Fain
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
"to will deliberately, wish, desire, be minded," implying the deliberate exercise of volition (contrast No. 3), is translated "would fain" in Philemon 1:13 (in the best mss.). See Disposed.
"to set one's heart upon, desire," is translated "would fain" in Luke 15:16 , of the Prodigal Son. See Desire.
"to wish, to design to do anything," expresses the impulse of the will rather than the intention (see No. 1); the RV translates it "would fain" in Luke 13:31 , of Herod's desire to kill Christ, AV, "will (kill);" in 1—Thessalonians 2:18 , of the desire of the missionaries to return to the church in Thessalonica. See Disposed.
Acts 26:28
King James Dictionary [2]
FAIN, a.
1. Glad pleased rejoiced. but the appropriate sense of the word is, glad or pleased to do something under some kind of necessity that is, glad to evade evil or secure good. Thus, says Locke, "The learned Castalio was fain to make trenches at Basil, to keep himself from starving." this appropriation of the word, which is modern, led Dr. Johnson into a mistake in defining the word. The proper signification is glad, joyful.
FAIN, adv. Gladly with joy or pleasure.
He would fain flee out of his hand. Job 28 .
He would fain have filled his belly with husks. Luke 15 .
FAIN, to wish or desire. Not used.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): ( a.) Satisfied; contented; also, constrained.
(2): ( a.) Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.
(3): ( adv.) With joy; gladly; - with wold.
(4): ( v. t. & i.) To be glad; to wish or desire.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
fān (advb.): Occurs twice in English Versions of the Bible, in the sense of "gladly": (1) in Job 27:22 as the rendering of בּרח , bāraḥ , "to flee with haste" (from anything), "He would fain flee out of his hand," literally, as in in of the King James Version, "in fleeing he would flee"; (2) in Luke 15:16 , as the translation of ἐπιθυμέω , epithuméō , "to fix the mind or desire on," "He would fain have filled his belly with the husks which the swine did eat." the Revised Version (British and American) adds two instances: (1) Luke 13:31 , "Herod would fain kill thee"; (2) Acts 26:28 , "Thou wouldest fain make me a Christian." See Almost .
