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ἐπιποθία

epipothía

G1974 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Strong, intense longing or earnest desire for something or someone, especially marked by emotional yearning. The term denotes a deep feeling of craving, often with a sense of affection, homesickness, or earnest aspiration. In several contexts, it is directed toward other people (most commonly in expressions of affectionate longing), but it can also refer to a longing for intangible things (such as circumstances or spiritual states).

Semantic Range

intense longing, earnest yearning, affectionate desire, deeply felt craving, homesick longing, heartfelt aspiration

Root / Etymology

From the verb ἐπιποθέω ('to long for, desire earnestly'), itself a compound of ἐπί ('toward') + ποθέω ('to long for, to yearn'). The noun form suffix -ία denotes a state or quality relating to the verb's action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The noun ἐπιποθία is rare outside Biblical literature and is primarily found in the Koine period, especially in Pauline letters in the New Testament (notably 2 Corinthians and Philippians). In the New Testament, the term predominantly denotes affectionate yearning—for fellow believers or for reunion after separation—and carries an emotional, almost homesick undertone. It does not usually refer to material desires or erotic longing, focusing instead on earnest emotional relationships. Classical Greek typically expresses similar ideas with πόθος or ἔρως, but epipothia (intensified by ἐπί-) has a specifically strong sense, often implying heart-felt, sometimes almost painful, yearning. Standard English translations such as 'great desire' or 'earnest longing' capture the basic meaning but may not fully communicate the warmth and intensity implied by the Greek. The word should be distinguished from simple θέλω (to wish, to want) or ἐπιθυμία (which can also connote lust or illicit desire), as ἐπιποθία carries a more positive and relational sense.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπιποθέω; intense longing:--great desire.

Root Family

ποθ- (epipothéō) — to yearn, to desire, to long for

Root ποθ- to long for, to yearn, to desire earnestly
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1971 ἐπιποθέω deeply yearns
G1972 ἐπιπόθησις deep longing
G1973 ἐπιπόθητος O deeply longed-for ones
G4159 πόθεν from where

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1974-01 ἐπιποθείαν epipotheian N ACC F SG desire intense longing intense longing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1974-01 Romans 15:23 ἐπιποθείαν epipotheian N ACC F SG desire intense longing intense longing
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