai legata marturaratos; Heuriskama David ton tou Iessai, anēron kata tan kardian mu, hos poiati panteim teim thelēmeim mu.After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’
Ephesians 2:3“desires”en hoi kai nis pantois anastrefina pote en tai epithumiai tau sarxau nu, poiarōtois teim thelēmeim tau sarxau kai taiu dianoiaiu, kai ene tekneim fusia orgau hōs kai tois loipois;All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.