"to desire besides; also, to desire earnestly, long for, 2 Cor. 5:2; to have a strong bent, Jas. 4:5; by impl. to love, have affection for, 2 Cor. 9:14"
Definition and meaning
to desire besides; also, to desire earnestly, long for, 2 Cor. 5:2; to have a strong bent, Jas. 4:5; by impl. to love, have affection for, 2 Cor. 9:14
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐπιποθέω
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of epipotheo (G1971) across the King James Bible.
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
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Common questions
Strong's G1971 (epipotheo) is a Greek word that means: to desire besides; also, to desire earnestly, long for, 2 Cor. 5:2; to have a strong bent, Jas. 4:5; by impl. to love, have affection for, 2 Cor. 9:14 It appears 9 times in the King James Bible.
The word epipotheo (G1971) appears 9 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1971 is epipotheo, a Greek word defined as: to desire besides; also, to desire earnestly, long for, 2 Cor. 5:2; to have a strong bent, Jas. 4:5; by impl. to love, have affection for, 2 Cor. 9:14. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
epipotheo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.