List
An Archaic English Term
The word "list" as used in the King James Version of the Bible does not carry its modern meaning of a written catalog or inventory. Instead, it is an archaic English term meaning "to wish," "to want," or "to choose." It shares a common root with the word "lust," which originally meant simply "desire" before acquiring its modern negative connotations. Understanding this older meaning is essential for correctly interpreting several KJV passages.
Key Biblical Passages
The most famous use of "list" appears in John 3:8, where Jesus tells Nicodemus: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Here "listeth" means "wishes" or "wills." Jesus is comparing the mysterious, sovereign movement of the wind to the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration.
The word also appears in Matthew 17:12, where Jesus says of John the Baptist: "They have done unto him whatsoever they listed." The parallel passage in Mark 9:13 uses the same expression. In both cases, "listed" means "wished" or "desired," referring to the authorities' treatment of John according to their own will.
James 3:4 provides another instance, comparing the tongue to a ship's rudder: "Whithersoever the governor listeth," meaning wherever the helmsman wills or desires to go.
The Greek Behind the Translation
In the Gospel passages, the Greek word translated "list" is thelo, one of the most common New Testament words for willing, wishing, or desiring. This is the same word used in passages like Romans 7:15, where Paul discusses doing what he does not want to do. In James 3:4, the Greek word is boulomai, another word for purposeful willing or deliberation.
Modern translations consistently render these Greek words as "wills," "wishes," or "wants," making the meaning immediately clear to contemporary readers. The American Standard Revised Version was among the first major translations to replace "list" with "will" throughout.
The Wind and the Spirit
John 3:8 deserves special attention because its use of "list" carries profound theological weight. The Greek word pneuma means both "wind" and "spirit," and Jesus plays on this double meaning. Just as the wind blows where it wills, unpredictable and beyond human control, so the Holy Spirit works in human hearts according to His own sovereign purpose. No one can command or direct the Spirit's work of regeneration any more than one can command the wind.
This verse has become proverbial in English, and even people unfamiliar with its biblical context may recognize the phrase "the wind bloweth where it listeth." The KJV phrasing has entered the English literary tradition as a statement about the unpredictability and freedom of natural and spiritual forces.
Understanding Archaic Language
The word "list" is one of many archaic terms in the King James Version that can mislead modern readers. Other examples include "prevent" (meaning "precede"), "let" (meaning "hinder"), and "conversation" (meaning "way of life"). Recognizing these shifts in English usage is important for anyone reading the KJV, and it highlights the value of consulting multiple translations to ensure accurate understanding of biblical texts.
Biblical Context
The word 'list' appears in the KJV at John 3:8 (the wind and the Spirit), Matthew 17:12 and Mark 9:13 (treatment of John the Baptist), and James 3:4 (the ship's rudder). In each case, it translates Greek words meaning 'to will' or 'to wish.' Modern translations replace it with 'wills' or 'wishes.'
Theological Significance
The most theologically significant use of 'list' is in John 3:8, where it expresses the sovereign freedom of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration. The Spirit, like the wind, operates according to His own will, not under human direction. This verse is foundational for understanding the doctrine of the Spirit's sovereignty in salvation.
Historical Background
The English word 'list' in the sense of 'to wish' was common in Middle and Early Modern English but fell out of general use by the eighteenth century. The King James Bible, published in 1611, preserves many such archaic usages. The word survives in modern English only in the derivative 'listless,' meaning lacking desire or energy. The KJV translators drew on the English literary vocabulary of their era, producing prose that was already somewhat elevated in style even for 1611.