What does δέομαι (déomai) mean in the Bible?
δέομαι (deomai) means to ask earnestly, plead, beg, or make a request from a position of need. Prayer is one important setting, but the verb is not limited to prayer.
Greek · G1189
δέομαι
To pray
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δέομαι G1189
Pronunciation déomai
What does δέομαι (déomai) mean in the Bible?
δέομαι (deomai) means to ask earnestly, plead, beg, or make a request from a position of need. Prayer is one important setting, but the verb is not limited to prayer.
Reader summary
Full entry for δέομαι (G1189) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G1189?
The BSB source-word alignment has 22 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include I beg (4), Ask (2), I beg [you] (2), [and] begged (1), [and] pray (1).
Where does δέομαι (déomai) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 9:38. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (8), Acts (7), 2 Corinthians (3), 1 Thessalonians (1).
What This Word Actually Means
δέομαι (deomai) means to ask earnestly, plead, beg, or make a request from a position of need. Prayer is one important setting, but the verb is not limited to prayer. Paul pleads with God to see the Thessalonians and strengthen what is lacking in their faith. He also begs the Corinthians not to force a severe confrontation and appeals personally to the Galatians to become like him.
The common thread is earnest entreaty rather than a technical label for devotional speech. The verb gives pastoral appeals emotional and relational weight: Paul does not hide his longing, yet neither does he manipulate. He names what he desires, grounds the request in Christ and the gospel, and leaves room for responsible response. Teachers should therefore distinguish humble pleading from coercion and distinguish prayerful dependence on God from intensity treated as spiritual merit.
How the Bible Uses It
Paul uses δέομαι for earnest requests directed both to God and to people. The verb joins acknowledged need, relational urgency, and an appeal that does not rely on coercion.
- 1Thess.3.10
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Paul's night-and-day pleading rises from joy in the believers and seeks their presence and maturity. Prayer here is relational dependence, not detached religious duty.
- 2Cor.10.2
I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
Paul earnestly asks the Corinthians to respond before his arrival so that bold disciplinary action will not be necessary. Gentleness and real authority meet in the appeal.
- Gal.4.12
I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.
The apostle's doctrinal urgency becomes personal pleading. He reminds the Galatians of their former welcome and asks them to return to gospel freedom.
Passage contextBook context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It I beg 4× Luke 8:28, Luke 9:38, Acts 21:39, Galatians 4:12
Ask 2× Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2
I beg [you] 2× Acts 26:3, 2 Corinthians 10:2
[and] begged 1× Luke 5:12
[and] pray 1× Luke 21:36
asking 1× Romans 1:10
begged 1× Luke 8:38
had prayed 1× Acts 4:31
have prayed 1× Luke 22:32
I begged 1× Luke 9:40
pleaded 1× 2 Corinthians 8:4
Pray 1× Acts 8:24
pray to 1× Acts 8:22
prayed 1× Acts 10:2
Tell me 1× Acts 8:34
We implore you 1× 2 Corinthians 5:20
we pray 1× 1 Thessalonians 3:10
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 9:38 δεήθητε to Ask Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Plural Luke 5:12 ἐδεήθη to [and] begged Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular Luke 8:28 δέομαί to I beg Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular Luke 8:38 Ἐδεῖτο to begged Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Luke 9:38 δέομαί to I beg Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular Luke 9:40 ἐδεήθην to I begged Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular Luke 10:2 δεήθητε to Ask Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Plural Luke 21:36 δεόμενοι to [and] pray Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural Luke 22:32 ἐδεήθην to have prayed Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular Acts 4:31 δεηθέντων to had prayed Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 9:38
Aligned rows 22
Books represented 7
Matthew 1 Luke 8 Acts 7 Romans 1 2 Corinthians 3 Galatians 1 1 Thessalonians 1
Source forms
δέομαι 4x deomai Acts 21:39, Acts 26:3, 2 Corinthians 10:2, Galatians 4:12
δεόμενοι 3x deomenoi Luke 21:36, 2 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:10
δεήθητε 2x deēthēte Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2
δέομαί 2x deomai Luke 8:28, Luke 9:38
δεόμενος 2x deomenos Acts 10:2, Romans 1:10
ἐδεήθην 2x edeēthēn Luke 9:40, Luke 22:32
δεηθέντων 1x deēthentōn Acts 4:31
Δεήθητε 1x Deēthēte Acts 8:24
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular 7x Luke 8:28, Luke 9:38, Acts 8:34, Acts 21:39
Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Plural 3x Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2, Acts 8:24
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural 3x Luke 21:36, 2 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Thessalonians 3:10
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular 2x Luke 9:40, Luke 22:32
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular 2x Acts 10:2, Romans 1:10
Verb - Aorist Imperative Passive - 2nd Person Singular 1x Acts 8:22
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular 1x Luke 5:12
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Masculine Plural 1x Acts 4:31
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Let earnest requests name real need and seek another's good without using emotion to seize control.
- When the request is prayer, direct confidence toward God's character and rule rather than the intensity of the petitioner.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that δέομαι is a technical prayer word in every occurrence.
- Do not claim that Paul's pleading authorizes manipulative appeals or bypasses the hearer's responsible obedience.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Earnest petition expressing personal need or lack, distinct from demanding request (αἰτέω).
Strong's G1189
Lexical occurrences 12 verses Greek text appearances 22 times 16 shown below Word forms 3 forms 12 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Luke 8:28 Source Gloss
to pray
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 22 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 9:38 Verb Second Person Plural Aorist Passive Deponent Imperative
δεήθητε dehqhte
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 5:12 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Passive Deponent Indicative
ἐδεήθη edehqh
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 8:28 Verb First Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
δέομαί deomai
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 8:38 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
ἐδέετο edeeto
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 9:38 Verb First Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
δέομαί deomai
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 9:40 Verb First Person Singular Aorist Passive Deponent Indicative
ἐδεήθην edehqhn
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 10:2 Verb Second Person Plural Aorist Passive Deponent Imperative
δεήθητε dehqhte
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 21:36 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
δεόμενοι, deomenoi
I request, beg
Read verse Luke 22:32 Verb First Person Singular Aorist Passive Deponent Indicative
ἐδεήθην edehqhn
I request, beg
Read verse Acts 4:31 Verb Aorist Passive Deponent Participle Genitive Plural Masculine
δεηθέντων dehqentwn
I request, beg
Read verse Acts 8:22 Verb Second Person Singular Aorist Passive Deponent Imperative
δεήθητι dehqhti
I request, beg
Read verse Acts 8:24 Verb Second Person Plural Aorist Passive Deponent Imperative
Δεήθητε dehqhte
I request, beg
Read verse Acts 8:34 Verb First Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
Δέομαί deomai
I request, beg
Read verse Acts 10:2 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
δεόμενος deomenov
I request, beg
Read verse Acts 21:39 Verb First Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
δέομαι deomai
I request, beg
Read verse Acts 26:3 Verb First Person Singular Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
δέομαί deomai
I request, beg
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 12 Tenses Present, Aorist Voices Middle, Passive
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 7×
Present Middle Luke 8:28 · Luke 9:38 · Acts 8:34 · Acts 21:39 · Acts 26:3 · 2 Cor 10:2 · Gal 4:12 7×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 4×
Present Middle Luke 21:36 · 2 Cor 8:4 · 1 Thess 3:10 3×
Aorist Passive Acts 4:31 1×
Imperative command or strong request 1×
Aorist Passive Acts 8:22 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 12 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 10 aorist 2
Voice
middle 10 passive 2
Mood
indicative 7 participle 4 imperative 1
NT Occurrences
Luke 8:28 δέομαί present middle indicative ongoing Luke 9:38 δέομαί present middle indicative ongoing Luke 21:36 δεόμενοι present middle participle participle Acts 4:31 δεηθέντων aorist passive participle participle Acts 8:22 δεήθητι aorist passive imperative imperative Acts 8:34 Δέομαί present middle indicative ongoing Acts 21:39 δέομαι present middle indicative ongoing Acts 26:3 δέομαι present middle indicative ongoing 2 Corinthians 8:4 δεόμενοι present middle participle participle 2 Corinthians 10:2 δέομαι present middle indicative ongoing Galatians 4:12 δέομαι present middle indicative ongoing 1 Thessalonians 3:10 δεόμενοι present middle participle participle
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Desperate petition to Jesus, urgent supplication with genitive of person
Request directed at Jesus before ἵνα clause expressing desired outcome
Prayer to God the Lord with genitive of God and ἵνα expressing petition
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 12 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
δέομαι is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Paul's earnest requests reveal a ministry that is neither emotionally distant nor coercive. In 1 Thessalonians 3, he pleads night and day because the congregation's steadfastness gives him joy and because he longs to strengthen their faith face to face. The request is directed to God, and the following prayer entrusts both the journey and the church's growth to the Father and the Lord Jesus.
In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul appeals by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, asking the church to respond so severe confrontation will not be needed. Galatians 4 places a similarly urgent plea inside a wounded relationship and a defense of gospel freedom. δέομαι therefore helps teachers name a holy earnestness that admits need, speaks plainly, and seeks another's good.
Strong feeling is present, but it does not become a technique for overriding conscience or replacing biblical reasoning.
Anchor passage
1Thess.3.10
Doctrinal connections
- 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 - pastoral longing becomes prayer for presence and maturity
- 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 - Christ's gentleness governs an urgent corrective appeal
- Galatians 4:8-20 - gospel warning is carried through personal affection and anguish
- Romans 12:1-2 - apostolic appeal seeks willing, transformed obedience
- Philemon 8-10 - love can appeal where authority might command
The middle-form verb expresses earnest asking, entreating, or begging. Its object determines whether English should say pray, plead, beg, or request. Because several Pauline uses address people rather than God, the gloss 'to pray' is only one contextual rendering, not the complete lexical definition.
From Old to New Testament
The Psalms and prophetic intercessions give Scripture a deep grammar of pleading before God, grounded in His covenant character rather than the petitioner's force. Paul shares that posture of dependent appeal while also using earnest entreaty in pastoral relationships. The connection is thematic; no single Hebrew prayer verb should be treated as an exact equivalent in every context.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain