Greek word · G4289

πρόθυμος

prothymos

eager

Eager, ready, willing, keen. Literally 'forward in spirit' (pro- + thymos, passion or spirit). Often used of people ready and zealous to act.

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

What it means

πρόθυμος, -ον

[in LXX: 1 Chronicles 28:21, 2 Chronicles 29:31 (נָדִיב), Habakkuk 1:8 (חוּשׁ), al. ;]

willing, ready: Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38; neut., τὸ π. = ἡ προθυμία (Thuc., al., 3Ma.5:26), οὕτως τὸ κατ᾽ ἐμὲ (= cl. τὸ ἐμὸν) π., Romans 1:15 (but see ICC, in l).†

(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 Matthew 26:41

Range of meaning

Eager, ready, willing, keen. Literally 'forward in spirit' (pro- + thymos, passion or spirit). Often used of people ready and zealous to act.

Against the English

'Willing' (most versions) is accurate but a little flat, since in English it can suggest mere consent. YLT's 'forward' and the gloss 'eager' carry more of the energy.

Used elsewhere in the period

2 Chronicles 29:31 LXX: 'all who were willing (πρόθυμος) of heart' brought offerings. In Romans 1:15 Paul says he is 'eager' (τὸ κατ᾽ ἐμὲ πρόθυμον) to preach in Rome. Classical Greek uses it for soldiers keen to fight.

From the study of Mark 14:38

Range of meaning

Eager, keen, ready, zealous, forward. Literally 'with the heart going ahead' (pro + thymos, 'spirited impulse'). In ordinary Greek it describes soldiers, citizens or helpers who are ready and willing to act.

Against the English

BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV, NASB: 'willing'. KJV: 'ready'. YLT: 'forward' (an older sense, 'eager, pushing ahead'). Modern 'willing' often means only 'not opposed, agreeable', which is weaker than the Greek.

How it drifted

Not a true drift. 'Willing' is a fair gloss, but it has softened in modern use. 'Eager' or 'ready' catches the energy better.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses it of his own eagerness to preach in Rome (Rom 1:15), and the noun prothymia for the Corinthians' readiness to give (2 Cor 8:11–12). In Mark the eagerness has just been on display: Peter 'kept insisting vehemently' that he would die with Jesus, 'and they all said the same' (14:31).

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 26:41 πρόθυμον [is] willing

    “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

    Here: More than reluctant consent. It means keen, ready, and forward-leaning, as with Peter's fervent promises. There is no verb 'is' in the Greek, which makes the saying terse, like a proverb.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 14:38 πρόθυμον, [is] willing,

    Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

    Here: Keen and ready to act. It is stronger than modern 'willing'. It recalls Peter's loud vows a few verses earlier (14:29, 31).

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 1:15 πρόθυμον readiness

    That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

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