ἐπιποθ-έω G1971
To long for intensely, yearn after, or desire earnestly; a deep, sustained emotional craving.
An intensified form of potheo (to desire), with the epi- prefix deepening the longing into an ache or yearning. Paul uses it repeatedly to express the pastoral heartache of separation from beloved churches — longing to see the Romans (Rom 1:11), groaning for the heavenly dwelling (2 Cor 5:2), yearning for the Philippians with the affection of Christ (Phil 1:8). Spanish 'anhelo' and German 'verlangen' both capture the gut-level intensity. This is not casual wishing but the deep pull of love across distance.
Senses
1. long for, yearn after, desire earnestly — To long for someone or something with deep, sustained intensity; to yearn or ache with desire. The epi- prefix on potheo ('to desire') signals an intensification — this is longing that grips the whole person. Paul employs it for his pastoral yearning to see churches he loves (Rom 1:11; Phil 1:8; 2:26; 1 Thess 3:6), for the eschatological groaning to be clothed with the heavenly body (2 Cor 5:2), and for the earnest desire of believers toward one another (2 Cor 9:14). Spanish 'anhelo' ('I yearn') and German 'verlangen' ('to long for') both preserve the emotional depth. 9×
AR["أَشتاقُ", "أَشْتاقُ", "اشتاقوا", "مُشتاقينَ", "مُشْتاقاً", "مُشْتاقينَ", "مُشْتاقًا", "يَشتاقُ"]·ben["আকাঙ্ক্ষা-কর", "আকাঙ্ক্ষা-করছি", "আকাঙ্ক্ষা-করছিলেন", "আকাঙ্ক্ষা-করছে", "আকাঙ্ক্ষা-করি", "আকাঙ্ক্ষা-করে", "আকাঙ্ক্ষী।", "আমি-আকাঙ্ক্ষা-করি"]·DE["verlangen"]·EN["I-long", "I-long-for", "long-for", "longing", "longing-for", "yearns"]·FR["désirer", "verlangen"]·heb["הִשְׁתּוֹקְקוּ", "כְּמֵהִים-לְ-", "מִשְׁתּוֹקְקִים", "מִשְׁתּוֹקֵק", "מִשְׁתּוֹקֵק-אֲנִי", "מִשְׁתּוֹקֶקֶת", "מִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ"]·HI["की-लालसा-करो", "चअहत-थ", "चअहते-हुए", "बहुत-चाहते-हुए", "मैन-चहत-हुन", "लअलअयित-होते-हुए", "लालसा-करता-हूँ", "लालसा-करती-है", "लालसा-करते-हुए"]·ID["Aku-rindu", "aku merindukan", "merindukan", "rindukanlah", "sangat-merindukan", "sangat-rindu"]·IT["desiderare-ardentemente"]·jav["kangelangan.", "kangen", "kangen-sanget", "kangén", "kepéngina,", "kersa", "kula-kangén-sanget", "kula-kepéngin-sanget", "ngersakaken"]·KO["사모하노라", "사모하는", "사모하라", "사모하며", "사모하면서", "사모한다"]·PT["anelando", "anseia", "anseio", "ansiando", "desejai,", "desejando-ardentemente", "desejando-intensamente"]·RU["возжелайте,", "жаждя", "желаю", "желая", "стремится", "стремящиеся", "тоскую", "тоскующий", "тоскующих"]·ES["anhela", "anhelando", "anhelo", "desead"]·SW["akiwatamani", "anatamani", "mkitamani", "nikitamani", "ninatamani", "ninavyowatamani", "tukitamani.", "wakiwatamania", "yatamani"]·TR["arzulayarak", "giyinmeyi", "ozleyen", "ozluyorum", "özler", "özleyerek", "özleyin", "özlüyorum"]·urd["خواہش-رکھو،", "خواہشمند", "میں-آرزومند-ہوں", "چاہتا-ہوا", "چاہتا-ہوں", "چاہتی-ہے", "چاہتے-ہوئے", "چاہنے-والوں"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπιποθ-έω, desire besides or yearn after, c.accusative, Refs 5th c.BC+; feel the want of, LXX+5th c.BC+