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βούλομαι

boúlomai

G1014 verb

SILEX Entry

Root βουλ- to will, to wish, to intend, to deliberate

Definition

To will, wish, or intend; to have an inclination or preference towards a particular action, outcome, or state, often with thoughtful deliberation. The sense ranges from general wishing or intending to a more thoughtful, considered form of wanting or resolving. In some contexts, may indicate a tendency or disposition to do something.

Semantic Range

to wish, to will, to desire with deliberation, to intend, to be disposed, to prefer, to resolve, to be minded, to have it in mind

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root βουλ-; possibly related to βουλή ('counsel,' 'will,' 'plan'), sharing Indo-European roots with verbs denoting inward intention or deliberation. It is not a compound or derivative of another verb, but stands as a fundamental term of volition in Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, βούλομαι is commonly distinguished from θέλω: βούλομαι expresses will or wish involving rational deliberation, counsel, or considered preference, while θέλω indicates more immediate desire, wish, or will, often emotional or spontaneous. In the Septuagint and New Testament, this distinction is somewhat maintained, though the verbs can overlap depending on context. βούλομαι appears in a variety of constructions (with infinitives, accusative and infinitive, etc.), and carries a nuance of thoughtful intention as opposed to simple desire. Standard English translations often render both βούλομαι and θέλω as 'will' or 'wish,' potentially losing this distinction. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, the opposition to θέλω becomes less sharp, but βούλομαι still frequently implies a process of consideration or inward reasoning. In earliest Greek (Homeric), the verb is attested but less frequent, gaining prevalence in later prose and philosophical contexts. The middle voice reflects the subject's personal engagement or internal reasoning in forming the will or intention.

Translation Consistency

primary "intend" 31 occurrences

“Intend” best captures the primary sense of boulomai — a deliberative will or purpose — and matches the majority of P2 renderings (intending/intended/intend). It is natural English, wide enough to cover wishing/desiring with resolve, and avoids the ambiguity of “will” or the colloquial weakness of “want.”

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"wished" (2x) "want" (1x) "wills" (1x) "having willed" (1x) "wishes" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice of a primary verb; to "will," i.e. (reflexively) be willing:--be disposed, minded, intend, list, (be, of own) will (-ing). Compare θέλω.

Root Family

βούλομαι (boulomai) — to will, to wish, to intend, to deliberate

Word Forms

17 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1014-09 βουλόμενος boulomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG wanting willingly intending willingly intending 8
G1014-07 βούλομαι boulomai V PRS MID IND 1P SG I want I intend for myself I intend for myself 6
G1014-03 βούληται bouletai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG wills may intend for himself may intend for himself 4
G1014-16 ἐβουλόμην eboulomen V IMPF MID IND 1P SG I was minded I was intending I was intending 3
G1014-17 ἐβούλοντο eboulonto V IMPF MID IND 3P PL wanted they were intending they were intending 2
G1014-02 βούλεσθε boulesthe V PRS MID IND 2P PL do you wish you are intending you are intending 2
G1014-10 βουλομένου boulomenou V PRS MID PTCP GEN M SG wanting of the one intending of the one intending 2
G1014-04 βουληθῇ boulethe V AOR PASS SUBJ 3P SG wills may intend wishes 1
G1014-12 βουλόμεθα boulometha V PRS MID IND 1P PL we want we are minded we want 1
G1014-15 ἐβούλετο ebouleto V IMPF MID IND 3P SG wanted was intending was intending 1

Occurrences in Scripture

37 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1014-13 Matthew 1:19 ἐβουλήθη eboulethe V AOR PASS IND 3P SG was minded he/she intended he intended
G1014-03 Matthew 11:27 βούληται bouletai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG wills may intend for himself may intend for himself
G1014-09 Mark 15:15 βουλόμενος boulomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG wanting willingly intending willingly intending
G1014-03 Luke 10:22 βούληται bouletai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG wills may intend for himself may intend for himself
G1014-01 Luke 22:42 βούλει boulei V PRS MID IND 2P SG you are willing you are intending you are intending
G1014-02 John 18:39 βούλεσθε boulesthe V PRS MID IND 2P PL do you wish you are intending you are intending
G1014-02 Acts 5:28 βούλεσθε boulesthe V PRS MID IND 2P PL you intend you are intending you are intending
G1014-17 Acts 5:33 ἐβούλοντο eboulonto V IMPF MID IND 3P PL wanted they were intending they were intending
G1014-09 Acts 12:4 βουλόμενος boulomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG intending willingly intending willingly intending
G1014-15 Acts 15:37 ἐβούλετο ebouleto V IMPF MID IND 3P SG wanted was intending was intending
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