Greek noun (neuter) · G2307
θέλημα
thelemathel'-ay-mah
will/desire
62 uses in the Greek text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: thélēma
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's G2307is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 18 of 27New Testament books
- 7spellings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · G2307
a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination
The King James renders it: desire, pleasure, will.
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
thelema is rendered "will/desire". It stands 62 times in the Greek text, across eighteen books.
- Eleven of the uses stand in John, more than in any other book.
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Matthew 6:10Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- The Greek text spells it seven different ways.
The first use
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10θέλημά
The first use, in the order of the New Testament's books.
Where the word stands
The word stands in eighteen of the 27 New Testament books.
What the word means
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- will59
- by will1
- things willed1
- to will1
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| θέλησις | thelesis | will | Uses1 |
All 62, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
7 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- θέλημα33
- θελήματος14
- θέλημά6
- θελήματι6
- θέλημα.¶1
- θελήματα1
- θελήματά1
The grammar of each form
- noun · accusative (object) · neuter singular26N-ASN
- noun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singular14N-GSN
- noun · nominative (subject) · neuter singular14N-NSN
- noun · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singular6N-DSN
- noun · accusative (object) · neuter plural2N-APN
Matthew
six uses
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
- θέλημάthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
- θέλημάthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
Mark
one use
For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Luke
four uses
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
- θέλημάthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
As they had requested, he released the one imprisoned for insurrection and murder, and handed Jesus over to their will.
- θελήματιthelematinoun · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: will
John
eleven uses
children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.”
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Acts
three uses
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.’
- θελήματάthelematanoun · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: will
When he would not be dissuaded, we fell silent and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Romans
four uses
in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.
- θελήματιthelematinoun · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: will
if you know His will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law;
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
1 Corinthians
three uses
Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
2 Corinthians
two uses
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:
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
Galatians
one use
who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Ephesians
seven uses
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
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,
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θελήματαthelematanoun · accusative (object) · neuter pluraltagged: things willed
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Colossians
three uses
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
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,
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θελήματιthelematinoun · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: will
1 Thessalonians
two uses
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
2 Timothy
two uses
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
- θελήματοςthelematosnoun · genitive (“of”) · neuter singulartagged: will
Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
- θέλημα.¶thelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Hebrews
five uses
Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”
- θέλημάthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.
- θέλημάthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
- θελήματιthelematinoun · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: will
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
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.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
1 Peter
four uses
For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · nominative (subject) · neuter singulartagged: will
Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
- θελήματιthelematinoun · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: to will
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
2 Peter
one use
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.
- θελήματιthelematinoun · dative (“to / for”) · neuter singulartagged: by will
1 John
two uses
The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- θέλημαthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Revelation
one use
“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 came to be.”
- θέλημάthelemanoun · accusative (object) · neuter singulartagged: will
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.