Wish (2172) (euchomai ; euche = a vow in Acts 18:18, a prayer in Jas 5:15) literally meant to speak out or utter aloud and came to mean as used by to express a wish. The idea can be to desire something, with the implication of a pious wish. To vow (this sense is primarily found in the Septuagint uses but is found in Acts 26:29). To pray, but in the NT the derivative proseuchomai is the more common verb for pray. Euchomai and proseuchomai are more general terms for prayer, while deomai conveys the sense of seeking to have a need met. Paul uses the imperfect tense which pictures a repeated action or a continual action in the past. The Greek scholar A T Robertson says it is an idiomatic imperfect "I was on the point of wishing". Wish = to have a desire for something. Webster's 1828 - To have a desire, or strong desire, either for what is or is not supposed to be obtainable. It usually expresses less than long; but sometimes it denotes to long or wish earnestly. We often wish for what is not obtainable. Vow (ISBE article) = A solemn promise made to God, or by a pagan to his deity. The Roman generals when they went to war, sometimes made a vow that they would build a temple to some favorite deity, if he would give them victory. A vow is a promise of something to be given or done hereafter. TDNT - In non-biblical Greek the most comprehensive term for invocation of the deity. The sense “to vow” is present as well as “to ask, pray.” The LXX has the word, but here, and even more so in the NT, proseuchomai becomes the main term....The cultic connection weakens with time and euchomai can thus take on the more general sense of “to wish” or “to ask.” ("pray" - 3Jn 2) Euchomai - 7x/7v - Usage: pray(3), wish(1), wished(1), would wish(1). Acts 26:29 And Paul said, "I would wish to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains." Acts 27:29 Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak. Romans 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, 2 Corinthians 13:7 Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. 9 For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. Euchomai - 86x/80v in non-apocryphal Septuagint where it means to pray (Ex 8:4), to vow (Nu 6:20, Ge 28:20) - Ge 28:20; 31:13; Ex 8:8f, 28ff; 9:28; 10:18; Lev 27:2, 8; Num 6:2, 5, 13, 18ff; 11:2; 21:2, 7; 30:2f, 9; Deut 9:20, 26; 12:11, 17; 23:21ff; Jdg 11:30, 39; 1 Sam 1:11; 2:9; 2 Sam 15:7f; 2 Kgs 20:2; Job 22:27; 33:26; 42:8, 10; Ps 76:11; 132:2; Pr 20:25; Eccl 5:4f; Isa 19:21; Jer 7:16; 22:27; Dan 6:5, 7, 11ff; Jonah 1:16; 2:9; Acts 26:29; 27:29; Rom 9:3; 2 Cor 13:7, 9; Jas 5:16; 3 John 1:2 Henry Alford as an note on "I could wish" commenting that... “The imperfect is not historical, alluding to his days of Pharisaism, as Pelagius and others, but quasi-optative, as in I was wishing had it been possible...the sense of the imperfect in such expressions is the proper and strict one: “the act is unfinished, an obstacle intervening.” Marvin Vincent explains that the "imperfect here has a tentative force, implying the wish begun, but stopped at the outset by some antecedent consideration which renders it impossible, so that, practically, it was not entertained at all. So Paul of Onesimus: “Whom I could have wished to keep with me,” if it had not been too much to ask (Phile 13). Paul would wish to save his countrymen, even at such sacrifice, if it were morally possible. Others, however, explain the imperfect as stating an actual wish formerly entertained." (Vincent, M. R.. Word Studies in the New Testament Vol. 3, Page 1-100) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://preceptaustin.org/romans_9.htm#w