Word study
Eagerly
5 Greek words behind this English word
The original-language words that the Berean Standard Bible translates with “eagerly”. English often uses one word where Hebrew or Greek has several, each with its own shade of meaning. Under each word are verses where it is translated this way; choose the word itself for its full study: every verse, how else it is translated, the forms it takes and what the dictionaries say.
At a glance
How often each original word is translated “eagerly” or one of its forms.
Compare the Greek words side by side
Greek words (New Testament)
- ἀπεκδέχομαι apekdéchomaiI expect eagerly, wait for eagerlytranslated this way 5 times of its 8 uses · Strong’s G553Verb · Translated: eagerly await 4, waits 1, wait eagerly 1, wait 1Full study and all 8 verses →
Romans 8:23 Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- ζηλόω zēlóōI am jealous, eager fortranslated this way 2 times of its 12 uses · Strong’s G2206Verb · Translated: zealous 3, jealous 2, eagerly desire 2Full study and all 11 verses →
1 Corinthians 12:31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
- ἐπιθυμέω epithyméōI long for, covet, lust aftertranslated this way 1 time of its 15 uses · Strong’s G1937Verb · Translated: long 3, longed 2, covet 2Full study and all 15 verses →
Luke 22:15 And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering.
- σπουδαῖος spoudaîosdiligent, earnesttranslated this way 1 time of its 2 uses · Strong’s G4705Adjective · Translated: eagerly 1, earnestness 1Full study and all 2 verses →
2 Corinthians 8:17 For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.
- ἀποκαραδοκία apokaradokíaeager expectationtranslated this way 1 time of its 2 uses · Strong’s G603Noun · Translated: eager expectation 1, eagerly expect 1Full study and all 2 verses →
Philippians 1:20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
How to study a word well
- Start from the verse, not the dictionary. Find which Hebrew or Greek word stands in the verse you are studying. One English word often translates several different original words.
- Read every place the word is used. A word means what its writers used it to mean. The list of verses and the count by book show its range, and who uses it most.
- Look at how it is translated. A word rendered five different ways has a wider meaning than any one English word can carry.
- Notice the form. A command is not a statement, and a passive verb is something done to the subject. The form in your verse is part of the meaning.
- See what it keeps company with. The words that appear beside it again and again show how the Bible itself connects ideas.
- Then read the dictionaries. They give the considered view of scholars, with their evidence.
- Come back to the verse. Context decides. A word does not carry every one of its meanings into every verse, and where a word came from does not settle what it means in a sentence written centuries later.
Scripture text and translation counts: Berean Standard Bible. Short definition: Dodson Greek Lexicon (2010, public domain). Full entry: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922, public domain). Strong’s Greek Dictionary (1890) in the edition by Ulrik Sandborg-Petersen (CC0). These are historical reference works; an entry gives its authors’ view, and a word’s meaning in any verse depends on how it is used there.