δέησιςdéēsis
a petition
Greek (New Testament) · G1162
Meanings
1. a wanting, need (so Ps 21(22):25).
2. an asking, entreaty, supplication; in NT always addressed to God: Luke 1:13, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Philippians 1:19, 2 Timothy 1:3, James 5:16, 1 Peter 3:12 (LXX); with νηστεῖαι, Luke 2:37; προσευχή, -αί, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, 1 Timothy 2:1, 1 Timothy 5:5; ἱκετηρίαι, Hebrews 5:7; προσκαρτέρησις, Ephesians 6:18; ἐντεύξεις, 1 Timothy 2:1; δ. ποιεῖσθαι, Luke 5:33, Philippians 1:4 (plural), 1 Timothy 2:1; followed by ὑπέρ, 2 Corinthians 9:14, Philippians 1:4; περί, Ephesians 6:18; πρός, Romans 10:1.
Synonyms
προσευχή, used of prayer in general, while δ. gives prominence to the sense of need; on the other hand, δ. is used as well of requests from man to man, while π. is limited to prayer to God. ἔντευξις, in the papyri, is the regular word for petition to a superior. Cf. also εὐχή. (James 5:15), αἴτημα, ἱκετηρία.
Same root
Where it appears
Appears 18 times in the Bible.
- Luke 1:13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.
- Luke 2:37 Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.
- Luke 5:33 One day some people said to Jesus, “John the Baptist’s disciples fast and pray regularly, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are your disciples always eating and drinking?”
- Romans 10:1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.
- 2 Corinthians 1:11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.
- 2 Corinthians 9:14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.