διψάω (G1372) — Greek Lexicon

διψάω

dipsáō

G1372 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To experience thirst (a physiological need for water); more broadly, to desire or long deeply for something, especially in a figurative sense (such as longing for righteousness, justice, or spiritual fulfillment). The core meaning is a physical sensation of needing liquid, but in certain contexts, it expresses metaphorical longing or deep desire.

Semantic Range

to be thirsty; to feel thirst; to experience dehydration; to long deeply for; to desire earnestly; to yearn (especially for something not present, e.g., righteousness, God, fulfillment)

Root / Etymology

From the root διψ- (dips-, 'thirst, dryness'), related to δίψος (dípsos, 'thirst'). The verb form διψάω is built on this root. The connection to Aramaic or Hebrew terms is possible in figurative, especially LXX, usage, but the origin is Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, διψάω means primarily 'to be thirsty' (literally needing water). The figurative use, meaning 'to long deeply for' or 'to desire,' becomes prominent in Hellenistic and early Jewish-Greek literature, including the Septuagint and New Testament, where it often conveys longing for justice, righteousness, or God (e.g., Matthew 5:6; John 19:28). In the Septuagint, διψάω often renders Hebrew צָמֵא (tsame), retaining both physical and metaphorical senses. The English translation 'to thirst' (or 'to be thirsty') captures the base literal meaning but can miss the strength of figurative yearning in certain contexts. The verb is used in both active ('I thirst') and passive constructions, and its metaphorical sense should not be confused with mere physical need but recognized as a strong and sometimes spiritual yearning. The semantic range in Koine Greek is stable, but context determines whether it expresses bodily need or intense longing.

Translation Consistency

primary "thirst" 16 occurrences

The primary and most natural English rendering of διψάω is "thirst," which covers both the physiological sense (to need water) and the common figurative sense (to long or yearn for something, e.g., "thirst for righteousness"). It is the most frequent and idiomatic choice in the SILEX occurrences and will produce natural-sounding inflected forms across contexts.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a variation of δίψος; to thirst for (literally or figuratively):--(be, be a-)thirst(-y).

Root Family

διψάω (dipsaō) — to thirst, to long for, to desire intensely

Root διψ- to thirst, to long for, to desire intensely

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1372-02`	διψήσει	dipsesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	thirst	he/she/it will thirst	he/she/it will thirst	3
`G1372-04`	διψῶ	dipso	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I thirst	I may thirst	I thirst	2
`G1372-10`	ἐδίψησα	edipsesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I was thirsty	I thirsted	I thirsted	2
`G1372-07`	διψῶντα	dipsonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	thirsty	thirsting	thirsting	2
`G1372-01`	διψᾷ	dipsa	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	is thirsty	may thirst	may thirst	2
`G1372-08`	διψῶντες	dipsontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	thirst	those thirsting	those who are thirsting	1
`G1372-03`	διψήσουσιν	dipsesousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	will they thirst	they will thirst	they will thirst	1
`G1372-09`	διψῶντι	dipsonti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	thirsty	to a thirsting one	to a thirsting one	1
`G1372-05`	διψῶμεν	dipsomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	thirst	we thirst	we thirst	1
`G1372-06`	διψῶν	dipson	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who is thirsty	one thirsting	one thirsting	1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1372-08`	Matthew 5:6	διψῶντες	dipsontes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	thirst	those thirsting	those who are thirsting
`G1372-10`	Matthew 25:35	ἐδίψησα	edipsesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I was thirsty	I thirsted	I thirsted
`G1372-07`	Matthew 25:37	διψῶντα	dipsonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	thirsty	thirsting	thirsting
`G1372-10`	Matthew 25:42	ἐδίψησα	edipsesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I was thirsty	I thirsted	I thirsted
`G1372-07`	Matthew 25:44	διψῶντα	dipsonta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	thirsty	thirsting	thirsting
`G1372-02`	John 4:13	διψήσει	dipsesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will thirst	he/she/it will thirst	he/she/it will thirst
`G1372-02`	John 4:14	διψήσει	dipsesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	thirst	he/she/it will thirst	he/she/it will thirst
`G1372-04`	John 4:15	διψῶ	dipso	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	I thirst	I may thirst	I may thirst
`G1372-02`	John 6:35	διψήσει	dipsesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	thirst	he/she/it will thirst	he/she/it will thirst
`G1372-01`	John 7:37	διψᾷ	dipsa	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	thirsts	may thirst	may thirst
`G1372-04`	John 19:28	διψῶ	dipso	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I thirst	I may thirst	I thirst
`G1372-01`	Romans 12:20	διψᾷ	dipsa	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	is thirsty	may thirst	may thirst
`G1372-05`	1 Corinthians 4:11	διψῶμεν	dipsomen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	thirst	we thirst	we thirst
`G1372-03`	Revelation 7:16	διψήσουσιν	dipsesousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	will they thirst	they will thirst	they will thirst
`G1372-09`	Revelation 21:6	διψῶντι	dipsonti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	thirsty	to a thirsting one	to a thirsting one
`G1372-06`	Revelation 22:17	διψῶν	dipson	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	who is thirsty	one thirsting	one thirsting

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