epithumia (desire)

Meaning

Usually translated “desires”, “desire” and “lusts”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

desires 13
desire 11
lusts 3
passions 3
covetousness 2
with desire 1
of lust 1
by passions 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Romans 5
1 Peter 4
2 Peter 4
2 Timothy 3
Galatians 2
Ephesians 2

18 books in all.

Related words

Explore in Scripture

Titus 2:12In contextTeaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Titus 3:3In contextFor we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
2 Peter 1:4In contextWhereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 2:10In contextBut chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2 Peter 2:18In contextFor when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
2 Peter 3:3In contextKnowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

All 37 verses, by book

Mark 1: 4:19
Luke 1: 22:15
John 1: 8:44
Romans 5: 1:24 6:12 7:7 7:8 13:14
Galatians 2: 5:16 5:24
Ephesians 2: 2:3 4:22
Philippians 1: 1:23
Colossians 1: 3:5
1 Thessalonians 2: 2:17 4:5
1 Timothy 1: 6:9
2 Timothy 3: 2:22 3:6 4:3
Titus 2: 2:12 3:3
James 2: 1:14 1:15
1 Peter 4: 1:14 2:11 4:2 4:3
2 Peter 4: 1:4 2:10 2:18 3:3
1 John 2: 2:16 2:17
Jude 2: 1:16 1:18
Revelation 1: 18:14

Greek dictionary

ἐπιθυμία epithumia · desire

ἐπιθυμία, -ας, ἡ (έπιθυμέω), [in LXX chiefly for תַּאֲוָה, אָוָה; also for חֶמֶד, etc. ;] desire, longing: Luk.22:15 (see: ἐπιθυμέω), Php.1:23, 1Th.2:17, Rev.18:14; p1., Mrk.4:19; esp. with ref. to forbidden things, desire, lust (Vg., concupiscentia): Rom.7:7-8, Jas.1:14-15, 2Pe.1:4; pl., Gal.5:24, 1Ti.6:9, 2Ti.2:22 4:3, 1Pe.1:14 4:2; πάθος ἐπιθυμίας, 1Th.4:5; ἐ. κακή, Col.3:5; with genitive, μιασμοῦ, 2Pe.2:10 (see Mayor, in l); τ. καρδιῶν, Rom.1:24; τ. κόσμου (aroused by the world), 1Jn.2:17; τ. σώματος, Rom.6:12; τ. ἀπάτης, Eph.4:22 (see ICC, in l); τ. σαρκός, 1Jn.2:16, 2Pe.2:18 (without ar …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “desire” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

DESIRE, noun

An emotion or excitement of the mind, directed to the attainment or possession of an object from which pleasure, sensual, intellectual or spiritual, is expected; a passion excited by the love of an object, or uneasiness at the want of it, and directed to its attainment or possession. desire is a wish to possess some gratification or source of happiness which is supposed to be obtainable.“We endeavored-to see your face with great desire” 1 Thessalonians 2:17“Thou satisfiest the desires of every living thing” Psalms 145:16
A prayer or request to obtain:“He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him” Psalms 145:19
The object of desire; that which is desired.“The desire of all nations shall come” Haggai 2:7
Love; affection.“His desire is toward me” Song of Solomon 7:10

All definitions and other forms of “desire”

Appetite; lust.“Fulfilling the desires of the flesh” Ephesians 2:3

DESIRE, verb transitive

To wish for the possession or enjoyment of, with a greater or less degree of earnestness; to covet.“Neither shall any man desire thy land” Exodus 34:24“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts” 1 Corinthians 14:1
To express a wish to obtain; to ask; to request; to petition.“Then she said, did I desire a son of my Lord?” 2 Kings 4:28
To require.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.