Word Study for G1162 (δέησις)

déēsis /deh'-ay-sis/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom δέομαι

Meaninga petition

KJV usageprayer, request, supplication.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of déēsis — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word déēsis, represented by G1162, is a term for petition, request, or supplication. It appears 19 times across 17 unique verses in the Bible. Derived from δέομαι, it conveys the sense of making a specific and earnest appeal to God based on a recognized need.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G1162 is frequently used to describe a focused type of prayer. It is often listed alongside other spiritual disciplines, as seen in Philippians 4:6, where believers are instructed to make their requests known through "prayer and supplication with thanksgiving." This term is used for prayers on behalf of others, such as when the church makes supplication for "all saints" Ephesians 6:18. It is also used to express deeply personal and continual prayer, as Paul remembers Timothy in his "prayers" night and day 2 Timothy 1:3. The word can also convey intense entreaty, as when Jesus, in the days of His flesh, offered up "prayers" with "strong crying and tears" Hebrews 5:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context of déēsis:

G4335 proseuchḗ (prayer): This word for general prayer or worship is often paired with déēsis, distinguishing between broad worship and a specific petition 1 Timothy 5:5.
G155 aítēma (request): This term refers to the substance of the petition itself. In Philippians 4:6, believers' requests are made known to God through prayer and supplication.
G2169 eucharistía (thanksgiving): Often accompanying déēsis, this highlights that supplications should be offered with a grateful heart (Philippians 4:6, 1 Timothy 2:1).
G3521 nēsteía (fasting): This is another spiritual discipline mentioned alongside prayers, indicating a posture of serious devotion Luke 2:37.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G1162 is significant.

Specificity in Prayer: The term encourages believers to bring particular needs to God. Paul's prayer for Israel is specifically for their salvation Romans 10:1, and Zacharias's prayer for a son is heard Luke 1:13.
Intercession for Others: It is a key element of communal faith. Paul exhorts that supplications be made for all men 1 Timothy 2:1 and relies on the Corinthians' prayer for him 2 Corinthians 1:11.
Persistent Dependence: The use of déēsis often implies a continual and dependent posture before God. The early church "continued with one accord in prayer and supplication" Acts 1:14, and a devout widow "continueth in supplications and prayers night and day" 1 Timothy 5:5.

Summary

In summary, G1162 is more than a general term for prayer; it is a specific petition or request made from a position of need. It underscores the biblical principle of bringing particular desires to God for oneself and others. Its frequent pairing with general prayer and thanksgiving shows its role as a vital part of a complete and persistent relationship with God.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun across 19 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Dative Singular Feminine 6×
Accusative Plural Feminine 3×
Dative Plural Feminine 3×
Nominative Singular Feminine 3×
Accusative Singular Feminine 2×
Genitive Singular Feminine 2×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 17 verses across 11 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke and Philippians (3 verses each); never once in the other 16.

Luke

Acts

Romans

2 Corinthians

Ephesians

Philippians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.