◄ 1939. epithumia ►
Strong's Lexicon epithumia: Desire, lust, longing Original Word: ἐπιθυμία Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: epithumia Pronunciation: eh-pee-thoo-MEE-ah Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) Definition: desire, eagerness for, inordinate desire, lust. Meaning: The term ἐπιθυμία generally refers to a strong desire or longing, often with a connotation of lust or covetousness. It can denote both positive and negative desires depending on the context. Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ἐπιθυμέω (epithymeō), which means "to desire" or "to long for." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with ἐπιθυμία is תַּאֲוָה (ta'avah • Strong's Hebrew 8378), which similarly denotes desire or longing, and can carry both positive and negative connotations depending on the context. Another related term is חֶמְדָּה (chemdah • Strong's Hebrew 2531), which also means desire or delight. Usage: In the New Testament, ἐπιθυμία is frequently used to describe desires that are contrary to God's will, often translated as "lust" or "covetousness." However, it can also refer to legitimate desires when used in a positive context. Context: The Greek word ἐπιθυμία appears numerous times in the New Testament, often highlighting the moral and spiritual struggles faced by believers. It is commonly associated with the sinful nature and the temptations that lead individuals away from a righteous path. For instance, in James 1:14-15 (BSB), it is written, "But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." This passage illustrates the progression from desire to sin, emphasizing the need for vigilance against such inclinations. In Galatians 5:16-17 (BSB), the apostle Paul contrasts the desires of the flesh with the guidance of the Spirit: "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh." Here, ἐπιθυμία is depicted as a force that opposes spiritual growth and alignment with God's will. However, not all uses of ἐπιθυμία are negative. In Luke 22:15 (BSB), Jesus expresses a positive form of desire: "And He said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.'" This demonstrates that ἐπιθυμία can also reflect earnest and righteous longing. The term serves as a reminder of the internal battle between fleshly desires and spiritual aspirations, urging believers to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptations and align their desires with God's purposes. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1939 epithymía (from 1909 /epí, "focused on" and 2372 /thymós, "passionate desire") – properly, passion built on strong feelings (urges). These can be positive or negative, depending on whether the desire is inspired by faith (God's inbirthed persuasion). See 1937 (epithymeō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from epithumeó Definition desire, passionate longing, lust NASB Translation coveting (2), desire (4), desires (8), earnestly (1), impulses (1), long (1), lust (5), lustful (1), lusts (15). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1939: ἐπιθυμία ἐπιθυμία, ἐπιθυμίας, ἡ (ἐπιθυμέω) (from Herodotus on), the Sept. chiefly for תַּאֲוָה, אַוָּה, חֲמוּד; desire, craving, longing: Luke 22:15 (on which sevin ἐπιθυμέω, at the end); Revelation 18:14; τήν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχειν εἰς τί, the desire directed toward, Philippians 1:23; ἐν πολλή ἐπιθυμία with great desire, 1 Thessalonians 2:17; plural αἱ περί τά λοιπά ἐπιθυμίαι, Mark 4:19 (Winers Grammar, § 30, 3 N. 5); specifically, desire for what is forbidden, lust (Vulg.concupiscentia): Romans 7:7; James 1:14; 2 Peter 1:4; πάθος ἐπιθυμίας, 1 Thessalonians 4:5; ἐπιθυμία κακῇ, Colossians 3:5 (Proverbs 21:26; (Proverbs 12:12); Plato, legg. 9, p. 854 a.; πονηρά, Xenophon, mem. 1, 2, 64; ἀγαθή, Sir. 14:14 where see Fritzsche (who cites also Proverbs 11:23; Proverbs 13:12)); plural, Galatians 5:24; 1 Timothy 6:9; 2 Timothy 2:22; 2 Timothy 4:3; 1 Peter 1:14; 1 Peter 4:2; with a genitive of the object, ἐπιθυμία μιασμοῦ, for unclean contact, 2 Peter 2:10 (others with Winer's Grammar, § 34, 3 b. take μιασμοῦ as the genitive of quality); with a genitive of the subject, αἱ ἐπιθυμίαι τῶν καρδιῶν, Romans 1:24; with a genitive of the thing by which the desire is excited, ἡ ἐπιθυμία τοῦ κόσμου, 1 John 2:17; τοῦ σώματος, Romans 6:12; τῆς ἀπάτης (see ἀπάτη), Ephesians 4:22; τῆς σαρκός, τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν, 1 John 2:16 (cf. Huther ad loc.); 2 Peter 2:18; τέλειν σαρκός, Galatians 5:16; αἱ σαρκικαι ἐπιθυμίαι, 1 Peter 2:11 (ψυχικαί, σωματικαί, 4 Macc. 1:32); αἱ κοσμικαι ἐπιθυμίαι, Titus 2:12; εἰς ἐπιθυμίας to arouse lusts, Romans 13:14; ποιεῖν τάς ἐπιθυμίας, John 8:44; ὑπακούειν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις, Romans 6:12 (L T Tr WH); δουλεύειν ἐπιθυμίαις (see δουλεύω, 2 b.), Titus 3:3; ἄγεσθαι ἐπιθυμίαις, 2 Timothy 3:6; πορεύεσθαι ἐν ἐπιθυμίαις, 1 Peter 4:3; πορεύεσθαι κατά τάς ἐπιθυμίας, Jude 1:16, 18; 2 Peter 3:3; ἀναστρέφεσθαι ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τῆς σαρκός, Ephesians 2:3. (Synonym: cf. πάθος, and see Trench, § lxxxvii.) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance passion, desire, lust From epithumeo; a longing (especially for what is forbidden) -- concupiscence, desire, lust (after). see GREEK epithumeo Forms and Transliterations επέθυεν επιθυμια επιθυμία ἐπιθυμία Ἐπιθυμίᾳ επιθυμιαι επιθυμίαι ἐπιθυμίαι επιθυμιαις επιθυμίαις ἐπιθυμίαις επιθυμιαν επιθυμίαν ἐπιθυμίαν επιθυμιας επιθυμίας ἐπιθυμίας επιθυμιων επιθυμιών ἐπιθυμιῶν επιθύοντας επιθύσαι epithumia epithumiai epithumiais epithumian epithumias epithumion epithumiōn epithymia epithymía epithymiai epithymíai Epithymíāi epithymiais epithymíais epithymian epithymían epithymias epithymías epithymion epithymiôn epithymiōn epithymiō̂n Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Mark 4:19 N-NFP GRK: τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι εἰσπορευόμεναι συμπνίγουσιν NAS: of riches, and the desires for other things KJV: and the lusts of INT: the other things desires entering in choke Luke 22:15 N-DFS GRK: πρὸς αὐτούς Ἐπιθυμίᾳ ἐπεθύμησα τοῦτο NAS: And He said to them, I have earnestly desired KJV: them, With desire I have desired INT: to them With desire I desired this John 8:44 N-AFP GRK: καὶ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τοῦ πατρὸς NAS: to do the desires of your father. KJV: and the lusts of your INT: and the desires of father Romans 1:24 N-DFP GRK: ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τῶν καρδιῶν NAS: gave them over in the lusts of their hearts KJV: through the lusts of their own INT: in the desires of the hearts Romans 6:12 N-DFP GRK: ὑπακούειν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις αὐτοῦ NAS: so that you obey its lusts, KJV: it in the lusts thereof. INT: to obey the lusts it Romans 7:7 N-AFS GRK: τε γὰρ ἐπιθυμίαν οὐκ ᾔδειν NAS: for I would not have known about coveting if KJV: not known lust, except the law INT: moreover indeed coveting not I had been conscious of Romans 7:8 N-AFS GRK: ἐμοὶ πᾶσαν ἐπιθυμίαν χωρὶς γὰρ NAS: produced in me coveting of every kind; KJV: all manner of concupiscence. For INT: me all covetousness apart from indeed Romans 13:14 N-AFP GRK: ποιεῖσθε εἰς ἐπιθυμίας NAS: in regard to [its] lusts. KJV: the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof]. INT: do take for desire Galatians 5:16 N-AFS GRK: περιπατεῖτε καὶ ἐπιθυμίαν σαρκὸς οὐ NAS: and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. KJV: not fulfil the lust of the flesh. INT: walk you and desire flesh no Galatians 5:24 N-DFP GRK: καὶ ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις NAS: with its passions and desires. KJV: the affections and lusts. INT: and the desires Ephesians 2:3 N-DFP GRK: ἐν ταῖς ἐπιθυμίαις τῆς σαρκὸς NAS: lived in the lusts of our flesh, KJV: in the lusts of our INT: in the desires of the flesh Ephesians 4:22 N-AFP GRK: κατὰ τὰς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀπάτης NAS: in accordance with the lusts of deceit, KJV: according to the deceitful lusts; INT: according to the desires of deceit Philippians 1:23 N-AFS GRK: δύο τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἔχων εἰς NAS: [directions], having the desire to depart KJV: two, having a desire to depart, INT: two the desire having for Colossians 3:5 N-AFS GRK: ἀκαθαρσίαν πάθος ἐπιθυμίαν κακήν καὶ NAS: passion, evil desire, and greed, which KJV: evil concupiscence, and INT: uncleanness passion desire evil and 1 Thessalonians 2:17 N-DFS GRK: ἐν πολλῇ ἐπιθυμίᾳ NAS: with great desire to see KJV: with great desire. INT: with much desire 1 Thessalonians 4:5 N-GFS GRK: ἐν πάθει ἐπιθυμίας καθάπερ καὶ NAS: not in lustful passion, like KJV: in the lust of concupiscence, even as INT: in passion of lust even as also 1 Timothy 6:9 N-AFP GRK: παγίδα καὶ ἐπιθυμίας πολλὰς ἀνοήτους NAS: and harmful desires which KJV: and hurtful lusts, which drown INT: a snare and desires many unwise 2 Timothy 2:22 N-AFP GRK: δὲ νεωτερικὰς ἐπιθυμίας φεῦγε δίωκε NAS: from youthful lusts and pursue KJV: also youthful lusts: but follow INT: moreover youthful lusts flee pursue 2 Timothy 3:6 N-DFP GRK: ἁμαρτίαις ἀγόμενα ἐπιθυμίαις ποικίλαις NAS: led on by various impulses, KJV: led away with divers lusts, INT: with sins led away by lusts various 2 Timothy 4:3 N-AFP GRK: τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας ἑαυτοῖς ἐπισωρεύσουσιν NAS: in accordance to their own desires, KJV: their own lusts shall they heap INT: the own desires to themselves will heap up Titus 2:12 N-AFP GRK: τὰς κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας σωφρόνως καὶ NAS: and worldly desires and to live KJV: worldly lusts, we should live INT: the worldly desires discreetly and Titus 3:3 N-DFP GRK: πλανώμενοι δουλεύοντες ἐπιθυμίαις καὶ ἡδοναῖς NAS: to various lusts and pleasures, KJV: serving divers lusts and pleasures, INT: led astray serving lusts and pleasures James 1:14 N-GFS GRK: τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας ἐξελκόμενος καὶ NAS: and enticed by his own lust. KJV: of his own lust, and enticed. INT: the own lust being drawn away and James 1:15 N-NFS GRK: εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει NAS: Then when lust has conceived, KJV: Then when lust hath conceived, INT: then lust having conceived gives birth to 1 Peter 1:14 N-DFP GRK: ἀγνοίᾳ ὑμῶν ἐπιθυμίαις NAS: to the former lusts [which were yours] in your ignorance, KJV: the former lusts in INT: ignorance of you desires Strong's Greek 1939 38 Occurrences Ἐπιθυμίᾳ — 8 Occ. ἐπιθυμίαι — 1 Occ. ἐπιθυμίαις — 10 Occ. ἐπιθυμίαν — 5 Occ. ἐπιθυμίας — 13 Occ. ἐπιθυμιῶν — 1 Occ.