Words the Bible translates as longing
English uses one word here. The Bible uses 8 words, and they do not mean the same thing. Each is listed with what it actually means, most frequent first.
- epithumiaἐπιθυμίαa strong desire: an intense reaching of the heart toward something, which is good or evil depending on what it reaches for
- ta'avahתַּאֲוָהdesire, longing, craving: the whole person's reaching out for what it wants (and sometimes the wanted thing itself).
- re'utרְעוּתa chasing after: the reaching for something that cannot be caught, used only in the Ecclesiastes phrase "a chasing after wind".
- teshuqahתְּשׁוּקָהa strong, exclusive turning of one person or force toward another, an orientation that fixes attention and longing on its object
- epipothēsisἐπιπόθησιςlongingnot studied yet
- epipothiaἐπιποθίαlongingnot studied yet
- kalehכָּלֶהlongingnot studied yet
- ta'avahתַּאֲבָהlongingnot studied yet
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Every English meaning beginning with L is on its letter page, and the whole index starts at Browse.