What does βούλομαι (boúlomai) mean in the Bible?
Βούλομαι (boúlomai) means to will, want, intend, or form a considered purpose. Joseph does not wish to expose Mary publicly and resolves on a quiet divorce before divine revelation redirects him.
Greek · G1014
βούλομαι
To plan
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βούλομαι G1014
Pronunciation boúlomai
What does βούλομαι (boúlomai) mean in the Bible?
Βούλομαι (boúlomai) means to will, want, intend, or form a considered purpose. Joseph does not wish to expose Mary publicly and resolves on a quiet divorce before divine revelation redirects him.
Reader summary
Full entry for βούλομαι (G1014) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1014?
The BSB source-word alignment has 36 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include I want (4), chooses (3), wanted (3), wanting (3), . . . (1).
Where does βούλομαι (boúlomai) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 1:19. Its strongest book concentrations include Acts (13), 1 Timothy (3), James (3), 2 Corinthians (2).
Are there verse guides for βούλομαι (boúlomai)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
Βούλομαι (boúlomai) means to will, want, intend, or form a considered purpose. Joseph does not wish to expose Mary publicly and resolves on a quiet divorce before divine revelation redirects him. Athenian hearers want to understand Paul's unfamiliar teaching. Roman officials want to release Paul because no capital charge is proven. Paul would like to keep Onesimus, yet refuses to act without Philemon's consent.
Jude wants to remind readers of a truth they already know. Desire may be compassionate, curious, judicial, pastoral, or didactic, and an intention may be revised by new knowledge, restrained by another's freedom, or frustrated by circumstance. The verb does not prove that every wish becomes reality or that willing is morally good. The person willing, the contemplated action, and the governing obligations determine its character.
How the Bible Uses It
Βούλομαι describes considered desire or intention: Joseph's merciful plan, an audience's wish to understand, officials intending release, Paul's restrained desire concerning Onesimus, and Jude's purpose to remind.
- Matt.1.19
Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and was unwilling to disgrace her publicly, he resolved to divorce her quietly.
Joseph is unwilling to expose Mary publicly and forms a quiet plan, showing compassion within limited knowledge before the angel reveals God's greater purpose.
- Acts.17.20
For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
The Areopagus audience wants to know what Paul's strange teaching means, a stated curiosity that leads into his proclamation but does not itself equal faith.
- Acts.28.18
They examined me and wanted to release me, because there was no basis for a death sentence against me.
Roman examiners want to release Paul because they find no capital offense, yet political pressures and his appeal shape what follows.
- Phlm.1.13
I would have liked to keep him with me, so that on your behalf he could minister to me in my chains for the gospel.
Paul would have preferred to retain Onesimus for ministry, but he will not secure the good by compulsion and instead honors Philemon's meaningful consent.
- Jude.1.5
Although you are fully aware of this, I want to remind you that after Jesus had delivered His people out of the land of Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe.
Jude intends to remind readers of a known deliverance and judgment, using recollection to confront unbelief within a community threatened by false teachers.
Passage contextBook context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It I want 4× Philippians 1:12, 1 Timothy 2:8, Titus 3:8, Jude 1:5
chooses 3× Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22, James 4:4
wanted 3× Acts 15:37, Acts 19:30, Hebrews 6:17
wanting 3× Acts 22:30, Acts 27:43, 2 Peter 3:9
. . . 1× James 3:4
[and] wanted 1× Acts 28:18
[but] I would prefer 1× 2 John 1:12
[Herod] intended 1× Acts 12:4
are determined 1× Acts 5:28
do you want 1× John 18:39
He chose 1× James 1:18
He determines 1× 1 Corinthians 12:11
he resolved 1× Matthew 1:19
he was willing 1× Acts 25:20
I advise 1× 1 Timothy 5:14
I planned 1× 2 Corinthians 1:15
I would like 1× Acts 25:22
refuse 1× Acts 18:15
resolved 1× Acts 18:27
since I wanted 1× Acts 23:28
want 1× 1 Timothy 6:9
want to do so 1× 3 John 1:10
we want 1× Acts 17:20
When I planned 1× 2 Corinthians 1:17
wishing 1× Mark 15:15
would have liked 1× Philemon 1:13
You are willing 1× Luke 22:42
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 1:19 ἐβουλήθη to he resolved Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 11:27 βούληται to chooses Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Mark 15:15 βουλόμενος to wishing Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 10:22 βούληται to chooses Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Luke 22:42 βούλει to You are willing Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular John 18:39 βούλεσθε to do you want Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural Acts 5:28 βούλεσθε to are determined Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural Acts 12:4 βουλόμενος to [Herod] intended Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular Acts 15:37 ἐβούλετο to wanted Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Acts 17:20 βουλόμεθα to we want Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 1:19
Aligned rows 36
Books represented 17
Matthew 2 Mark 1 Luke 2 John 1 Acts 13 1 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 2 Philippians 1 1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 Philemon 1 Hebrews 1 James 3 2 Peter 1 2 John 1 3 John 1 Jude 1
Source forms
βουλόμενος 6x boulomenos Mark 15:15, Acts 12:4, Acts 22:30, Acts 27:43
βούλομαι 3x boulomai Acts 18:15, Philippians 1:12, Jude 1:5
βούλεσθε 2x boulesthe John 18:39, Acts 5:28
βούλεται 2x bouletai 1 Corinthians 12:11, James 3:4
βούληται 2x boulētai Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22
Βούλομαι 2x Boulomai 1 Timothy 2:8, 1 Timothy 5:14
βουλόμενός 2x boulomenos Acts 23:28, 2 Peter 3:9
ἐβουλόμην 2x eboulomēn 2 Corinthians 1:15, Philemon 1:13
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular 8x Mark 15:15, Acts 12:4, Acts 22:30, Acts 23:28
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular 6x Acts 18:15, Philippians 1:12, 1 Timothy 2:8, 1 Timothy 5:14
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular 3x Acts 25:22, 2 Corinthians 1:15, Philemon 1:13
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural 2x John 18:39, Acts 5:28
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular 2x 1 Corinthians 12:11, James 3:4
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Masculine Singular 2x Acts 18:27, Acts 19:30
Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular 2x Matthew 11:27, Luke 10:22
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular 1x 2 John 1:12
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Do not build a universal distinction in which βούλομαι always means rational will and θέλω always means emotion; usage and context overlap.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that the Athenians' wish to hear Paul proves saving faith.
- Do not claim that a desired ministry outcome permits coercion when Paul explicitly preserves voluntary consent.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Deliberate choice of will between alternatives, stronger volition than θέλω
Source Gloss
to plan
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 34 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
eboulhqh
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Matthew 11:27 Verb Third Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Subjunctive
βούληται boulhtai
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Mark 15:15 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
βουλόμενος boulomenov
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Luke 10:22 Verb Third Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Subjunctive
βούληται boulhtai
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Luke 22:42 Verb Second Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
βούλει, boulei
I will, intend, desire
Read verse John 18:39 Verb Second Person Plural Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
βούλεσθε boulesqe
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 5:28 Verb Second Person Plural Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
βούλεσθε boulesqe
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 12:4 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
βουλόμενος boulomenov
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 17:20 Verb First Person Plural Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
βουλόμεθα boulomeqa
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 18:15 Verb First Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
βούλομαι boulomai
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 18:27 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Genitive Singular Masculine
βουλομένου boulomenou
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 19:30 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Genitive Singular Masculine
βουλομένου boulomenou
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 22:30 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
βουλόμενος boulomenov
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 23:28 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
βουλόμενος boulomenov
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 25:20 Verb Third Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Optative
βούλοιτο bouloito
I will, intend, desire
Read verse Acts 25:22 Verb First Person Singular Imperfect Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
Ἐβουλόμην eboulomhn
I will, intend, desire
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 4 Aligned forms 37 Tenses Present, Imperfect, Aorist Voices Middle, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 13×
Present Middle Mark 15:15 · Acts 12:4 · Acts 22:30 · Acts 23:28 · Acts 27:43 · 2 Cor 1:17 · Heb 6:17 · 2 Pet 3:9 · Acts 18:27 · Acts 19:30 · 1 Tim 6:9 · 3 John 1:10 12×
Aorist Passive Jas 1:18 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 20×
Present Middle Acts 18:15 · Phil 1:12 · 1 Tim 2:8 · 1 Tim 5:14 · Titus 3:8 · Jude 1:5 · John 18:39 · Acts 5:28 · 1 Cor 12:11 · Jas 3:4 · Luke 22:42 · Acts 17:20 12×
Imperfect Middle Acts 25:22 · 2 Cor 1:15 · Phlm 1:13 · Acts 5:33 · Acts 28:18 · Acts 15:37 6×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 3×
Present Middle Matt 11:27 · Luke 10:22 2×
Aorist Passive Jas 4:4 1×
Optative wish or remote possibility 1×
Present Middle Acts 25:20 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 37 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 27 imperfect 6 aorist 4
Voice
middle 33 passive 4
Mood
indicative 20 participle 13 subjunctive 3 optative 1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:19 ἐβουλήθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 11:27 βούληται present middle subjunctive subjunctive Mark 15:15 βουλόμενος present middle participle participle Luke 10:22 βούληται present middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 22:42 βούλει present middle indicative ongoing John 18:39 βούλεσθε present middle indicative ongoing Acts 5:28 βούλεσθε present middle indicative ongoing Acts 5:33 ἐβούλοντο imperfect middle indicative background Acts 12:4 βουλόμενος present middle participle participle Acts 15:37 ἐβούλετο imperfect middle indicative background Acts 17:20 βουλόμεθα present middle indicative ongoing Acts 18:15 βούλομαι present middle indicative ongoing Acts 18:27 βουλομένου present middle participle participle Acts 19:30 βουλομένου present middle participle participle Acts 22:30 βουλόμενος present middle participle participle Acts 23:28 βουλόμενός present middle participle participle Acts 25:20 βούλοιτο present middle optative optative Acts 25:22 Ἐβουλόμην imperfect middle indicative background Acts 27:43 βουλόμενος present middle participle participle Acts 28:18 ἐβούλοντο imperfect middle indicative background 1 Corinthians 12:11 βούλεται present middle indicative ongoing 2 Corinthians 1:15 ἐβουλόμην imperfect middle indicative background 2 Corinthians 1:17 βουλόμενος present middle participle participle Philippians 1:12 βούλομαι present middle indicative ongoing 1 Timothy 2:8 Βούλομαι present middle indicative ongoing 1 Timothy 5:14 βούλομαι present middle indicative ongoing 1 Timothy 6:9 βουλόμενοι present middle participle participle Titus 3:8 βούλομαί present middle indicative ongoing Philemon 1:13 ἐβουλόμην imperfect middle indicative background Hebrews 6:17 βουλόμενος present middle participle participle James 1:18 βουληθεὶς aorist passive participle participle James 3:4 βούλεται present middle indicative ongoing James 4:4 βουληθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive 2 Peter 3:9 βουλόμενός present middle participle participle 2 John 1:12 ἐβουλήθην aorist passive indicative completed 3 John 1:10 βουλομένους present middle participle participle Jude 1:5 βούλομαι present middle indicative ongoing
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Witnesses
Luke 10:21–24 βούληται boúlomai
Wills, chooses
Showing 1 selected witness from 37 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
βούλομαι is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Intentions reveal character but do not rule providence. Joseph's merciful purpose is honorable within what he knows, yet God's message replaces it with a costly act of obedience. The Athenians' desire to understand gives Paul a hearing, but curiosity must still answer the call to repentance. Officials want to release Paul because justice supports him, though institutional pressures complicate their intent.
Philemon shows pastoral willing governed by love: Paul wants Onesimus near, but refuses to turn apostolic influence into compulsion. Jude wills to remind because remembered Scripture protects the church from repeating unbelief. Teachers should cultivate thoughtful purpose without celebrating willpower. Human willing needs truth, justice, consent, and submission to God's disclosed work.
A sincere plan may require correction, and a good goal pursued coercively can contradict the gospel-shaped good it seeks.
Anchor passage
Matt.1.19
Doctrinal connections
- Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph's intention redirected by revelation
- Acts 17:16-34, desire to hear and the call to repentance
- Acts 28:17-22, officials desiring release amid legal process
- Philemon 8-16, pastoral desire without compulsion
- Jude 3-7, intending to remind the church of known truth
- Proverbs 16:1-9, human plans under the Lord's direction
Βούλομαι is a verb of willing or intending and often governs an infinitive naming the contemplated action. It can suggest deliberated purpose, but context rather than a rigid contrast with θέλω establishes nuance.
From Old to New Testament
Wisdom weighs human plans before the Lord, rulers form intentions they cannot guarantee, and faithful servants submit desire to revelation, justice, and neighbor love.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain