Greek word · G2234

ἡδέως

hēdeōs

gladly

Gladly, with pleasure, willingly. It comes from ἡδύς, 'sweet, pleasant' (the same family as English 'hedonism').

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἡδέως

adv. (ἡδύς, sweet), [in LXX: Proverbs 3:24 (עָרַב), etc. ;]

gladly, with pleasure: Mark 6:20 12:37, 2 Corinthians 11:19; superlat., ἥδιστα, very gladly (B1., § 11, 3), 2 Corinthians 12:9 12:15.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Mark 12:37

Range of meaning

Gladly, with pleasure, willingly. It comes from ἡδύς, 'sweet, pleasant' (the same family as English 'hedonism').

Against the English

'Gladly' (KJV, WEB, YLT) and 'with delight' (BSB, NIV) are both accurate. Readers sometimes take 'heard him gladly' to mean 'believed and followed him', which the word does not say.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mark 6:20 uses almost the same words for Herod Antipas and John the Baptist: 'he heard him gladly', and Herod still had John beheaded. Paul uses the word in 2 Cor 11:19 ('you gladly put up with fools') and 12:9, 15.

From the study of Mark 6:20

Range of meaning

Gladly, with pleasure, with relish. In ordinary Greek it can also mean 'willingly'.

Against the English

'Gladly' is accurate. NIV's 'liked to listen' captures the habit well.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mark 12:37: 'the large crowd listened to him gladly' (of Jesus). Paul's 'most gladly' (2 Cor 12:9, 15).

Where it appears

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 6:20 ἡδέως gladly

    because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

    Here: With real enjoyment. Herod found John compelling and kept coming back. Mark uses the same word for the crowd's delight in Jesus (12:37).

  2. Mark 12:37 ἡδέως.¶ gladly.

    David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

    Here: 'With pleasure', 'enjoying it'. It describes how they felt while listening, not a decision to follow him. Mark used the same words of Herod listening to John the Baptist (6:20).

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:19 ἡδέως Gladly

    For you gladly put up with fools, since you are so wise.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.