The term "listeth" is an archaic English word that appears in the King James Version of the Bible, primarily in the context of describing the sovereign and mysterious movement of the Holy Spirit. In modern translations, such as the Berean Standard Bible , this term is often rendered as "wills" or "desires."

Biblical Context:

The most notable occurrence of "listeth" is found in John 3:8, where Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus about the nature of being born again through the Spirit. The Berean Standard Bible translates this passage as follows:

"The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." (John 3:8)

In this verse, the word "listeth" (or "wishes" in the) is used to illustrate the freedom and unpredictability of the Holy Spirit's work. Just as the wind cannot be controlled or fully understood by human beings, so too the Spirit moves according to His own divine will and purpose.

Theological Significance:

The use of "listeth" in this context underscores several key theological principles:

1. Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit: The Spirit operates independently of human control or understanding. This highlights the sovereignty of God in the process of spiritual rebirth and transformation.

2. Mystery of Regeneration: The analogy of the wind emphasizes the mysterious and unseen nature of spiritual regeneration. Just as the wind's origin and destination are unknown, the work of the Spirit in a person's heart is a divine mystery that transcends human comprehension.

3. Divine Initiative: The Spirit's movement "where it wishes" points to the divine initiative in salvation. It is God who initiates and completes the work of salvation in an individual's life, according to His will and purpose.

Historical Usage:

The term "listeth" is derived from the Old English "lystan," meaning "to desire" or "to wish." Its usage in the King James Version reflects the linguistic style of the early 17th century. While modern translations have updated the language for clarity, the underlying concept remains unchanged.

Application for Believers:

Understanding the concept of "listeth" encourages believers to trust in the Holy Spirit's guidance and to remain open to His leading. It serves as a reminder that the work of the Spirit is not bound by human expectations or limitations, and that believers are called to submit to His will in their lives.

In summary, the term "listeth" in its biblical context invites believers to reflect on the profound and sovereign work of the Holy Spirit, who moves according to His divine purpose, bringing about spiritual renewal and transformation in the lives of those who are born of the Spirit.

The Fourfold Symbols of the Spirit
... Reflect upon those profound words of our Lord: 'The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh nor ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the fourfold symbols of the.htm

John iii. 6
... sense, saying,. Ver.7, 8. "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again. [685] The wind bloweth where it listeth.". For by ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxvi john iii 6.htm

The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit as Revealed in his Names.
... 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 ...
/.../torrey/the person and work of the holy spirit/chapter v the person and.htm

Wind and Spirit
... WIND AND SPIRIT. 'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and them hearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/wind and spirit.htm

The Fruits of the Spirit.
... The wind bloweth whither it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst
not tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth: so is every one that is born ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/westminster sermons/sermon vi the fruits of.htm

John Chapter iii. 21-Jun
... The Spirit bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest its voice, but knowest not
whence it cometh, or whither it goeth." None sees the Spirit; and how do we ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xii john chapter iii.htm

The Days of the Week
... yet no one knew how; with immense power and force, and yet not to be seen; as our
blessed Lord himself said, 'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/the good news of god/sermon xxv the days of.htm

Christ and Nicodemus.
... 8. 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 ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ and nicodemus.htm

Pleading
... We cannot command the Spirit, and yet we can do nothing without Him. He bloweth
where He listeth. We must deeply feel and honestly acknowledge this. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/pleading.htm

Growth
... Mysteriousness, as Mozley has well observed, is "the test of spiritual birth."
And this was Christ's test. "The wind bloweth where it listeth. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/growth.htm

Listeth (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Listeth (2 Occurrences). John 3:8 The wind bloweth
where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof ...
/l/listeth.htm - 7k

Whither (151 Occurrences)
... John 3:8 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 ...
/w/whither.htm - 40k

Listens (28 Occurrences)

/l/listens.htm - 14k

Listing (1 Occurrence)

/l/listing.htm - 7k

List (17 Occurrences)
... The word is obsolete in modern English, but John 3:8 is still used proverbially,
"The wind bloweth where it listeth.". Multi-Version Concordance ...
/l/list.htm - 14k

Thereof (845 Occurrences)
... John 3:8 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 ...
/t/thereof.htm - 35k

Bloweth (10 Occurrences)
... John 3:8 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 ...
/b/bloweth.htm - 9k

Canst (62 Occurrences)
... John 3:8 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 ...
/c/canst.htm - 24k

Whence (84 Occurrences)
... John 3:8 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 ...
/w/whence.htm - 32k

Helm (1 Occurrence)
... the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are
they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ...
/h/helm.htm - 7k

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