Template:Prayer
To pray is to Appeal, apply or ask.
The word to pray is defined as an "address a solemn request or expression of thanks to a deity or other object of worship."
From the Latin precari ‘entreat.’ "ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something".
In the New Testament we see the word prayer from proseuchomai[1] meaning to solemnly request something for an advantage from an authority which has the power to grant benefits.
An application is "a formal request to an authority for something."
Who should you be applying to, or appealing for aid from or asking for benefits from?
Should that be our Father in heaven or the Fathers of the earth?
From the God of Creation or the "gods many" of the world?
There is another word we see translated pray which is deomai[2] which we see in Luke 22:32. comes from the word deo meaning "to bind tie, fasten". The Book of Luke is the only gospel where this word appears and in Luke 22 we see Luke also using proseuchomai.
Whomever you pray to, whether it be the God of heaven or he gods and fathers of the earth you are bound by those prayers.
- ↑ 4336 ~προσεύχομαι~ proseuchomai \@pros-yoo’-khom-ahee\@ from 4314 pros "to the advantage of" or for an advantage and 2172 euchomai "To wish", request or apply for; v AV-pray 83, make prayer 3, pray for 1; 87
- ↑ 1189 ~δέομαι~ deomai \@deh’-om-ahee\@ middle voice of 1210; TDNT-2:40,144; {See TDNT 176} v AV-pray 12, beseech 9, make request 1; 22
- 1) to want, lack
- 2) to desire, long for
- 3) to ask, beg
- 3a) the thing asked for
- 3b) to pray, make supplications
- For Synonyms see entry 5802