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Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology


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Kasap [ כָּסַף ] means to yearn for or to long after. Hapes [ חָפַץ , חָפֵץ ] has a basic meaning of feeling great favor toward something, and is found seventy-one times in the Old Testament, being translated "delight" or "pleasure" the majority of the time, and "desire" nine times. Baqas [ בָּקַשׁ ] speaks of a person's earnest seeking of something or someone. It is usually translated "to seek, " "require, " or "desire."

The idea of "be attached to" and "love" comes from hasaq [ Genesis 2:9 ) and the tree forbidden to Adam, which became sinful when "desired" to make one wise (Genesis 3:6 ).

One of the most frequently used words in the Old Testament to indicate desire is awa [ אָוָה ] and its derivatives, which can be found almost fifty times. Often the subject of this verb is nephes [ נֶפֶשׁ ], meaning self, soul, or appetite. The term is translated as "desire, " "lust, " "will, " "pleasant, " "greed, " "dainty, " and "desirable."

One final word of importance is the root shwq [ שׁוקּ ] and its derivative tesuqa [ תְּשׁוקָּה ]. It is translated as "desire" or "longing." This term is found only three times in the Old Testament: Genesis 3:16,4:7 , and Song of Song of Solomon 7:10 . In Genesis 3:16 the term is negative in nature, occurring in a context of sin and judgment. In Genesis 4:7 sin itself is described as desiring to have Cain. God describes sin "like a crouching beast, " hungering and preying on Cain. In the Song of Solomon the term is positive in nature, in the context of joy and love, referring to the bridegroom's desire for his bride.


The verb epithymeo [ ἐπιθυμέω ] and its derivatives are found scattered seventy-three times throughout the New Testament. Epithymeo [ ἐπιθυμέω ] is found sixteen times. Both it and the noun epithymia are derived from thymos, which means wrath, fierceness, indignation, and then passion, heat, or passionate desire. Epithymeo [ ἐπιθυμέω ] most often has an ambivalent sense, meaning simply desire, strive for, long to have/do/be something. Only in a few instances is the word used for (forbidden) desire. For example, 1 Corinthians 10:6 refers to godless desire.


Zeloute [1Col 12:31; 14:1,39; Galatians 4:17,4:7 ; James 4:2 ). Zeloo [ ζηλεύω , ζηλόω ] is found multiple times in the New Testament and is used in reference to Jewish "holy zeal, " hostility occasioned by ill will, "jealousy, " and the desire to attain goals or to be devoted to someone.

One of the stronger negative Greek words translated desire is katastreniao [ καταστρηνιάω ]. It means to burn fiercely, to be covetous, to be sensually stimulated. Another word used in the negative sense is orexis, [ὄρεξις ] which indicates a lustful desire or longing.





Daniel L. Akin

See also Lust

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All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Bibliography Information
Elwell, Walter A. Entry for 'Desire'. Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. 1996.

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Friday, January 19th, 2018
the Second Week after Epiphany
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