3785. ophelon
Strong's Lexicon
ophelon: "I wish," "would that," "if only"

Original Word: ὤφελον
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ophelon
Pronunciation: o-FE-lon
Phonetic Spelling: (of'-el-on)
Definition: "I wish," "would that," "if only"
Meaning: O that! I wish! Would that!, followed by indicative.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ὀφείλω (opheilō), meaning "to owe" or "to be obligated."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for the Greek particle ὤφελον, the concept of expressing a wish or longing can be found in Hebrew expressions such as "לוּ" (lu), which is used to express a wish or desire.

Usage: The Greek particle ὤφελον (ophelon) is used to express a strong desire or wish, often for something contrary to reality or expressing a sense of regret. It is typically used in contexts where the speaker is expressing a longing for a different situation or outcome.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek literature, particles like ὤφελον were used to convey emotions and desires, often in a poetic or rhetorical context. In the New Testament, this particle reflects the deep emotional and spiritual longings of the writers, often in the context of expressing a wish for a different spiritual reality or outcome.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from opheiló
Definition
would that (used to express an unattainable wish)
NASB Translation
wish (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 3785: ὄφελον

ὄφελον (for ὠφελον, without the augment, 2 aorist of ὀφείλω; in earlier Greek with an infinitive, as ὠφελον θανεῖν, I ought to have died, expressive of a wish, equivalent to would that I were dead; in later Greek it assumes the nature of an interjection, to be rendered) would that, where one wishes that a thing had happened which has not happened, or that a thing be done which probably will not be done (cf. Winers Grammar, 301f (283); Buttmann, § 150, 5): with an optative present Revelation 3:15 Rec.; with an indicative imperfect, Rev. ibid. G L T Tr WH; 2 Corinthians 11:1 (Epictetus diss. 2, 18, 15; Ignatius ad Smyrn. c. 12 [ET]); with an indicative aorist, 1 Corinthians 4:8 (Psalm 118:5 (); ὄφελον ἀπεθάνομεν, Exodus 16:3; Numbers 14:2; Numbers 20:3); with the future, Galatians 5:12 (Lucian, soloec. (or Pseudosoph.) 1, where this construction is classed as a solecism). Cf. Passow, ii., p. 603{a}; (Liddell and Scott, under the word ὀφείλω, II. 3).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
would that, I wish

First person singular of a past tense of opheilo; I ought (wish), i.e. (interjection) oh that! -- would (to God).

see GREEK opheilo

Forms and Transliterations
Οφελον Ὄφελον ὄφελόν Ophelon Óphelon óphelón
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Corinthians 4:8 Inj
GRK: ἐβασιλεύσατε καὶ ὄφελόν γε ἐβασιλεύσατε
NAS: us; and indeed, [I] wish that you had become kings
KJV: and I would to God ye did reign,
INT: you reigned and I wish surely you did reign

2 Corinthians 11:1 Inj
GRK: Ὄφελον ἀνείχεσθέ μου
NAS: I wish that you would bear
KJV: Would to God ye could bear with me
INT: I wish you were bearing with me

Galatians 5:12 Inj
GRK: Ὄφελον καὶ ἀποκόψονται
NAS: I wish that those who are troubling
KJV: I would they were even
INT: I wish even they would cut themselves off

Revelation 3:15 Inj
GRK: οὔτε ζεστός ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς
NAS: nor hot; I wish that you were cold or
KJV: nor hot: I would thou wert cold
INT: nor hot I wish cold you were

Strong's Greek 3785
4 Occurrences


ὄφελόν — 4 Occ.

















3784
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