προσεύχομαι G4336
Pray — to address God in petition, supplication, intercession, or worship
The Greek προσεύχομαι is the New Testament's primary verb for prayer directed to God. It covers the full range of prayerful communication — personal petition (Matt 6:5–6), intercessory prayer for others (Matt 5:44), extended solitary prayer (Matt 14:23), and communal worship. Jesus' own prayer life is frequently described with this word, establishing a model for the disciples. Unlike αἰτέω (which emphasizes asking) or δέομαι (which stresses urgent need), προσεύχομαι frames prayer as an act of turning toward God in reverent address. Spanish orando, French prier, and German beten all preserve this devotional orientation. The word appears in every major NT author's vocabulary.
Senses
1. pray to God — To offer prayer, supplication, or worship directed to God, encompassing petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and devotional communion. Used of Jesus' own prayer life (Matt 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12) and his teaching on prayer (Matt 6:5–9), as well as apostolic and congregational prayer throughout Acts and the Epistles. The middle voice form (προσεύχομαι) conveys personal engagement — one directs oneself toward God in address. Multilingual evidence uniformly renders this as the core 'pray' verb: Spanish orando, French prier, German beten. 86×
AR["تُصَلِّي", "تُصَلّونَ", "كَانَ-يُصَلِّي", "مُصَلُّونَ", "مُصَلِّياً", "مُصَلِّينَ", "مُصَلِّيًا", "مُصَلِّيًا-أَنَا", "مُصَلّينَ", "يُصَلِّي", "يُصَلِّيانِ", "يُصَلّونَ", "يُصَلّي"]·ben["প্রার্থনা-করছিল", "প্রার্থনা-করছিলেন", "প্রার্থনা-করতে", "প্রার্থনা-করার-সময়", "প্রার্থনা-করে", "প্রার্থনাকারী", "প্রার্থনারত"]·DE["beten", "betet"]·EN["praying"]·FR["prier"]·heb["בְּהִתְפַּלְּלִי", "לְהִתְפַּלֵּל", "מִתְפַּלְּלִים", "מִתְפַּלְלִים", "מִתְפַּלֵּל", "מִתְפַּלֶּלֶת"]·HI["प्ररथन-करते-हुए", "प्रार्थना-करता", "प्रार्थना-करता-हुआ", "प्रार्थना-करती", "प्रार्थना-करती-हुई", "प्रार्थना-करते", "प्रार्थना-करते-हुए", "प्रार्थना-करने-वाले"]·ID["berdoa", "sedang-berdoa"]·IT["pregare"]·jav["ingkang-ndedonga", "nalika-ndedonga", "ndedonga", "ndedonga,", "ndedonga.", "sami-ndedonga"]·KO["기도하고-계셨다", "기도하고-계실-때", "기도하고-있는데", "기도하고-있었다", "기도하는", "기도하는-동안", "기도하는-자들이라", "기도하며", "기도하면서"]·PT["de-orar", "orando", "orando,"]·RU["молясь", "молящаяся", "молящегося", "молящемуся", "молящиеся", "молящийся", "молящимся", "молящимся."]·ES["orando"]·SW["akiomba", "akisali", "aliposali", "anayeomba", "kuomba", "kusali", "kwa-sababu-hii", "mkiomba", "mkisali", "nikiomba", "nikiomba,", "nilipokuwa-nikiomba", "tukiomba", "wakiomba", "wakisali", "wanaomba."]·TR["dua eden", "dua-eden", "dua-edenler", "dua-ederek", "dua-ederken"]·urd["دعا-کرتا-ہوا", "دعا-کرتی", "دعا-کرتی-ہوئی", "دعا-کرتے-ہوئے", "دعائیں-کرتے-ہوئے", "دُعا-کرتے-ہُوئے"]
Matt 5:44, Matt 6:5, Matt 6:9, Matt 14:23, Matt 23:14, Matt 24:20, Matt 26:39, Matt 26:41, Matt 26:42, Matt 26:44, Mark 6:46, Mark 11:25 (+38 more)
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)G0040 2. holy, sacred, consecrated (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
προσεύχομαι, future -ξομαιRefs 4th c.BC+:—offer prayers or vows, θεοῖς Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 with accusative, π. τὸν θεόν address him in prayer, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3 absolutely, offer prayers, worship, Refs 5th c.BC+; π. γλώσσῃ, πνεύματι, νοΐ, NT __II with accusative of things, pray for a thing, νίκην πολέμου Refs 5th c.BC+: c.infinitive, ἕλκειν τὸ βέδυ π. Refs 5th c.BC+; ζῆσαι προσεύχου pray for life, Refs with infinitive, NT; π. ἵνα.., περί τινων ὅπως, NT