Bible Dictionary
FAIN
An older expression meaning gladly, willingly, or desirously. In different passages it describes a person wishing to flee, satisfy a desire, kill, or persuade.
Definition
Fain is an older expression meaning gladly, willingly, or desirously. Its precise force depends on context and may describe a wish to flee, satisfy hunger, kill, or persuade.
Biblical Usage
The expression is used of a person wishing to flee, desiring the husks eaten by swine, wishing to kill, and wishing to persuade another to become a Christian.
Historical Background
The word occurs in older English versions and is revised in some passages. Its underlying expressions include fleeing with haste, desiring, and wishing or intending.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fan (advb.): Occurs twice in English Versions of the Bible, in the sense of "gladly":</p><p>(1) in Job 27:22 as the rendering of barach, "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";</p><p>(2) in Lu 15:16, as the translation of epithumeo, "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:</p><p>(1) Lu 13:31, "Herod would fain kill thee";</p><p>(2) Ac 26:28, "Thou wouldest fain make me a Christian."</p><p>See ALMOST.</p>