Definition and Nature:
Desire, in the biblical context, refers to a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen. It encompasses both positive and negative connotations, depending on the object and nature of the desire. In Scripture, desire can lead to righteous pursuits or sinful actions, highlighting the importance of aligning one's desires with God's will.

Positive Aspects of Desire:
Desire, when aligned with God's purposes, is portrayed as a virtuous and commendable trait. The psalmist expresses a deep longing for God, illustrating a righteous desire: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God" (Psalm 42:1). This longing for God and His presence is a central theme in the life of a believer, reflecting a heart that seeks after righteousness and divine fellowship.

The Apostle Paul speaks of a desire for spiritual gifts, which is encouraged for the edification of the church: "Pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy" (1 Corinthians 14:1). Here, desire is directed towards the building up of the body of Christ, demonstrating its positive role when focused on spiritual growth and service.

Negative Aspects of Desire:
Conversely, desire can lead to sin when it is misdirected or becomes an end in itself. James warns of the destructive nature of sinful desires: "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" (James 1:14-15). This passage underscores the progression from desire to sin, emphasizing the need for vigilance and self-control.

The Tenth Commandment explicitly addresses the issue of covetousness, a form of sinful desire: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17). Covetousness reflects a desire for what belongs to others, leading to discontent and potential transgression of God's laws.

Desire and the Heart:
The Bible frequently associates desire with the heart, the center of human will and emotion. Proverbs 4:23 advises, "Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life" . This highlights the importance of monitoring one's desires, as they influence actions and character.

Jesus teaches about the heart's role in desire in the Sermon on the Mount: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21). This statement calls believers to examine their desires and ensure they are set on heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones.

Transformation of Desire:
The transformation of desire is a key aspect of Christian sanctification. Believers are encouraged to renew their minds and align their desires with God's will: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). This renewal process involves a shift from self-centered desires to those that honor God and serve others.

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in transforming desires, producing the fruit of the Spirit in the believer's life: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). These qualities reflect desires that are in harmony with God's character and purposes.

Conclusion:
While desire is an inherent part of human nature, Scripture provides guidance on directing desires towards God and His kingdom. By seeking God's will and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, believers can cultivate desires that lead to life and godliness.Isaiah 26:8
Yes, in the way of your judgments, O LORD, have we waited for you; the desire of our soul is to your name, and to the remembrance of you.
Topicalbible.org

Isaiah 26:9
With my soul have I desired you in the night; yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you early: for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Topicalbible.org

John 12:21
The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
Topicalbible.org

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Topicalbible.org

Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him.
Topicalbible.org

Philippians 3:12-14
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Topicalbible.org

Isaiah 55:1
Ho, every one that thirsts, come you to the waters, and he that has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Topicalbible.org

Luke 6:21
Blessed are you that hunger now: for you shall be filled. Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh.
Topicalbible.org

Isaiah 55:6
Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you on him while he is near:
Topicalbible.org

Desire of all nations

(Haggai 2:7), usually interpreted as a title of the Messiah. The Revised Version, however, more correctly renders "the desirable things of all nations;" i.e., the choicest treasures of the Gentiles shall be consecrated to the Lord.

1. (v. t.) To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet.

2. (v. t.) To express a wish for; to entreat; to request.

3. (v. t.) To require; to demand; to claim.

4. (v. t.) To miss; to regret.

5. (n.) The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy.

6. (n.) An expressed wish; a request; petition.

7. (v. t.) Anything which is desired; an object of longing.

8. (v. t.) Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite.

9. (v. t.) Grief; regret.

DESIRE

de-zir': The verb "to desire" in the Scriptures usually means "to long for," "to ask for," "to demand," and may be used in a good or bad sense (compare Deuteronomy 7:25 the King James Version). the Revised Version (British and American) frequently renders the more literal meaning of the Hebrew. Compare Job 20:20, "delight"; Proverbs 21:20, "precious"; Psalm 40:6, "delight"; aiteo (except Colossians 1:9), and erotao (except Luke 7:36) are rendered "to ask" and zeteo, "to seek" (compare Luke 9:9 et. al.). The Hebrew kacaph, literally, "to lose in value," is translated (Zep 2:1) by "hath no shame" (the Revised Version, margin "longing," the King James Version "not desired"). The literal translation "to lose in value," "to degenerate," would be more in harmony with the context than the translations offered. The Hebrew chemdah (2 Chronicles 21:20, "without being desired"), means according to the Arabic "to praise," "to give thanks." The context brings in contrast the burial of the king Jehoram with that of his fathers. In the latter case there was "burning," i.e. recognition and praise, but when Jehoram died, there was no chemdah, i.e. there was no praise for his services rendered to the kingdom. For "desire" in Ecclesiastes 12:5, see CAPERBERRY.

A. L. Breslich

DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS

This phrase occurs only in Haggai 2:7 (King James Version, the English Revised Version "desirable things," the American Revised Version, margin "things desired"), and is commonly applied to the Messiah.

At the erection of the temple in Ezra's time, the older men who had seen the more magnificent house of Solomon were disappointed and distressed at the comparison. The prophet, therefore, is directed to encourage them by the assurance that Yahweh is with them nevertheless, and in a little while will shake the heavens, the earth, the sea, the dry land and the nations, and "the desire of all nations" shall come, and the house shall be filled with glory, so that "the later glory of this house shall be greater than the former."

(1) Many expositors refer the prophecy to the first advent of Christ. The shaking of the heavens, the earth, the sea and the dry land is the figurative setting of the shaking of the nations, while this latter expression refers to those changes of earthly dominion coincident with the overthrow of the Persians by the Greeks, the Greeks by the Romans, and so on down to the beginning of our era. The house then in process of construction was filled with glory by the later presence of the Messiah, which glory was greater than the Shekinah of Solomon's time. Objections are presented to this view as follows: First, there is the element of time. Five centuries, more or less, elapsed between the building of Ezra's temple and the first advent of Christ, and the men of Ezra's time needed comfort for the present. Then there is the difficulty of associating the physical phenomena with any shaking of the nations occurring atthe first advent. Furthermore, in what sense, it is asked, could Christ, when He came, be said to be the desire of all nations? And finally, what comfort would a Jew find in this magnifying of the Gentiles?

(2) These difficulties, though not insuperable, lead others to apply the prophecy to the second advent of Christ. The Jews are to be restored to Jerusalem, and another temple is to be built (Ezekiel 40-48). The shaking of the nations and the physical phenomena find their fulfillment in the "Great Tribulation" so often spoken of in the Old Testament and Revelation, and which is followed by the coming of Christ in glory to set up His kingdom (Malachi 3:1 Matthew 24:29, 30 and other places). Some of the difficulties spoken of in the first instance apply here also, but not all of them, while others are common to both interpretations. One such common difficulty is that Ezra's temple can hardly be identified with that of the time of Herod and Christ, and certainly not with that of Ezekiel; which is met, however, by saying that all the temples, including Solomon's, are treated as but one "house"-the house of the Lord, in the religious sense, at least, if not architecturally. Another such difficulty touches the question of time, which, whether it includes five centuries or twenty, is met by the principle that to the prophets, "ascending in heart to God and the eternity of God, all times and all things of this world are only a mere point." When the precise time of particular events is not revealed, they sometimes describe them as continuous, and sometimes blend two events together, having a near or partial, and also a remote or complete fulfillment. "They saw the future in space rather than in time, or the perspective rather than the actual distance." It is noted that the Lord Jesus so blends together the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A.D. 70, and the days of the anti-Christ at the end of this age, that it is difficult to separate them, and to say which belongs exclusively to either (Matthew 24). That the words may have an ultimate fulfillment in the second advent of Christ receives strength from a comparison of Haggai 2:21, 22 with Hebrews 12:26, 27. The writer of that epistle condenses the two passages in Haggai 2:6, 7 and Haggai 2:21, 22, implying that it was one and the same shaking, of which the former verses denote the beginning, and the latter the end. The shaking, in other words, began introductory to the first advent and will be finished at the second. Concerning the former, compare Matthew 3:17; Matthew 27:51; Matthew 28:2 Acts 2:2; Acts 4:31, and concerning the latter, Matthew 24:7 Revelation 16:20; Revelation 20:11 (Bengel, quoted by Canon Faussett).

(3) Other expositors seek to cut the Gordian knot by altogether denying the application to the Messiah, and translating "the desire of all nations" by "the beauty," or "the desirable things of all nations," i.e. their precious gifts (see Isaiah 60:5, 11; Isaiah 61:6). This application is defended in the following way:

(a) The Hebrew word means the quality and not the thing desired;

(b) the Messiah was not desired by all the nations when He came;

(c) the verb "shall come" is plural, which requires the noun to be understood in the plural, whereas if the Messiah be intended, the noun is singular;

(d) "The silver is mine," etc. (Haggai 2:8) accords with the translation "the desirable things of all nations";

(e) the agreement of the Septuagint and Syriac versions with such rendering.

All these arguments, however, can be fairly met by counter-arguments, leaving the reader still in doubt.

(a) An abstract noun is often put for the concrete;

(b) the result shows that while the Jews rejected Christ, the Gentiles received and hence, desired Him;

(c) where two nouns stand together after the manner of "the desire" and "nations," the verb agrees in number sometimes with the latter, even though the former be its nominative;

(d) the 8th verse of the prophecy can be harmonized about as easily with one view as the other;

(e) the King James Version is sustained by the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) and early Jewish rabbis.

James M. Gray

1939. epithumia -- desire, passionate longing, lust
... desire, passionate longing, lust. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration:
epithumia Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) Short Definition: desire ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1939.htm - 7k

1937. epithumeo -- desire, lust after
... desire, lust after. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epithumeo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-thoo-meh'-o) Short Definition: I long for, covet, lust after ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1937.htm - 8k

3715. orexis -- desire, longing
... desire, longing. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: orexis Phonetic
Spelling: (or'-ex-is) Short Definition: strong desire, lust Definition: strong ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3715.htm - 6k

699. areskia -- a desire to please, pleasing
... a desire to please, pleasing. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: areskia
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-es'-ki-ah) Short Definition: pleasing, willing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/699.htm - 6k

3655b. homeiromai -- to desire earnestly
... 3655a, 3655b. homeiromai. 3656 . to desire earnestly. Transliteration:
homeiromai Short Definition: affection. Word Origin of uncertain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3655b.htm - 5k

2309. thelo -- to will, wish
... to will, wish. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: thelo Phonetic Spelling: (
eth-el'-o,) Short Definition: I will, wish, desire Definition: I will, wish ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2309.htm - 11k

2307. thelema -- will
... will. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: thelema Phonetic Spelling:
(thel'-ay-mah) Short Definition: will, wish, desire Definition: an act of will ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2307.htm - 7k

1971. epipotheo -- to long for
... for. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epipotheo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-poth-eh'-o) Short Definition: I long for, strain after, desire greatly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1971.htm - 7k

1974. epipothia -- longing
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: epipothia Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ee-poth-ee'-ah) Short Definition: longing, eager desire Definition: longing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1974.htm - 6k

1934. epizeteo -- to inquire for
... to inquire for. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epizeteo Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-eed-zay-teh'-o) Short Definition: I seek after, desire, search for ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1934.htm - 7k

4261. machmad -- desire, desirable thing
... 4260, 4261. machmad. 4262 . desire, desirable thing. Transliteration: machmad
Phonetic Spelling: (makh-mawd') Short Definition: desire. ...
/hebrew/4261.htm - 6k

185. avvah -- desire
... 184, 185. avvah. 186 . desire. Transliteration: avvah Phonetic Spelling:
(av-vaw') Short Definition: desire. Word Origin from the ...
/hebrew/185.htm - 6k

183. avah -- to incline, desire
... 182, 183. avah. 184 . to incline, desire. Transliteration: avah Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-vaw') Short Definition: desire. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/183.htm - 6k

8378. taavah -- a desire
... 8377, 8378. taavah. 8379 . a desire. Transliteration: taavah Phonetic
Spelling: (tah-av-aw') Short Definition: desire. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/8378.htm - 6k

2532. chemdah -- desire, delight
... chemdah. 2533 . desire, delight. Transliteration: chemdah Phonetic Spelling:
(khem-daw') Short Definition: pleasant. ... desire, goodly, pleasant, precious. ...
/hebrew/2532.htm - 6k

5315. nephesh -- a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire ...
... a soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion.
Transliteration: nephesh Phonetic Spelling: (neh'-fesh) Short Definition: soul. ...
/hebrew/5315.htm - 7k

3970. maavay -- desire
... 3969, 3970. maavay. 3971 . desire. Transliteration: maavay Phonetic Spelling:
(mah-av-ah'ee) Short Definition: desires. ... desire. From 'avah; a desire -- desire ...
/hebrew/3970.htm - 6k

2530. chamad -- to desire, take pleasure in
... 2529, 2530. chamad. 2531 . to desire, take pleasure in. Transliteration: chamad
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-mad') Short Definition: covet. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/2530.htm - 6k

2837. chesheq -- desire
... 2836b, 2837. chesheq. 2838 . desire. Transliteration: chesheq Phonetic Spelling:
(khay'-shek) Short Definition: pleased. ... desire, pleasure. ...
/hebrew/2837.htm - 6k

177a. av -- desire
... av. 177b . desire. Transliteration: av Short Definition: desire. Word Origin from
the same as avah Definition desire NASB Word Usage desire (1). 177, 177a. ...
/hebrew/177a.htm - 5k

The Desire of Ages
The Desire of Ages. <. The Desire of Ages Ellen Gould White. Table of Contents.
Title Page. The DESIRE of AGES. PREFACE. Chapter 1 "God With Us". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/

An Unfulfilled Desire
... THE BOOK OF NUMBERS AN UNFULFILLED DESIRE. '... Let me die the death of the
righteous, and let my last end be like his!'"Numbers 23:10. '... ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/an unfulfilled desire.htm

A Wise Desire
... A Wise Desire. A Sermon (No.33). ... Did Joseph desire to be tempted of his mistress?
He chose to reject the temptation, but did he choose the trial? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/a wise desire.htm

Desire.
... THE SOUL. XXXIII. DESIRE. Pe cawn adenydd boreu wawr 8,8,8,8. Thy bright, swift
pinions, Dawn, had I,. To distant realms my soul would fly; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/morris/favourite welsh hymns/xxxiii desire.htm

Prayer and Desire
... IV. PRAYER AND DESIRE. "There ... BEHMEN. DESIRE is not merely a simple wish; it
is a deep seated craving; an intense longing, for attainment. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the necessity of prayer/iv prayer and desire.htm

Whether Desire is a Cause of Sorrow?
... OF THE CAUSES OF SORROW OR PAIN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether desire is a cause of sorrow?
Objection 1: It would seem that desire is not a cause of pain or sorrow. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether desire is a cause.htm

Whether Hope is the Same as Desire of Cupidity?
... OF THE IRASCIBLE PASSIONS, AND FIRST, OF HOPE AND DESPAIR (EIGHT ARTICLES)
Whether hope is the same as desire of cupidity? Objection ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether hope is the same.htm

Whether Original Sin is Desire
... Article Three Whether Original Sin is Desire. Whether Original Sin is Desire We
proceed to the third article thus: 1. It seems that original sin is not desire. ...
/.../aquinas/nature and grace/article three whether original sin.htm

Whether the Desire of Glory is a Sin?
... OF VAINGLORY (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether the desire of glory is a sin? Objection
1: It seems that the desire of glory is not a sin. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the desire of glory.htm

Of the Desire to Know the Bridegroom in his Nature
... THE ADORNMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL MARRIAGE: THE FIRST BOOK CHAPTER XXVI. OF
THE DESIRE TO KNOW THE BRIDEGROOM IN HIS NATURE. A Man who ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xxvi of the desire.htm

Desire (565 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Desire of all nations. (Haggai 2:7), usually interpreted
as a title of the Messiah. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DESIRE. ...
/d/desire.htm - 43k

Soul's (12 Occurrences)
... Revelation 18:14 And the fruit of your soul's desire has gone from you, and all
things delicate and shining have come to an end and will never again be seen. ...
/s/soul's.htm - 9k

Appetite (22 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The desire for some personal gratification, either of the body or of the
mind. 2. (n.) Desire for, or relish of, food or drink; hunger. ...
/a/appetite.htm - 15k

Covet (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession
of; -- used in a good sense. ... 3. (vi) To have or indulge inordinate desire. ...
/c/covet.htm - 12k

Meaningless (32 Occurrences)
... 2:11 Then I saw all the works which my hands had made, and everything I had been
working to do; and I saw that all was to no purpose and desire for wind, and ...
/m/meaningless.htm - 15k

Craving (19 Occurrences)
... (n.) A vehement or urgent desire; longing for; beseeching. ... (DBY NIV). Psalms 78:18
And they tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire. ...
/c/craving.htm - 11k

Concupiscence (3 Occurrences)
...Desire, Romans 7:8 (RV, "coveting"); Colossians 3:5 (RV, "desire"). ... Thus, our Lord
uses it to express the intensest desire of His soul (Luke 22:15). ...
/c/concupiscence.htm - 8k

Please (324 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To have or take pleasure in; hence, to choose; to wish; to desire; to
will. ... However, not what I desire, but what you desire." (WEB). ...
/p/please.htm - 36k

Conscious (93 Occurrences)
... (BBE). John 8:37 I am conscious that you are Abraham's seed; but you have a desire
to put me to death because my word has no place in you. (BBE). ...
/c/conscious.htm - 33k

Covetousness (22 Occurrences)
... A strong desire after the possession of worldly things (Colossians 3:5; Ephesians
5:5; Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:9, 10; Matthew 6:20). ... 1. (n.) Strong desire. ...
/c/covetousness.htm - 18k

How is a woman's desire for her husband a curse (Genesis 3:16)? | GotQuestions.org

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Desire: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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