Dictionary Article

To long for, want, or covet; also the object so desired. The word “desire” occurs many times in the KJB. As a noun it translates 12 Hebrew words and 3 Greek words. As a verb it represents about 12 each of Hebrew and Greek verbs. Some of the original words simply mean “ask” or “seek,” and are translated that way in modern versions.

Desire is a basic part of life, neither good nor bad in itself. The important moral issue is how one responds to his or her desires. It is possible to let desires control one’s conduct, or to control one’s desires and use them to serve their God-appointed purposes.

Christians have differed on the appropriate reaction to desire. Ascetics have claimed, for example, that the desire for food and the enjoyment of eating is sinful. But Jesus’ examples in the Gospels show that he enjoyed good meals—so much so that his critics called him a glutton (Lk 7:34 (RV · LV · Read together)). His first miracle in John’s Gospel was performed at a wedding in Cana of Galilee, where the feasting probably went on for several days (Jn 2:1-11 (RV · LV · Read together)).

JHN 2:1–11: RV JHN 2:1–11 · LV JHN 2:1–11 · Read together JHN 2:1–11

Show passage in OET

OET-RV JHN 2:1

2 On the Tuesday, there was a wedding in Kana in Galil, and Yeshua’s (Jesus; Grk. Yesus) mother was there

OET-RV JHN 2:2

2 and Yeshua and his apprentices were also invited.

OET-RV JHN 2:3

3 When the wine ran out at the wedding, his mother said to him, “They haven’t got any more wine.”

OET-RV JHN 2:4

4 Yeshua answered, “What does that have to do with us, mother? It’s not the time for my ministry yet.”

OET-RV JHN 2:5

5 But his mother told the servants, “Just do whatever he tells you.”

OET-RV JHN 2:6

6 Now there were six empty stone water jars there that are used for Jewish purification ceremonies. (Each one could hold over 70 litres.)

OET-RV JHN 2:7

7 So Yeshua told them to fill the jars with water, and they filled them up.

OET-RV JHN 2:8

8 Then he said, “Okay, now take a sample out and give it to the MC.” So they took some

OET-RV JHN 2:9

9 and when the MC tasted the water that had now turned to wine, not knowing where it had come from he called the groom

OET-RV JHN 2:10

10 and exclaimed, “Most people supply the best wine at the beginning of the reception, and the cheaper stuff when people are a bit tipsy. But you’ve kept the best wine until last!”

OET-RV JHN 2:11

11 This event in Kana, Galil, was the first of the miracles that Yeshua did, and it revealed his greatness and his followers believed that he was from God.

OET-LV JHN 2:1

2 And on _the the third day a_wedding became in Kana of_ the _Galilaia/(Gālīl), and the mother of_ the _Yaʸsous was there.

OET-LV JHN 2:2

2 And the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) was_ also _invited and the apprentices/followers of _him to the wedding.

OET-LV JHN 2:3

3 And having _been _deficient of _wine, the mother the of_Yaʸsous is _saying to him:
They _are_ not _having wine.

OET-LV JHN 2:4

4 And the Yaʸsous is _saying to _her:
What to _me and to _you, woman?
The hour of _me is_ not _yet _coming.

OET-LV JHN 2:5

5 The mother of _him is _saying to _the servants:
Do whatever anything wishfully he _may _be _saying to _you _all.

OET-LV JHN 2:6

6 And six stone waterpots were lying there according _to the purification of _the Youdaiōns, having _room _for two or three measures each.

OET-LV JHN 2:7

7 Is _saying to _them the Yaʸsous:
Fill the waterpots with _water.
And they _filled them to upward.

OET-LV JHN 2:8

8 And he _is _saying to _them:
Draw now and be _carrying to _the the_headwaiter.
And they carried it.

OET-LV JHN 2:9

9 And when the the_headwaiter tasted the water having _been _become wine, and had_ not _known from _where is, but the servants had _known the ones having _drawn the water, the headwaiter is _calling the bridegroom

OET-LV JHN 2:10

10 and he _is _saying to _him:
Every person is _presenting first the good wine, and the lessor whenever they _may _be _being _drunk, you have _kept the good wine until now.

OET-LV JHN 2:11

11 This beginning of _the signs the Yaʸsous/(Yəhōshūˊa) did in Kana the of _Galilaia/(Gālīl), and revealed the glory of _him, and the apprentices/followers of _him believed in him.

Many think that sexual desire is bad, but it is of itself no more evil than the desire for food. God created people with both desires, and they both must be kept under control, in obedience to God’s law.

How does one distinguish between good desire and bad desire? Ultimately there is one basic issue: Is a person’s desire self-centered or a desire for God’s will? The Bible teaches that the essence of sin is a determination to have one’s own way. Although King Saul never committed the dual crimes of adultery and murder that King David did, David was honored and Saul was reproached. The reason given by the Bible is that David was “a man after [God’s] heart,” who wanted to do God’s will (Acts 13:22 (RV · LV · Read together)). But Saul was stubborn and self-willed, and he was rejected for that reason (1 Sm 15:23 (RV · LV · Read together)).

Evil desire, therefore, is not necessarily a desire for something that one might label as wicked. It is essentially the desire to have one’s own way. As such, it is idolatry, putting self in place of God. Without desire, nothing is accomplished in life. But one’s actions must always be in accord with God’s will as it is revealed in his Word. The Bible even promises that if people take delight in the Lord, then God will give them the desires of their heart (Ps 37:4 (RV · LV · Read together); cf. Ps 145:16, 19 (RV PSA 145:16 · RV PSA 145:19 · LV PSA 145:16 · LV PSA 145:19 · Read together PSA 145:16 · Read together PSA 145:19); Prv 10:24 (RV · LV · Read together); Mt 6:33 (RV · LV · Read together)). When God is one’s greatest desire, all other desires become properly oriented and can thus mirror God’s own desires for his people’s well-being.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary