WW_Prayer_Greek Words for Prayer

II. Greek Words for Prayer

Aineo / αìνέω: Pronunciation: ahee-neh'-o; verb; Description: to praise God, praise. Always used in praise of God. To sing alternately praises to God.

Ainesis / αíνεσις: Pronunciation: ah'-ee-nes-is; noun; Description: a praising (the act), i.e. (specially) a thank(-offering); praise. The act of praise.

Ainos / αίνος: Pronunciation: ah'-ee-nos; noun; Description: properly, a story, narration, praise (of God). Praise returned for benefits received or expected.

Aiteo / άιτέω: Pronunciation: ahee-teh'-o; verb; Description: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, request, require. Frequently suggests the attitude of a suppliant. The seeking of the inferior from the superior, leaving it to the superior to do what pleases him. This term was never used in the context of Jesus’ prayers since he is on equal footing with the Father.

Anthomologeomai / άνθομολογέoμαι): Pronunciation: anth-om-ol-og-eh'-om-ahee; ???; Description: to confess in turn, i.e. respond in praise, give thanks; to acknowledge fully; to celebrate fully in praise with thanksgiving.

Deesis / δέησıς: Pronunciation: deh'-ay-sis; noun; Description: a petition; primarily a wanting, a need [akin to deomai] followed by an asking, entreaty, supplication. It’s always addressed to God. Deesis stresses the sense of need. Prayer, request, supplication. A prayer for particular benefits. Can be used in terms of specific benefits from God or man. Refers to a particular request for which one prays. Supplication to anyone.

Deomai / δέομαι: Pronunciation: deh'-om-ahe; verb; Description: to desire, beseech, pray, to beg (as binding oneself), i.e. petition; make request. Related to aiteo, to make request, ask as an inferior of a superior.

Enteuxis / έντευξις: Pronunciation: ent'-yook-sis; noun; Description: prayer; intercession; prayerful intercourse; an interview; supplication. Enteuxis is the regular word for a petition made to a superior. Address to God for oneself or others. To interpolate with familiarity and freedom of access. To interrupt another in speaking. To come before God with boldness.

Epainos / έπαινος: Pronunciation: ep'-ahee-nos; noun; Description: laudation; concretely, a commendable thing; praise. A strengthened form of “ainos”. Commendation. Praise ascribed to God. May be used to refer to praise of man, well-doers, whatever is praiseworthy.

Epikaleomai / έπικαλέωμαί: Pronunciation: ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee; verb; Description: to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.); to call upon; to appeal to authority (such as when Paul appealed to Caesar). [May also be used as “surname”.] To call upon by way of adoration. Making use of the name of the Lord.

Erotao / ερωτάω: Pronunciation: ???; verb; Description: To ask. Occasionally translated “prayer”, making request. The most tender, delicate expression for prayer or request with the one asking and the one asked on the same footing. To interrogate, to inquire of.

Eucharisteo / εύχαριςτέω: Pronunciation: yoo-khar-is-teh'-o; verb; Description: to be grateful, i.e. (actively) to express gratitude (towards); specially, to say grace at a meal; give thanks, thankful, thanks, the expression of a purpose. Used in a religious sense with or without reference to God. Thanks for any good experience.

Eucharistia / εύχαριςτία: Pronunciation: yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah; noun; Description: gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship); thankfulness, (giving of) thanks(-giving). To receive something as an expression of grace and accepting it as undeserved. Eucharist [the highest act of thanksgiving for the greatest benefit from God: the sacrifice of Jesus]. Grateful acknowledgement of past mercies.

Eucharistos / εύχάριςτoς: Pronunciation: yoo-khar'-is-tos; adjective; Description: well favored, i.e. (by implication) grateful; thankful. Well-pleasing.

Euche / ευχή: Pronunciation: yoo-khay; noun; Description: denotes a prayer or vow; properly, a wish, expressed as a petition to God, or in votive obligation.

Euchomai / εύχομαι: Pronunciation: yoo'-khom-ahee; verb; Description: to pray (to God). Occasionally translated as “wish” or “would” but with the indication that prayer is involved.

Exomologeo / εξομολογέω: Pronunciation: ex-om-ol-og-eh'-o; verb; Description: to acknowledge or (by implication of assent) agree fully; confess, profess, promise, thank. To confess forth, freely, openly; a public acknowledgment or confession of sins; confess by way of celebrating, giving praise. Confession of honor. To agree together with God or with one’s conscience, and to externalize that which is inside. Express in agreement with. To confess as the truth. To give praise or glorify.

Hiketeria / ίκετερία: Pronunciation: hik-et-ay-ree'-ah; noun; Description: supplication; an olive branch carried by a suppliant; through the idea of approaching for a favor); intreaty. Humble and earnest prayer.

Parakaleo / παρακαλέω: Pronunciation: par-ak-al-eh'-o; verb; Description: to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, exhortation or consolation); beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray; to call to one’s side; to call to one’s aid. A stronger force than “aiteo”. Consolation.

Proseuche / προσευχή: Pronunciation: pros-yoo-khay; noun; Description: denotes prayer to God (not prayer of God); worship; earnest prayer; a place of prayer. Proseuche is used of prayer in general. A more sacred word than deesis. Prayer; vow.

Proseuchomai / προσεύχομαι: Pronunciation: ???; verb; Description: to pray, is used always of prayer to God; to pray to God, i.e. supplicate, worship; earnestly pray, make prayer. Draw near spiritually.