Strong's Greek: 1937. ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeó) -- To desire, to long for, to covet

Strong's Lexicon

epithumeó: To desire, to long for, to covet

Original Word: ἐπιθυμέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: epithumeó
Pronunciation: ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o)
Definition: To desire, to long for, to covet
Meaning: I long for, covet, lust after, set the heart upon.

Word Origin: From the Greek words ἐπί (epi, meaning "upon" or "intensifying") and θυμός (thumos, meaning "passion" or "desire").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H183 (אָוָה, avah): To desire, to crave

- H2530 (חָמַד, chamad): To desire, to covet, to take pleasure in

Usage: The verb ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeó) is used in the New Testament to express a strong desire or longing, which can be either positive or negative depending on the context. It often conveys a deep-seated yearning or craving, which can be directed towards good, such as a desire for spiritual gifts or the kingdom of God, or towards evil, such as coveting what belongs to another.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, desires were often seen as powerful forces that could lead individuals to virtuous or destructive paths. Philosophers like Plato and Aristotle discussed the importance of controlling desires to achieve a balanced and virtuous life. In the Jewish context, the concept of desire was closely linked to the commandments, particularly the prohibition against coveting in the Ten Commandments, which underscores the moral implications of one's inner longings.

HELPS Word-studies

1937 epithyméō (from 1909 /epí, "focused on" intensifying 2372 /thymós, "passionate desire") – properly, to show focused passion as it aptly builds on (Gk epi, "upon") what a person truly yearns for; to "greatly desire to do or have something – 'to long for, to desire very much' " (L & N, 1, 25.12).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from epi and thumos
Definition
desire, lust after
NASB Translation
covet (2), coveted (1), craved (1), desire (1), desired (2), desires (1), gladly (1), long (3), longing (1), lust (2), sets its desire (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1937: ἐπιθυμέω

ἐπιθυμέω, ἐπιθύμω; (imperfect ἐπεθύμουν); future ἐπιθυμήσω; 1 aorist ἐπεθύμησα; (θυμός); from Aeschylus down; the Sept. for אִוָּה and חָמַד; properly, "to keep the θυμός turned upon a thing, hence (cf. our to set one's heart upon) to have a desire for, long for; absolutely, to desire (A. V. lust"), James 4:2; to lust after, covet, of those who seek things forbidden, Romans 7:7; Romans 13:9 (from Exodus 20:17); 1 Corinthians 10:6 (4 Macc. 2:6); κατά τίνος, to have desires opposed to (A. V. lust against) a thing (Galatians 5:17 (Buttmann, 335 (288)); τίνος, to long for, covet a thing, Acts 20:33; 1 Timothy 3:1; of sexual desire, γυναικός, Matthew 5:28 Rec. (see below) (παιδός ἤ γυναικός, Xenophon, an. 4, 1, 14; with the genitive also in Exodus 34:24; Proverbs 21:26; Proverbs 23:3, 6; Wis. 6:12; Sir. 24:19 (18), etc.); contrary to the usage of the better Greek writings with the accusative of the object, Matthew 5:28 L Tr (WH brackets), and without an object Tdf. (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21; Micah 2:2; Wis. 16:3; Sir. 1:26 (23), etc.; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 10 b.); as often in Greek writings, followed by the infinitive: Matthew 13:17; Luke 15:16; (Luke 16:21);

; 1 Peter 1:12; Revelation 9:6; followed by the accusative with the infinitive Hebrews 6:11; ἐπιθυμία ἐπεθύμησα I have greatly desired, Luke 22:15; cf. Winers Grammar, § 54, 3; Buttmann, § 133, 22 a.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

covet, desire, lust after.

From epi and thumos; to set the heart upon, i.e. Long for (rightfully or otherwise) -- covet, desire, would fain, lust (after).

see GREEK epi

see GREEK thumos

Forms and Transliterations

επεθυμει επεθύμει ἐπεθύμει επεθυμησα επεθύμησα ἐπεθύμησα επεθυμησαν επεθύμησαν ἐπεθύμησαν επεθύμησας επεθύμησε επεθύμησεν επεθύμουν επιθυμει επιθυμεί επιθύμει ἐπιθυμεῖ επιθυμειτε επιθυμείτε ἐπιθυμεῖτε επιθυμή επιθύμημα επιθυμήμασι επιθυμήματα επιθυμήματος επιθυμησαι επιθυμήσαι ἐπιθυμῆσαι επιθυμήσει επιθυμησεις επιθυμήσεις ἐπιθυμήσεις επιθυμησετε επιθυμήσετε ἐπιθυμήσετε επιθυμήση επιθυμήσης επιθυμησουσιν επιθυμήσουσιν ἐπιθυμήσουσιν επιθυμουμεν επιθυμούμεν ἐπιθυμοῦμεν επιθυμούντες επιθυμούσι επιθυμουσιν επιθυμούσιν ἐπιθυμοῦσιν επιθυμων επιθυμών ἐπιθυμῶν epethumei epethumesa epethumēsa epethumesan epethumēsan epethymei epethýmei epethymesa epethymēsa epethýmesa epethýmēsa epethymesan epethymēsan epethýmesan epethýmēsan epithumei epithumeite epithumesai epithumēsai epithumeseis epithumēseis epithumesete epithumēsete epithumesousin epithumēsousin epithumon epithumōn epithumoumen epithumousin epithymei epithymeî epithymeite epithymeîte epithymesai epithymêsai epithymēsai epithymē̂sai epithymeseis epithymēseis epithymḗseis epithymesete epithymēsete epithymḗsete epithymesousin epithymēsousin epithymḗsousin epithymon epithymôn epithymōn epithymō̂n epithymoumen epithymoûmen epithymousin epithymoûsin

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