Prayer
Depending on the translation of the Bible, the word “pray/prayer” is used at least 267 times, not to mention the derivatives and synonyms of the word. However, there are at least 12 different Hebrew words in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings (Tanakh) translated uniformly as “pray/prayer” and 2 different Greek words in the Apostolic Scriptures (Matthew – Revelation) translated uniformly as “pray/prayer” for a combined 1,196 times in the entire Bible. The study below breaks down the meaning of each word and the verses associated with them.
Helpful Tip: When reading the verses below, it’s best to use a Bible with Strong’s Concordance so you can see which Hebrew or Greek word is used. If you don’t have this type of Bible in print or on your phone, you can use ebible.org’s Browser Bible at https://thecord.life/ebible. You can select many translations of the Bible and most will allow you to click on the word to see what Strong’s number is used.
The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (published in 1890), generally known as Strong’s Concordance, is a Bible concordance, an index of every word in the King James Version, constructed under the direction of American theologian James Strong.
נָא na (H4994) Used 403 Times in the Tanakh
Translated as, please, now, beseech, oh, or “I pray thee”, נָא na is a pleading for what is desired. Hosanna = Hoshi’ana (H3467 + H4994) means, “Save, now!” or “Save, I pray thee!”
Torah: Genesis 12:11-13
Prophets: Isaiah 1:18
Writings: Psalms 7:9
Apostolic: Matthew 14:30; Matthew 21:9, 15
Uses: Genesis 12:11,13; 13:8,9,14; 15:5; 16:2; 18:3,4,21,27,30,31,32; 19:2,7,8,18,19,20; 22:2; 24:2,12,14,17,23,42,43,45; 25:30; 26:28; 27:2,3,9,19,21,26; 30:14,27; 31:12; 32:11,29; 33:10,11,14,15; 34:8; 37:6,14,16,32; 38:16,25; 40:8,14; 44:18,33; 45:4; 47:4,29; 48:9; 50:4,5,17; Exodus 3:3,18; 4:6,13,18; 5:3; 10:11,17; 11:2; 32:32; 33:13,18; 34:9; Numbers 10:31; 11:15; 12:6,11,12,13; 14:17,19; 16:8,26; 20:10,17; 22:6,16,17,19; 23:13,27; Deuteronomy 3:25; 4:32; Joshua 2:12; 7:19; 22:26; Judges 1:24; 4:19; 6:17,18,39; 7:3; 8:5; 9:2,38; 10:15; 11:17,19; 12:6; 13:3,4,15; 14:12; 15:2; 16:6,10,28; 18:5; 19:6,8,9,11,23,24; Ruth 2:2,7; 1 Samuel 2:36; 3:17; 9:3,6,18; 10:15; 14:17,29; 15:25,30; 16:15,16,17,22; 17:17; 19:2; 20:29,36; 22:3,7,12; 23:11,22; 25:8,24,25,28; 26:8,11,19; 27:5; 28:8,22; 30:7; 2 Samuel 1:4,9; 2:14; 7:2; 13:5,6,7,13,17,24,25,26,28; 14:2,11,12,15,17,18,21; 15:7,31; 16:9; 17:1,5; 18:19,22; 19:37; 20:16; 24:2,10,14,17; 1 Kings 1:12; 2:17; 8:26; 13:6; 14:2; 17:10,11,21; 18:43; 19:20; 20:7,31,32,35,37; 22:5,13; 2 Kings 1:13; 2:2,4,6,9,16,19; 4:9,10,13,22,26; 5:7,8,15,17,22; 6:1,2,3,17,18; 7:12,13; 8:4; 9:12,34; 18:19,23,26; 19:19; 20:3; 1 Chronicles 21:8,13,17; 22:5; 29:20; 2 Chronicles 6:40; 18:4,12; Ezra 10:14; Nehemiah 1:6,8,11; 5:10,11; Job 1:11; 2:5; 4:7; 5:1; 6:29; 8:8; 10:9; 12:7; 13:6,18; 17:3,10; 22:21,22; 32:21; 33:1,2; 38:3; 40:7,10,15,16; 42:4; Psalms 7:9; 50:22; 80:14; 115:2; 116:14,18; 118:2,3,4,25; 119:76,108; 122:8; 124:1; 129:1; Ecclesiastes 2:1; Song of Solomon 3:2; 7:8; Isaiah 1:18; 5:1,3,5; 7:3,13; 19:12; 29:11,12; 36:4,8,11; 38:3; 47:12,13; 51:21; 64:9; Jeremiah 4:31; 5:1,21,24; 7:12; 17:15; 18:11,13; 21:2; 25:5; 27:18; 28:7,15; 30:6; 32:8; 35:15; 36:15,17; 37:3,20; 38:4,12,20,25; 40:15; 42:2; 44:4; 45:3; Lamentations 1:18; Ezekiel 8:5,8; 17:12; 18:25; 33:30; Daniel 1:12; 9:16; Amos 7:2,5; Jonah 1:8,14; 4:3; Micah 3:1,9; 6:1,5; Haggai 2:2,11,15,18; Zechariah 1:4; 3:8; 5:5; Malachi 1:8,9; 3:10.
שָׁאַל sha’al (H7592) Used 176 Times in the Tanakh
Literally means “to draw out”. When making a request, שָׁאַל sha’al means to draw out something that is not known. When asking, שָׁאַל sha’al means to seek to understand what is not known.
Torah: Genesis 24:47
Prophets: Isaiah 7:11
Writings: Psalms 2:8; Psalms 122:6
Apostolic: Matthew 7:7-11; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14; 1 John 5:16
Uses: Genesis 24:47,57; 26:7; 32:17,29; 37:15; 38:21; 40:7; 43:7,27; 44:19; Exodus 3:22; 11:2; 12:35,36; 13:14; 18:7; 22:14; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 4:32; 6:20; 10:12; 13:14; 14:26; 18:11,16; 32:7; Joshua 4:6,21; 9:14; 15:18; 19:50; Judges 1:1,14; 4:20; 5:25; 8:14,24,26; 13:6,18; 18:5,15; 20:18,23,27; 1 Samuel 1:17,20,27,28; 2:20; 8:10; 10:4,22; 12:13,17,19; 14:37; 17:22,56; 19:22; 20:6,28; 22:10,13,15; 23:2,4; 25:5,8; 28:6,16; 30:8,21; 2 Samuel 2:1; 3:13; 5:19,23; 8:10; 11:7; 12:20; 14:18; 16:23; 20:18; 1 Kings 2:16,20,22; 3:5,10,11,13; 10:13; 19:4; 2 Kings 2:9,10; 4:3,28; 6:5; 8:6; 1 Chronicles 4:10; 10:13; 14:10,14; 18:10; 2 Chronicles 1:7,11; 9:12; 11:23; Ezra 8:22; Nehemiah 1:2; 13:6; Job 8:8; 12:7; 21:29; 31:30; 38:3; 40:7; 42:4; Psalms 2:8; 21:4; 27:4; 35:11; 40:6; 78:18; 105:40; 109:10; 122:6; 137:3; Proverbs 20:4; 30:7; Ecclesiastes 2:10; 7:10; Isaiah 7:11,12; 30:2; 41:28; 45:11; 58:2; 65:1; Jeremiah 6:16; 15:5; 18:13; 23:33; 30:6; 36:17; 37:17; 38:14,27; 48:19; 50:5; Lamentations 4:4; Ezekiel 21:21; Hosea 4:12; Jonah 4:8; Micah 7:3; Haggai 2:11; Zechariah 10:1.
פָּלַל palal (H6419) Used 84 Times in the Tanakh
Literally means “speak to authority” in the sense of coming to one in authority to intercede on one’s own behalf or for another (sometimes translated as “judge” or “judgment”).
Torah: Genesis 20:7
Prophets: 1 Samuel 1:10
Writings: Psalms 5:2
Apostolic: Matthew 5:44
Uses: Genesis 20:7,17; 48:11; Numbers 11:2; 21:7; Deuteronomy 9:20,26; 1 Samuel 1:10,12,26,27; 2:1,25; 7:5; 8:6; 12:19,23; 2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Kings 8:28,29,30,33,35,42,44,48,54; 13:6; 2 Kings 4:33; 6:17,18; 19:15,20; 20:2; 1 Chronicles 17:25; 2 Chronicles 6:19,20,21,24,26,32,34,38; 7:1,14; 30:18; 32:20,24; 33:13; Ezra 10:1; Nehemiah 1:4,6; 2:4; 4:9; Job 42:8,10; Psalms 5:2; 32:6; 72:15; 106:30; Isaiah 16:12; 37:15,21; 38:2; 44:17; 45:14,20; Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11; 29:7,12; 32:16; 37:3; 42:2,4,20; Ezekiel 16:52; Daniel 9:4,20; Jonah 2:1; 4:2.
תְּפִלָּה tephillah (H8605) Used 77 Times in the Tanakh
A feminine noun and derivative of פָּלַל palal (H6419) and means to intercede on one’s own behalf or for another.
Prophets: Isaiah 1:15
Writings: Psalms 4:1; Proverbs 28:9
Apostolic: 1 Peter 3:7
Uses: 2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Kings 8:28,29,38,45,49,54; 9:3; 2 Kings 19:4; 20:5; 2 Chronicles 6:19,20,29,35,39,40; 7:12,15; 30:27; 33:18,19; Nehemiah 1:6,11; 11:17; Job 16:17; Psalms 4:1; 6:9; 17:1; 35:13; 39:12; 42:8; 54:2; 55:1; 61:1; 65:2; 66:19,20; 69:13; 72:20; 80:4; 84:8; 86:1,6; 88:2,13; 90:1; 102:1,17; 109:4,7; 141:2,5; 142:1; 143:1; Proverbs 15:8,29; 28:9; Isaiah 1:15; 37:4; 38:5; 56:7; Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; Lamentations 3:8,44; Daniel 9:3,17,21; Jonah 2:7; Habakkuk 3:1.
חָלָה chalah (H2470) Used 75 Times in the Tanakh
Comes from a root which means to be sick (cf. 2 Chronicles 16:12), in pain (cf. Isaiah 21:3), or diseased (cf. Deuteronomy 29:22; Psalms 103:3) and means to request intervention from a sickness or other trouble.
Torah: Genesis 48:1; Exodus 32:11
Prophets: 1 Samuel 13:11-12; 2 Kings 13:4; Zechariah 7:2; Zechariah 8:21-22; Daniel 9:13
Writings: Job 11:19; Psalms 45:12; Proverbs 19:6
Apostolic: Acts 16:37-39
Uses: Genesis 48:1; Exodus 32:11; Deuteronomy 29:22; Judges 16:7,11,17; 1 Samuel 13:12; 19:14; 22:8; 30:13; 2 Samuel 13:2,5,6; 1 Kings 13:6; 14:1,5; 15:23; 17:17; 22:34; 2 Kings 1:2; 8:7,29; 13:4,14; 20:1,12; 2 Chronicles 18:33; 22:6; 32:24; 33:12; 35:23; Nehemiah 2:2; Job 11:19; Psalms 35:13; 45:12; 77:10; 119:58; Proverbs 13:12; 19:6; 23:35; Ecclesiastes 5:13,16; Song of Solomon 2:5; 5:8; Isaiah 14:10; 17:11; 33:24; 38:1,9; 39:1; 53:10; 57:10; Jeremiah 4:31; 10:19; 12:13; 14:17; 26:19; 30:12; Ezekiel 34:4,16,21; Daniel 8:27; 9:13; Hosea 7:5; Amos 6:6; Micah 1:12; 6:13; Nahum 3:19; Zechariah 7:2; 8:21,22; Malachi 1:8,9,13.
פָּגַע paga’ (H6293) Used 46 Times in the Tanakh
Means to come together in meeting by chance; to give or place as a meeting.
Torah: Genesis 23:8
Prophets: Isaiah 53:12; Isaiah 59:16
Writings: Job 21:15
Apostolic: Luke 22:10
Uses: Genesis 23:8; 28:11; 32:1; Exodus 5:3,20; 23:4; Numbers 35:19,21; Joshua 2:16; 16:7; 17:10; 19:11,22,26,27,34; Judges 8:21; 15:12; 18:25; Ruth 1:16; 2:22; 1 Samuel 10:5; 22:17,18; 2 Samuel 1:15; 1 Kings 2:25,29,31,32,34,46; Job 21:15; 36:32; Isaiah 47:3; 53:6,12; 59:16; 64:5; Jeremiah 7:16; 15:11; 27:18; 36:25; Amos 5:19.
הָמָֽה hamah (H1993) Used 34 Times in the Tanakh
Means to roar or make commotion.
Prophets: 1 Kings 1:41
Writings: Psalms 55:16-17
Uses: 1 Kings 1:41; Psalms 39:6; 42:5,11; 43:5; 46:3,6; 55:17; 59:6,14; 77:3; 83:2; Proverbs 1:21; 7:11; 9:13; 20:1; Song of Solomon 5:4; Isaiah 16:11; 17:12; 22:2; 51:15; 59:11; Jeremiah 4:19; 5:22; 6:23; 31:20,35; 48:36; 50:42; 51:55; Ezekiel 7:16; Zechariah 9:15.
לוּא or לוּ lu (H3863) Used 25 Times in the Tanakh
Means to have, or ask of, what you are without.
Torah: Genesis 17:18
Prophets: Joshua 7:7
Writings: Psalms 81:13
Apostolic: Matthew 12:7
Uses: Genesis 17:18; 23:13; 30:34; 50:15; Numbers 14:2; 20:3; 22:29; Deuteronomy 32:29; Joshua 7:7; Judges 8:19; 13:23; 1 Samuel 14:30; 2 Samuel 18:12; 19:6; Job 6:2; 16:4; Psalms 81:13; Isaiah 48:18; 64:1; Ezekiel 14:15; Micah 2:11.
עָתַר atar (H6279) Used 20 Times in the Tanakh
The burning of incense as a form of prayer for intercession or supplication.
Torah: Genesis 25:21
Prophets: Isaiah 19:22
Writings: Job 22:27
Apostolic: Hebrews 5:7 (cf. Luke 22:44; John 17:1) Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3-4
Uses: Genesis 25:21; Exodus 8:8,9,28,29,30; 9:28; 10:17,18; Judges 13:8; 2 Samuel 21:14; 24:25; 1 Chronicles 5:20; 2 Chronicles 33:13,19; Ezra 8:23; Job 22:27; 33:26; Isaiah 19:22.
שִׂיחַ siach (H7878) Used 20 Times in the Tanakh
Literally means, “to sweep” and is often translated as “meditate” as in a sweeping away in thought.
Prophets: Isaiah 53:8
Writings: Psalms 55:17
Uses: Judges 5:10; 1 Chronicles 16:9; Job 7:11; 12:8; Psalms 55:17; 69:12; 77:3,6,12; 105:2; 119:15,23,27,48,78,148; 143:5; 145:5; Proverbs 6:22; Isaiah 53:8.
שִׂיחַ siach (H7879) Used 14 Times in the Tanakh
Used as a masculine noun and derivative of שִׂיחַ siach is often translated as “prayer” or “complaint” as in a sweeping away in thought.
Prophets: 1 Samuel 1:16
Writings: Psalms 55:2; Proverbs 23:29-30
Uses: 1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Kings 18:27; 2 Kings 9:11; Job 7:13; 9:27; 10:1; 21:4; 23:2; Psalms 55:2; 64:1; 102:1; 104:34; 142:2; Proverbs 23:29.
שִׂיחָה sichah (H7881) Used 3 Times in the Tanakh
Is a feminine noun and derivative of שִׂיחַ siach is often translated as “prayer” or “meditate” as in a sweeping away in thought.
Uses: Job 15:4; Psalms 119:97-99
בְּעָא be’a (H1156 & H1158) Used 12 Times in the Tanakh
An Aramaic word that derives from a root that literally means “to swell” as in a swelling desire made through request.
H1156: (Aramaic) Daniel 2:13,16,18,23,49; 4:36; 6:4,7,11,12,13; 7:16.
H1158: Isaiah 21:12; Isaiah 30:13; Isaiah 64:2; Obadiah 1:6
לַחַשׁ lachash (H3908) Used 5 Times in the Tanakh
Literally means “to whisper”.
Prophets: Isaiah 26:16; Jeremiah 8:17
Writings: Ecclesiastes 10:11
Apostolic: Matthew 10:27
Uses: Ecclesiastes 10:11; Isaiah 3:3,20; 26:16; Jeremiah 8:17.
צְלָה tsela (H6739) Used 2 Times in the Tanakh
As an Aramaic word means to pray likely in the sense of bowing
Uses: Ezra 6:10; Daniel 6:10.
προσεύχομαι proseuchomai (G4336) used 166 times in the Bible (87 times in the Apostolic)
Means “to pray” from πρός (prós, “to”) + εὔχομαι (eúkhomai, “to pray, vow”)
Uses: Genesis 20:7,17; Exodus 10:17; 1 Samuel 1:10,12,26,27; 2:1,25; 7:5; 8:6; 12:19,23; 14:45; 2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Kings 8:28,29,30,33,35,42,44,48,54; 2 Kings 4:33; 6:17,18; 19:15,20; 20:2; 1 Chronicles 17:25; 2 Chronicles 6:19,20,21,24,26,32,34,38; 7:1,14; 30:18; 32:20,24; 33:13; Ezra 6:10; 10:1; Nehemiah 1:4,6; 2:4; 4:9; Psalms 5:2; 32:6; 72:15; 109:4; 142:0; Isaiah 16:12; 37:15,21; 38:2; 44:17; 45:14,20; Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11; 29:7,12; 32:16; 37:3; 42:2,4,20; Daniel 6:10; 9:4,20; Jonah 2:1; 4:2; Matthew 5:44; 6:5,6,7,9; 14:23; 19:13; 23:13; 24:20; 26:36,39,41,42,44; Mark 1:35; 6:46; 11:24,25; 12:40; 13:18,33; 14:32,35,38,39; Luke 1:10; 3:21; 5:16; 6:12,28; 9:18,28,29; 11:1,2; 18:1,10,11; 20:47; 22:40,41,44,46; Acts 1:24; 6:6; 8:15; 9:11,40; 10:9,30; 11:5; 12:12; 13:3; 14:23; 16:25; 20:36; 21:5; 22:17; 28:8; Romans 8:26; 1 Corinthians 11:4,5,13; 14:13,14,15; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:3,9; 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:17,25; 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 3:1; 1 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 13:18; James 5:13,14,17,18; Jude 1:20.
προσευχή proseuchē (G4335) used 92 times in the Bible (34 times in the Apostolic)
Means “prayer” or “place of prayer”. From προσεύχομαι (proseúkhomai, “pray”) + -η (-ē, suffix forming action nouns). Morphologically from προσ- (“toward”) + εὐχή (“prayer, wish”)
Uses: 1 Kings 8:38,45,49; 9:3; 2 Kings 19:4; 20:5; 2 Chronicles 6:29,35,39; 7:12,15; 30:27; 33:18,19; Nehemiah 1:11; 11:17; Psalms 4:1; 6:9; 17:0,1; 35:13; 39:12; 42:8; 54:2; 55:1; 61:1; 65:2; 66:20; 69:13; 80:4; 84:8; 86:0,6; 88:2,13; 90:0; 102:0,1,17; 109:7; 141:2,5; 143:1; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 38:5,9; 56:7; 60:7; Lamentations 3:8,44; Daniel 9:3,17,21; Jonah 2:7; Habakkuk 3:1,16; Matthew 17:21; 21:13,22; Mark 9:29; 11:17; Luke 19:46; 22:45; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 6:4; 10:4,31; 12:5; 16:13,16; Romans 1:9; 12:12; 15:30; 1 Corinthians 7:5; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2,12; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 2:1; 5:5; Philemon 1:4,22; 1 Peter 3:7; 4:7; Revelation 5:8; 8:3,4.