COMPANION BIBLE. APPENDIX 134.  

THE SYNONYMOUS WORDS FOR "PRAY" AND "PRAYER".

  1. THE VERB
    1. euchomai = to speak out, utter aloud.  Hence, to wish or vow (Acts 26:29.  2Cor. 13:7.  Jas. 5:16).
    2. proseuchomai.  No. 1 with pros (Ap. 104. xv) prefixed = to pray to.  It is restricted to prayer to God in N.T.  First occ. in Matt. 5:44.

    3. erotao = to ask or request a person to do (rarely to give) something :  thus differing from No. 4 below.

    4. aiteo = to ask for something to be given (not done, as No. 3).  Commonly used of an inferior addressing a superior.

    5. deomai = to want, lack, or need; then, to make known one's need; hence, to supplicate, beseech.

    6. parakaleo = to call aside, appeal to (by way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, or instruction).


  2. THE NOUN
    1. euche = a prayer (to God); also, a vow made to God.

    2. proseuche = No. 1 with pros (Ap. 104. xv, prefixed). The word is quite common in the Papyri though in the N.T. it is restricted to prayer offered to God, having regard to the power of Him Who is invoked and giving prominence to personal devotion.  Also used of a place of prayer (Acts 16:31).

    3. deesis = a petition for a special object having regard to our necessity rather than to God's sufficiency to supply it:  giving prominence to personal need.  In Byzantine Greek it was used of a written petition (as in Eng.)

    4. enteuxis = confiding access to God, giving prominence to childlike confidence in prayer.  Occ. only 1Tim. 2:1; 4:5.

    5. attema = a specific petition for a particular thing, cp. No. I. 4.  Occurs only in Luke 23:24.  Phil. 4:6. 1John 5:15.

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