εὐχή G2171
vow, prayer; solemn promise or petition to God
This noun denotes a vow or prayer, particularly a solemn promise made to God. Classical usage emphasized vows requiring fulfillment (like Jephthah's vow in Judges). In the New Testament it appears in contexts of Jewish vows—Paul's participation in a Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18), advice regarding men under a vow (Acts 21:23), and the prayer of faith for the sick (James 5:15). The term marks serious religious commitment or petition.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Translations use vow and prayer language: Spanish voto/oración ('vow, prayer'), French souhait ('wish, prayer'). Acts 18:18 notes Paul 'had cut his hair, for he was under a vow,' showing participation in Jewish practices. Acts 21:23 advises Paul to join 'four men who are under a vow' to demonstrate his Torah observance. James 5:15 promises 'the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick,' using the term for earnest petition. The word encompasses both solemn vows requiring fulfillment and earnest prayers offered to God. 3×
AR["صَلاةُ", "نَذْرٌ"]·ben["প্রার্থনা", "মানত"]·DE["Geluebde", "εὐχήν", "εὐχὴν"]·EN["prayer", "vow"]·FR["souhait", "εὐχὴ"]·heb["נֶדֶר", "תְּפִלָּה"]·HI["प्रार्थना", "मन्नत"]·ID["doa", "nazar"]·IT["euchē", "preghiera"]·jav["nadar", "pandonga"]·KO["기도-가", "서원을"]·PT["voto"]·RU["молитва", "обет"]·ES["oración", "voto"]·SW["nadhiri", "sala"]·TR["adak", "duası"]·urd["دعا", "منّت"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
εὐχή, ἡ, (εὔχομαι) prayer or vow, once in Refs 8th c.BC+; εὐχὴν ἐπιτελέσαι, Latin vota persolvere, Refs 5th c.BC+; εὐχῇ χρῆσθαι, Latin votis potiri, Refs 5th c.BC+; κατὰ χιλίων.. εὐχὴν ποιήσασθαι χιμάρων to make a vow of a thousand goats, Refs 5th c.BC+; εὐχὰς ποιεῖσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+; κατ᾽ εὐχήν, ἐξ εὐχῆς, Latin ex voto, Refs 3rd c.BC+; ἔχειν εὐχήν to be under a vow, NT __2 wish or aspiration,…