ἑκών G1635
willingly, voluntarily, of one's own accord
This adverb means willingly or of one's own free will, emphasizing voluntary choice. Romans 8:20 uses it in describing creation's subjection to futility not willingly but by God's will, and 1 Corinthians 9:17 contrasts willing and unwilling service. The word stresses intentional, free choice rather than compulsion. Classical usage distinguished voluntary from involuntary acts, a fundamental ethical and legal distinction.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Emphasizing voluntary action versus compulsion, this adverb highlights the element of free choice. Romans 8:20 contrasts creation's unwilling subjection with God's sovereign purpose, while 1 Corinthians 9:17 distinguishes Paul's willing stewardship from compelled service. The multilingual evidence ('voluntariamente', 'freiwillig', 'volontairement') consistently emphasizes the free-will dimension. 2×
AR["طَوْعاً", "طَوْعًا"]·ben["ইচ্ছুকভাবে", "স্বেচ্ছায়"]·DE["freiwillig"]·EN["willingly"]·FR["volontairement"]·heb["מִ-רְצוֹנָהּ", "מֵ-רָצוֹן"]·HI["इच्छा-से"]·ID["dengan-sukarela", "dengan-sukarela,"]·IT["volontariamente"]·jav["kanthi-karsa", "kanthi-karsa-piyambak"]·KO["자원하여", "자원함이"]·PT["voluntariamente", "voluntariamente,"]·RU["добровольно", "через-"]·ES["voluntariamente"]·SW["kwa-hiari"]·TR["isteyerek"]·urd["اپنی-مرضی-سے", "خوشی-سے"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἑκών, ἑκοῦσα, ἑκόν: (ϝέκ- Refs; cf. Sanskrit váśmi 'wish'):—readily, Refs 8th c.BC+; ἑ. παρ᾽ ἑκόντος λαμβάνειν, i.e. by mutual consent, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 wittingly, purposely, ἑκὼν δ᾽ ἡμάρτανε φωτός Refs 8th c.BC+ __3 in Attic dialect Prose Refs 2nd c.AD+ as far as depends on one's will, as far as concerns one, with a negative, Refs 5th c.BC+; also in oblique cases, ὑπὸ σοῦ ἑκόντος εἶναι Refs;…