Understanding βούλομαι (boulomai) Strong’s G1014: The Divine Will that Reveals God’s Heart and Purposeful Design

Pronunciation Guide: boo’-lom-ahee (with emphasis on the first syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1014: βούλομαι (boulomai) expresses purposeful desire, deliberate intention, and reasoned determination. Unlike other Greek words for desire, βούλομαι involves the mind and will rather than merely emotions or impulses. It signifies a considered decision after deliberation, often implying authority or capability to carry out what is desired. When used of God, it reveals His sovereign purposes unfolding according to His perfect wisdom.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb (deponent middle)
• Root connection: Related to βουλή (boulē, G1012) meaning “counsel” or “purpose”
• Language origin: Classical Greek
• Primary usage: Narrative contexts, epistolary literature, and discourse sections where deliberate intention is emphasized
• Voice: Always middle voice in New Testament, indicating personal involvement of the subject in the action

βούλομαι Morphology:

• βούλομαι (present indicative, 1st person singular) – I will/desire/intend
• βούλεται (present indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it wills/desires/intends
• βουλόμενος (present participle, masculine nominative singular) – willing/desiring/intending
• ἐβουλόμην (imperfect indicative, 1st person singular) – I was willing/desiring/intending
• βουληθῇ (aorist subjunctive, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it might will/desire/intend
• βεβούλημαι (perfect indicative, 1st person singular) – I have willed/desired/intended

Origin & History

The term βούλομαι has deep roots in classical Greek, where it was distinguished from θέλω (thelō) by carrying connotations of rational deliberation. In works like Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics,” βούλομαι described the deliberative process behind moral choice (προαίρεσις), indicating not merely preference but reasoned intention. Aristotle used it to describe purpose grounded in rational consideration, distinguishing it from mere impulse or emotion.

In the Septuagint (LXX), βούλομαι appears approximately 80 times, often translating the Hebrew חָפֵץ (chaphets) or רָצָה (ratsah). Its usage in the LXX laid important groundwork for New Testament applications, particularly in contexts where divine intention or a ruler’s authoritative desire is described. Philo of Alexandria, the Jewish philosopher, employed βούλομαι extensively when discussing God’s purposeful designs in creation, highlighting the term’s connection to divine wisdom and intention.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A deliberate desire rooted in rational thought and consideration
• An authoritative intention that carries weight and purpose
• A resolved determination with capability to execute
• A reasoned will that follows counsel and deliberation
• A purposed plan reflecting one’s true priorities and values

βούλομαι Translation Options:

• “Purpose” – Emphasizes the deliberate nature and goal-oriented aspect of βούλομαι
• “Resolve” – Highlights the determined aspect after consideration
• “Will” – Indicates authoritative intention, especially when attributed to God
• “Deliberate desire” – Captures both the affective and intellectual components
• “Intend with authority” – Appropriate when used of someone in position to execute their desire

Biblical Usage

The verb βούλομαι appears 37 times in the New Testament, with notable concentration in Acts, James, and the Pastoral Epistles. Its first appearance in Matthew 1:19 reveals Joseph’s reasoned and compassionate intention regarding Mary. The term consistently carries the sense of deliberate, thoughtful intention rather than mere emotional desire. When applied to God, βούλομαι reveals His sovereign purposes that flow from His character and wisdom.

In the epistles, βούλομαι often appears in contexts of church leadership and instruction, where reasoned intention shapes pastoral guidance. James employs this term when discussing God’s purposeful action in bringing forth believers through the word of truth (James 1:18), highlighting the deliberate nature of divine redemptive action.

• “Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned [βουληθεὶς] to send her away secretly.” Matthew 1:19
• “In the exercise of His will [βουληθεὶς] He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” James 1:18
• “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting [βουλόμενος] any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
• “Therefore I want [βούλομαι] the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” 1 Timothy 2:8
• “Who desires [βούλεται] all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4
• “For if we go on sinning willfully [ἑκουσίως] after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31
• “So then it does not depend on the man who wills [θέλοντος] or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.’ So then He has mercy on whom He desires [θέλει], and He hardens whom He desires [θέλει]. You will say to me then, ‘Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will [βουλήματι]?'” Romans 9:16-19

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman world of the first century, βούλομαι had important legal and political connotations. The term was used in official documents and legal proceedings to indicate authoritative decisions after deliberation. The βουλή (boulē) – the related noun – was the deliberative council in Greek city-states, highlighting the term’s connection to authoritative decision-making. This background adds depth to New Testament usage, particularly in formal contexts or when describing divine action.

A fascinating cultural insight comes from the comparison with Jewish concepts of divine will. In rabbinic literature, God’s רָצוֹן (ratson, will) was often discussed in terms of both revealed will (what God commands) and decreed will (what God ordains to happen). The New Testament usage of βούλομαι, particularly when attributed to God, reflects this dual aspect – expressing both what God desires for humanity (such as salvation in 1 Timothy 2:4) and what God sovereignly determines will occur (as in James 1:18). This creates a beautiful tension that reveals the complexity of divine intention in Jewish thought – God’s determined purpose flows from His perfect character and wisdom.

Theological Significance

When βούλομαι is attributed to God in Scripture, it reveals the profound truth that God’s actions flow from purposeful intention rather than arbitrary whim or reaction. This deliberative aspect of divine will emphasizes God’s wisdom and foreknowledge. In James 1:18, God’s act of spiritual rebirth is described using βουληθεὶς (having purposed or willed), revealing salvation as the product of His deliberate design rather than an afterthought or emergency response to human sin.

The theological distinction between βούλομαι and θέλω illuminates different aspects of divine will. While θέλω often expresses God’s revealed will or desire, βούλομαι typically indicates His decreed will or sovereign purpose. In Romans 9:19, Paul uses the noun form βούλημα when addressing the question of who can resist God’s sovereign purpose, highlighting the term’s connection to divine determination. This helps us understand that God’s intentions are not merely wishful desires but purposeful plans backed by omnipotent power. For believers, this offers tremendous comfort – our salvation and spiritual growth are not accidents but part of God’s deliberate purpose for us in the Messiah Jesus, established before the foundation of the world.

Personal Application

Understanding βούλομαι invites us to reflect on the deliberate nature of our own spiritual decisions. In a culture that often elevates impulse and emotion above reasoned commitment, Scripture calls us to a faith characterized by purposeful intention. Like Joseph in Matthew 1:19, whose βουληθεὶς (having purposed) reflected both righteousness and compassion, our own decisions should flow from careful consideration aligned with godly wisdom.

This word also transforms how we view God’s work in our lives. When facing difficulties, we can remember that God’s involvement in our circumstances isn’t reactive or haphazard but purposeful and considered. As James declares, He “brought us forth by the word of truth” according to His determined will (βουληθεὶς). This truth invites us to trust the God whose sovereign purposes for us flow from His perfect wisdom and love, even when we cannot fully comprehend His ways.

Related Words

• θέλω (thelō, pronounced theh’-lō) – to desire, wish, or want, often expressing emotional inclination or preference rather than deliberate resolve; while βούλομαι emphasizes reasoned purpose, θέλω typically reflects desire or wish without necessarily indicating the deliberative process. See G2309
• προαιρέομαι (proaireomai, pronounced pro-ahee-reh’-om-ahee) – to choose deliberately, purpose in one’s heart; intensifies the deliberative aspect found in βούλομαι by adding the prefix προ- (“before”), emphasizing forethought in the decision-making process. See G4255
• εὐδοκέω (eudokeō, pronounced yoo-dok-eh’-o) – to be well-pleased, to delight in; shares with βούλομαι the aspect of approval but adds emotional satisfaction or pleasure that βούλομαι doesn’t necessarily imply. See G2106
• ἐπιθυμέω (epithumeō, pronounced ep-ee-thoo-meh’-o) – to set one’s heart upon, long for, desire; focuses on the intensity of desire rather than the reasoned intention emphasized in βούλομαι, often carrying connotations of passionate longing. See G1937
• βουλεύω (bouleuō, pronounced bool-yoo’-o) – to deliberate, take counsel; shares the same root as βούλομαι but emphasizes the process of deliberation rather than the resulting intention or purpose. See G1011

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the modern Greek Parliament is still called the Βουλή (Boulē), reflecting the ancient connection between βούλομαι and deliberative governance? This linguistic continuity reveals how deeply this concept of reasoned, authoritative decision-making has been embedded in Greek culture from ancient times to the present day. The βουλή in ancient Athens was a council of citizens who deliberated on proposed laws before they were presented to the general assembly (ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia) – terms that would later take on profound significance in the New Testament church.
• Did you know that in classical Greek rhetoric, the distinction between βούλομαι and θέλω was sometimes used to construct sophisticated arguments? Orators would contrast what someone claimed to desire (θέλω) with what their actions revealed they truly purposed (βούλομαι). This rhetorical technique appears subtly in New Testament passages that distinguish between mere verbal profession and genuine commitment, reminding us that true faith is revealed not just in what we say we want but in what we purposefully do.
• Did you know that in Joseph’s decision regarding Mary (Matthew 1:19), his use of βουληθεὶς (having purposed) reflects the Jewish legal concept of kavvanah (כַּוָּנָה) – proper intention in fulfilling the Law? Rather than mechanically applying the letter of the Torah, which would have required public exposure of apparent adultery, Joseph’s “purpose” demonstrated the deeper intention of the Law – justice tempered with mercy and compassion. This reveals how βούλομαι in Jewish-Christian contexts often carried the weight of properly directed intention in fulfilling God’s commands, not merely following rules.

Remember This

βούλομαι reveals that God’s purposes for your life are never accidental or afterthoughts, but deliberate expressions of His wisdom, authority, and love – inviting you to trust the One whose every intention is perfect.