What does ἐπιθυμέω · ἐπιθυμία mean in the Bible?
e. long for (rightfully or otherwise)".
Greek · G1937, G1939
ἐπιθυμήσεις / ἐπιθυμίαν
To long for · a longing (especially for what is forbidden)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through theConnect page. Screenshots are helpful.
Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ἐπιθυμέωG1937to long for
Pronunciationepithyméō
Intense desire directed toward an object, often with moral disapproval in NT ethical contexts.
Open lexicon entry →ἐπιθυμίαG1939a longing (especially for what is forbidden)
Pronunciationepithymía
Intense craving, especially for what is forbidden or worldly; often contrasted with rational choice or obedience to God.
Open lexicon entry →What does ἐπιθυμήσεις / ἐπιθυμίαν (epithymēseis / epithymian) mean in the Bible?
ἐπιθυμέω · ἐπιθυμία is a Greek phrase meaning "to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise)".
Full entry for ἐπιθυμήσεις / ἐπιθυμίαν (G1937, G1939) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G1937, G1939?
G1937, G1939 is connected to 16 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise)
Source Gloss
to set the heart upon, i.e. long for (rightfully or otherwise)
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms16TensesAorist, Future, Present, ImperfectVoicesActive
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality14×
Present ActiveGal 5:17 · 1 Tim 3:1 · Heb 6:11 · Jas 4:2 · 1 Pet 1:125×
Aorist ActiveMatt 13:17 · 1 Cor 10:6 · Luke 22:15 · Acts 20:334×
Future ActiveRom 7:7 · Rom 13:9 · Luke 17:22 · Rev 9:64×
Imperfect ActiveLuke 15:161×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract1×
Aorist ActiveMatt 5:281×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality1×
Present ActiveLuke 16:211×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 16 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present6aorist5future4imperfect1
Voice
active16
Mood
indicative14participle1infinitive1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 5:28ἐπιθυμῆσαιaorist active infinitiveinfinitiveMatthew 13:17ἐπεθύμησανaorist active indicativecompletedLuke 15:16ἐπεθύμειimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 16:21ἐπιθυμῶνpresent active participleparticipleLuke 17:22ἐπιθυμήσετεfuture active indicativeprospectiveLuke 22:15ἐπεθύμησαaorist active indicativecompletedActs 20:33ἐπεθύμησαaorist active indicativecompletedRomans 7:7ἐπιθυμήσειςfuture active indicativeprospectiveRomans 13:9ἐπιθυμήσειςfuture active indicativeprospective1 Corinthians 10:6ἐπεθύμησανaorist active indicativecompletedGalatians 5:17ἐπιθυμεῖpresent active indicativeongoing1 Timothy 3:1ἐπιθυμεῖpresent active indicativeongoingHebrews 6:11ἐπιθυμοῦμενpresent active indicativeongoingJames 4:2ἐπιθυμεῖτεpresent active indicativeongoing1 Peter 1:12ἐπιθυμοῦσινpresent active indicativeongoingRevelation 9:6ἐπιθυμήσουσινfuture active indicativeprospective
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
ἐπιθυμήσεις / ἐπιθυμίαν is built from these roots: