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Matthew 20:21
What do you want?...
Salome, James and John's mother, asks Jesus for a place of honor for her sons.
Matthew 20:21 What wilt thou?
Matthew 20:21What is it you want?
What do you desire?
Greek
Greek Word Order
We must know what we want.
Lost in Translation
This is a short phrase, addressed to the mother of two of his apostles, requesting a favor. As with most of Jesus's casual conversations, it is straightforward language. However, it is the most basic question in life.
Vocabulary (Greek word by word)
Τί (irreg sg neut nom/acc) "What" is from tis which can mean "someone," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what."
θέλεις; [64 verses](verb 2nd sg pres ind act) "Wilt thou" is thelo, which as a verb means "to be willing (of consent rather than desire)," "to wish," "to ordain," "to decree," "to be resolved to a purpose" "to maintain," "to hold," "to delight in, and "will (too express a future event)." As an adverb, "willingly," and "gladly." and "to desire." As an adjective, it means "wished for" and "desired." --
KJV — word by word
What - There word translated as "what" means "anything" or "anyone," but in short questions it means "who," "what," or "why"
wilt - The Greek word translated as "wilt thou" is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English, which primarily expresses the future tense. Its primary purpose is to express consent and even delight in doing something. It means "to be resolved to a purpose" and "to desire."
thou? - This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
NIV — word by word
What - There word translated as "what" means "anything" or "anyone," but in short questions it means "who," "what," or "why"
is - (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "it is" in the Greek source.
it --- There is no Greek pronoun here, but Greek does not need pronouns when the object can be assumed from the context. In English, they are added for the subject-verb-object form of our sentences.
you? - This is from the second-person, singular form of the verb.
want - The Greek word translated as "want" is not the same as the helper verb "will" in English, which primarily expresses the future tense. Its primary purpose is to express consent and even delight in doing something. It means "to be resolved to a purpose" and "to desire."