Lexical Summary boulomai: to will, to wish, to desire, to intend Original Word: βούλομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be disposed, determine, intend.Middle voice of a primary verb; to "will," i.e. (reflexively) be willing -- be disposed, minded, intend, list, (be, of own) will (-ing). Compare ethelo. see GREEK ethelo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1014 boúlomai – to plan with full resolve (determination). See 1012 (boulē). 1014 /boúlomai ("resolutely plan") is a strong term that underlines the predetermined (and determined) intention driving the planning (wishing, resolving). In contrast, 2309 (thélō) focuses on the desire ("wishfulness") behind making an offer (cf. TDNT, 1, 629). [While God's "thelō-offers" can be rejected (see 2309 /thélō), His 1014 /boúlomai ("planning") always works out His purpose, especially in conjunction with presetting the physical scenes of history.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to will NASB Translation am (1), desire (2), desires (1), desiring (1), intend (1), intended (3), intending (1), like (1), planned (1), unwilling* (1), want (7), wanted (3), wanting (2), will (1), willing (3), wills (3), wish (1), wished (1), wishes (1), wishing (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1014: βούλομαιβούλομαι, 2 person singular βούλει Luke 22:42 (Attic for βουλή, cf. Winers Grammar, § 13, 2 a.; Buttmann, 42 (37)); imperfect ἐβουλόμην (Attic ((cf. Veitch), yet commonly) ἠβουλομην); 1 aorist ἐβουλήθην (Matthew 1:19) and ἠβουλήθην (2 John 1:12 R G; but others ἐβουλήθην cf. (WHs Appendix, p. 162); Winers Grammar, § 12, the passage cited; Buttmann, 33 (29)); the Sept. for אָבָה, חָפֵץ; (from Homer down); to will, wish; and 1. commonly, to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded: followed by an infinitive, Mark 15:15; Acts 5:28, 33 (L WH Tr text for R G T ἐβουλεύοντο); 2. of willing as an affection, to desire: followed by an infinitive, 1 Timothy 6:9 (οἱ βουλόμενοι πλουτεῖν); Acts 17:20; Acts 18:15; ἐβουλόμην (on this use of the imperfect see Buttmann, 217f (187f); (cf. Winers Grammar, 283 (266); Lightfoot on Philemon 1:13)), Acts 25:22; Philemon 1:13. On the difference between βούλομαι and θέλω, see θέλω, at the end βούλομαι and its cognates appear thirty-seven times in the Greek New Testament to express deliberate intention, settled purpose, or thoughtful desire. The contexts range from the eternal counsel of God to the day-to-day choices of believers and unbelievers, thereby knitting together a rich biblical theology of “will” that is both sovereign and personal. Divine Will as Salvific Purpose The verb most profoundly discloses God’s redemptive heart. James 1:18 states, “By His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” Election, new birth, and consecration are anchored in the purposeful counsel of God, not in accident or human merit. Similarly, 2 Peter 3:9 affirms that “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise… but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Here βούλομαι safeguards divine patience: judgment is certain, yet mercy governs the timetable. Hebrews 6:17 speaks of “the unchangeable nature of His purpose,” underscoring that what God wills, He confirms with oath; His counsel is immutable, providing “strong encouragement” for believers to hold fast. Christ’s Submissive Will in the Passion βούλομαι illuminates the incarnate Son’s voluntary submission. In Luke 22:42 Jesus prays, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me. Yet not My will, but Yours be done.” The verb marks the tension between the legitimate human desire to avoid suffering and the higher resolve to obey. Mark 15:15 notes that Pilate, “wishing to satisfy the crowd,” released Barabbas; the contrast is stark—human rulers capitulate to public opinion, whereas Christ yields to the Father’s purpose, securing redemption. Apostolic Discretion and Pastoral Desire βούλομαι frequently appears in epistles to articulate deliberate ministry choices. Even negative examples carry pastoral weight: Diotrephes, “who loves to be first,” refuses to welcome the brethren “and forbids those who wish to do so” (3 John 1:10). Misguided will disrupts fellowship, highlighting the need for alignment with apostolic teaching. Human Will and Moral Accountability James exposes the moral dimension of desiring contrary to God. “Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). Choice positions the heart either under divine favor or judgment. James 3:4 uses the rudder analogy: though small, it “steers a ship wherever the will of the pilot directs.” Human speech, likewise, reflects inward determination and carries outsized consequences. The Verb in Narrative Contexts Acts records numerous civil and religious decisions: Doctrinal Implications 1. Sovereignty and Freedom: Scripture harmonizes God’s invincible counsel with authentic human volition. βούλομαι provides vocabulary for both without contradiction. Practical Ministry Applications • Discernment: Leaders should emulate Paul’s settled intentions shaped by gospel priorities rather than fleeting preference. Summary Across narrative, epistle, and Gospel, βούλομαι portrays purposeful intention—divine, messianic, apostolic, and human. Scripture presents God’s will as supreme and saving; Christ’s will as obedient and redemptive; apostolic will as directive and pastoral; and human will as responsible and consequential. Recognizing and conforming to that sovereign counsel remains central to faithful life and ministry. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:19 V-AIP-3SGRK: αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ ἀπολῦσαι NAS: to disgrace her, planned to send her away KJV: a publick example, was minded to put INT: her to expose publicly purposed secretly to send away Matthew 11:27 V-PSM/P-3S Mark 15:15 V-PPM/P-NMS Luke 10:22 V-PSM/P-3S Luke 22:42 V-PIM/P-2S John 18:39 V-PIM/P-2P Acts 5:28 V-PIM/P-2P Acts 5:33 V-IIM/P-3P Acts 12:4 V-PPM/P-NMS Acts 15:37 V-IIM/P-3S Acts 17:20 V-PIM/P-1P Acts 18:15 V-PIM/P-1S Acts 18:27 V-PPM/P-GMS Acts 19:30 V-PPM/P-GMS Acts 22:30 V-PPM/P-NMS Acts 23:28 V-PPM/P-NMS Acts 25:20 V-POM/P-3S Acts 25:22 V-IIM/P-1S Acts 27:43 V-PPM/P-NMS Acts 28:18 V-IIM/P-3P 1 Corinthians 12:11 V-PIM/P-3S 2 Corinthians 1:15 V-IIM/P-1S 2 Corinthians 1:17 V-PPM/P-NMS Philippians 1:12 V-PIM/P-1S 1 Timothy 2:8 V-PIM/P-1S Strong's Greek 1014 |
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