Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

Here are 10 Bible verses about prayer, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.

#1Mark 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
BSBTherefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
#2Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
BSBIn the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
#3Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
BSBBe anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
#4James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
BSBTherefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
#5Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
BSBBut when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
#6Matthew 6:7
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
BSBAnd when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
#7Colossians 4:2
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
BSBDevote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,
#81 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
#9Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
BSBCall to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
#10Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
BSBIf you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).

Prayer in Nave's Topical Bible

Miscellany Of Minor Sub-Topics
Prayer test proposed by Elijah: 1Ki 18:24-39
Daily, in the morning: Ps 5:3; 88:13; 143:8; Isa 33:2
Twice daily: Ps 88:1
Thrice daily: Ps 55:17; Da 6:10
All night: Lu 6:12
Without ceasing: 1Th 5:17
Boldness in
Enjoined: Heb 4:16
Exemplified by Abraham in his inquiry concerning Sodom: Ge 18:23-32
By Moses, supplicating for assistance in delivering Israel: Ex 33:12,18
Secret: Ge 24:63; Mt 6:6
Silent: Ps 5:1
Weeping in: Ezr 10:1
In a loud voice, satirized by Elijah: 1Ki 18:27
Long
Of Pharisees: Mt 23:14
Of scribes: Mr 12:40; Lu 20:47
Profuse, to be avoided: Ec 5:2; Mt 6:7
Vain repetitions of, to be avoided: Mt 6:7
Tokens asked for, as assurance of answer
By Abraham' s servant: Ge 24:14
Gideon asks for a sign of dew on a fleece: Jud 6:36-40
Rebuked
Of Moses, at the Red Sea: Ex 14:15
When Moses prayed to see Canaan, the promised land: De 3:23-27
Of Joshua: Jos 7:10
Evils averted by: Jer 26:19
Unbelief in: Job 21:15
“;The Lord' s Prayer,”: Mt 6:9-13; Lu 11:2-4
However, see: Joh 17:1-26
Answer to, withheld
Of Balaam: De 23:5; Jos 24:10
Of Job: Job 30:20; with 42:12
Of the Israelites, when attacked by the Amorites: De 1:45
The prayer of Jesus, “Let this cup pass away,”: Mt 26:39,42,44; with 26:45-75
And: Mt 27
Answer to, delayed: Ps 22:1,2; 40:1; 80:4; 88:14; Jer 42:7; Hab 1:2; Lu 18:7
Answer to, exceeds petition
Solomon asked for wisdom; the answer included wisdom, riches, honour, and long life: 1Ki 3:7-14; 2Ch 1:10-12
The disciples prayed for Peter; the answer included Peter's deliverance: Ac 12:15; with 12:5
Answer to, different from the request
Moses asked to be permitted to cross the Jordan River; the answer was permission to view the land of promise: De 3:23-27
The Israelites lusted for the fleshpots of Egypt; the answer gave them, flesh, but also leanness of soul: Ps 106:14,15
Martha and Mary asked Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus; Jesus delayed, but raised Lazarus from the dead: Joh 11
Paul asked that the “thorn in the flesh” be removed; the answer was a promise of grace to endure it: 2Co 12:8,9
In Behalf of Nations
See: NATIONS, PRAYER FOR
Penitential
Of David: Ps 51:1-17
Of the tax collector: Lu 18:13
See PRAYER, CONFESSION IN, below
See: SIN, CONFESSION OF
Imprecatory: Nu 16:15; 22:6-11; 23:7,8; 24:9,10; De 11:29,30; 27:11-13; 33:11; Jos 8:33,34; Jud 16:28; 2Sa 16:10-12; Ne 4:4,5; 5:13; Job 3:1-10; 27:7; Ps 5:10; 6:10; 9:20; 10:2,15; 25:3; 28:4; 31:17,18; 35:4,8,26; 40:14,15; 54:5; 55:9,15; 56:7; 58:7; 59:5,11,15; 68:1,2; 69:23,24,27,28; 70:2,3; 71:13; 79:10,12; 83:13-17; 94:2; 109:7,9-20,28,29; 119:78,84; 129:5; 140:9,10; 143:12; 144:6; Jer 11:20; 12:3; 15:15; 17:18; 18:21-23; 20:12; La 1:22; 3:64-66; Ga 1:8,9; 2Ti 4:14,15
Submission in, exemplified by Jesus: Mt 26:39; Mr 14:36; Lu 22:42
David: 2Sa 12:22,23
Job: Job 1:20,21
Private, enjoined: Mt 6:6
Exemplified by
Lot: Ge 19:20
Eliezer: Ge 24:12
Jacob: Ge 32:9-12
Gideon: Jud 6:22,36,39
Hannah: 1Sa 1:10
David: 2Sa 7:18-29
Hezekiah: 2Ki 20:2; Isaiah 2Ki 20:11
Manasseh: 2Ch 33:18,19
Ezra: Ezr 9:5,6
Nehemiah: Ne 2:4
Jeremiah: Jer 32:16-25
Daniel: Da 9:3,19
Jonah: Jon 2:1
Habakkuk: Hab 1:2
Anna: Lu 2:37
Jesus: Mt 14:23; 26:36,39; Mr 1:35; Lu 9:18,29
Paul: Ac 9:11
Peter: Ac 9:40; 10:9
Cornelius: Ac 10:30
Family
By Abraham: Ge 12:5,8
By Jacob: Ge 35:3
By Cornelius: Ac 10:2
Social: Mt 18:19; Ac 1:13,14; 16:25; 20:36; 21:5
Held in private houses: Ac 1:13,14; 12:12
Held in the temple: Ac 2:46; 3:1
Of Jesus
On a mountain: Mt 14:23; Mr 6:46; Lu 6:12; 9:28
In the garden of Gethsemane: Mt 26:36; Mr 14:32; Lu 22:45
The Lord' s prayer: Mt 6:9; Lu 11:1
However, see: Joh 17:1-26
Before daylight: Mr 1:35
In distress: Joh 12:27; Heb 5:7
In the wilderness: Lu 5:16
In behalf of Peter: Lu 22:31,32
For the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to come: Joh 14:16
After the supper: Joh 17
Of the apostles: Ac 1:24,25
To idols: 1Ki 18:26-29
UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO: Ge 32:24-28; Ho 12:4; 1Ch 16:11,35; 2Ch 7:14; Ne 4:9; Ps 27:8; 105:3,4; 145:18; Pr 15:8; Ec 5:2; Isa 55:6; La 3:41; Zec 12:10; Mt 6:5-13; 7:7,8; 21:22; Mr 9:28,29; 11:24; Lu 11:1-13; 18:1; Ro 8:26; 1Co 14:15; Eph 3:11,12; 6:18,19; Php 4:6; Col 4:2; 1Th 5:17,18; 1Ti 2:8; Heb 4:16; Jas 5:16; Jude 1:20; Re 5:8; 8:3,4
ANSWER TO, PROMISE: Ex 6:5; 22:23,27; 33:17-20; De 4:7,29-31; 1Ki 8:22,53; 1Ch 28:9; 2Ch 7:13-15; Job 8:5,6; 12:4; 22:27; 33:26; Ps 9:10,12; 10:17; 18:3; 32:6; 34:15,17; 37:4,5; 38:15; 50:14,15; 55:16,17; 56:9; 65:2,5; 69:33; 81:10; 86:5-7; 91:15; 102:17-20; 145:18,19; Pr 2:3,5; 3:6; 10:24; 15:8,29; 16:1; Isa 19:20; 30:19; 55:6; 58:9; 65:24; Jer 29:12,13; 31:9; 33:3; La 3:25; Eze 36:37; Joe 2:18,19,32; Am 5:4-6; Zep 2:3; Zec 10:1,6; 13:9; Mt 6:5-13; 7:7-11; 18:19,20; 21:22; Mr 11:24,25; Lu 11:5-13; 18:1-8; 21:36; Joh 4:10,23,24; 9:31; 14:13,14; 15:7,16; 16:23,24,26,27; Ac 7:34; 22:16; Ro 8:26; 10:12,13; Eph 2:18; 3:20; Heb 4:16; 10:22,23; 11:6; Jas 1:5-7; 4:8,10; 5:16; 1Jo 3:22; 5:14,15
ANSWERED: Job 34:28; Ps 3:4; 4:1; 6:8,9; 18:6; 21:2,4; 22:4,5,24; 28:6; 30:2,3; 31:22; 34:4-6; 40:1; 66:19,20; 77:1,2; 81:7; 99:6-8; 106:44; 107:6,7,13-20; 116:1,2; 118:5,21; 119:26; 120:1; 138:3; La 3:57,58; Ho 12:4; Jon 2:1,2,7; Lu 23:42,43; Ac 4:31; 2Co 12:8,9; Jas 5:17,18
Instances Of Answered
Cain: Ge 4:13-15
Abraham, for a son: Ge 15
Abraham entreating
For Sodom: Ge 18:23-33
For Ishmael: Ge 17:20
For Abimelech: Ge 20:17
Hagar, for deliverance: Ge 16:7-13
Abraham' s servant, for guidance: Ge 24:12-52
Rebecca, concerning her pains in pregnancy: Ge 25:22,23
Jacob, for deliverance from Esau: Ge 32:9-32; 33:1-17
Moses, for help at the Red Sea: Ex 14:15,16
Moses, at the waters of Marah: Ex 15:25
Moses, at Mount Horeb: Ex 17:4-6
Moses, in the battle with the Amalekites: Ex 17:8-14
Moses, concerning the complaint of the Israelites for meat: Nu 11:11-35
Moses, on behalf of Miriam' s leprosy: Nu 12:13-15
Moses, Aaron, and Samuel: Ps 99:6
Israelites for deliverance
From bondage: Ex 2:23-25; 3:7-10; Ac 7:34
From Pharaoh' s army: Ex 14:10-30
From the king of Mesopotamia: Jud 3:9,15
Sisera: Jud 4:3,23,24; 1Sa 12:9-11
Ammon: Jud 10:6-18; 11:1-33
For God' s favor under the reproofs of Azariah 2Ch 15:1-15
From Babylonian bondage: Ne 9:27
Gideon, asking for the token of dew: Jud 6:36-40
Manoah, asking about Samson: Jud 13:8,9
Samson, asking for strength: Jud 16:28-30
Hannah, asking to give birth to a child: 1Sa 1:10-17,19,20
David, asking whether Keilah would be delivered into his hands: 1Sa 23:10-12
David, asking about Ziklag: 1Sa 30:8
David, asking whether he should go into Judah after Saul' s death: 2Sa 2:1
David, asking whether he should go to war against the Philistines: 2Sa 5:19-25
David, in adversity: Ps 118:5; 138:3
Solomon, asking for wisdom: 1Ki 3:1-13; 9:2,3
Elijah, raising the widow' s son: 1Ki 17:22
Elijah, calling for fire to come down upon his sacrifice: 1Ki 18:36-38
Elijah, asking for rain: 1Ki 17:1; 18:1,42-45; Jas 5:17
Elisha, leading the Syrian army: 2Ki 6:17-20
Jabez, asking for prosperity: 1Ch 4:10
Abijah, for victory over Jeroboam: 2Ch 13:14-18
Asa, for victory over Zerah: 2Ch 14:11-15
The people of Judah: 2Ch 15:15
Jehoshaphat, for victory over the Canaanites: 2Ch 18:31; 20:6-27
Jehoahaz, for victory over Hazael: 2Ki 13:4
Priests and Levites, when blessing the people: 2Ch 30:27
Hezekiah and Isaiah, for deliverance from Sennacherib: 2Ki 19:14-20; 2Ch 32:20-23
To save Hezekiah' s life: 2Ki 20:1-7,11; 2Ch 32:24
Manasseh, for deliverance from the king of Babylon: 2Ch 33:13,19
The Reubenites, for deliverance from the Hagarites: 1Ch 5:20
The Jews, returning from the captivity: Ezr 8:21,23
Ezekiel, to have the baking of his bread of affliction changed: Eze 4:12-15
Daniel, for the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream: Da 2:19-23
Daniel, interceding for the people: Da 9:20-23
Daniel, in a vision: Da 10:12
Zacharias, for a son: Lu 1:13
The leper, for healing: Mt 8:2,3; Mr 1:40-43; Lu 5:12,13
Centurion, for his servant: Mt 8:5-13; Lu 7:3-10; Joh 4:50,51
Peter, asking that Tabitha (Dorcas) be restored to life: Ac 9:40
The disciples, for Peter: Ac 12:5-17
Paul, to be restored to health: 2Co 1:9-11
CONFESSION IN: Le 5:5; 26:40; Nu 5:5-7; Jud 10:10,15; 1Sa 12:10; 1Ki 8:47; Ezr 9:6,15; Ne 1:6,7; 9:2,33-35; Job 7:20; 40:4,5; Ps 31:10; 32:3,5; 38:4-8,10,18; 40:12; 51:3,4; 69:5; 106:6,7; 119:176; 130:3; Pr 28:13; Isa 6:5; 59:12,13; Jer 3:13,25; 14:7,20; La 1:18; 3:42; 5:16; Da 9:5-15
IMPORTUNITY IN: Ge 18:23-32; 32:24-29; Ex 32:32; De 9:25; Jud 6:36-40; 16:28; 1Sa 1:10,11; 12:23; 1Ki 8:22-30; Ezr 9:5,6; Ne 1:4-6; Ps 17:1,6; 22:1,2,19; 28:1,2; 35:22,23; 55:1,2,16,17; 57:2; 61:1,2; 70:5; 86:3,6; 88:1,2,9,13; 102:1,2; 119:58,145-147; 130:1,2; 141:1,2; 142:1,2; Isa 38:2,3; 62:7; 64:12; Da 9:3,16-19; Jon 1:14; Hab 1:2; Mt 15:22-28; Mr 7:25-29; Lu 7:3; 11:5-8; 18:1-7; 22:44; Ro 8:26; 2Co 12:8; Eph 6:18; Heb 5:7
Instances Of Importunity In
Jacob: Ge 32:24-30
Moses: Ex 33:12-16; 34:9
Elijah: 1Ki 18:22-44
The two blind men of Jericho: Mt 20:30,31; Mr 10:48; Lu 18:39
The non-Jewish, Syro-Phoenician woman: Mt 15:22-28; Mr 7:25-30
The Roman centurion: Mt 8:5; Lu 7:3,4
Intercessory
See: INTERCESSION
See: JESUS, MEDIATION OF
Of Wicked People Not Heard
See: WICKED, PRAYER OF
PLEAS OFFERED IN: Ge 32:9-12; Ex 32:11-13; 33:13; Nu 14:13-18; 16:22; De 3:24,25; 9:18,25-29; Jos 7:8,9; 2Sa 7:25-29; 1Ki 8:25,26,59,60; 18:36,37; 2Ki 19:15-19; 2Ch 14:11; Ne 1:8,9; 9:32; Ps 4:1; 9:19,20; 25:6; 27:9; 31:3; 38:16; 69:6,13,16; 71:18; 74:10,11,18-23; 79:10-12; 83:1,2,18; 86:1-5,17; 89:49-51; 106:47; 109:21-27; 115:1,2; 119:38,42,43,49,73,94, 116,124,145,146,149,153,173-176; 143:11,12; Isa 37:15-20; 63:17-19; Jer 14:21; 18:20,21; La 3:56-63; Joe 2:17
THANKSGIVING AND, BEFORE RECEIVING FOOD: Jos 9:14; 1Sa 9:13; Mt 14:19; 15:36; 26:26,27; Mr 6:41; 8:6,7; 14:22,23; Lu 9:16; 22:19; Joh 6:11,23; Ac 27:35; Ro 14:6; 1Co 10:30,31; 11:24; 1Ti 4:3-5

Prayer in Torrey's Topical Textbook

Commanded: Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6
TO BE OFFERED
To God: Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10
To Christ: Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59
To the Holy Spirit: 2Th 3:5
Through Christ: Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19
God hears: Ps 10:17; 65:2
God answers: Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9
IS DESCRIBED AS
Bowing the knees: Eph 3:14
Looking up: Ps 5:3
Lifting up the soul: Ps 25:1
Lifting up the heart: La 3:41
Pouring out the heart: Ps 62:8
Pouring out the soul: 1Sa 1:15
Calling upon the name of the Lord: Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16
Crying to God: Ps 27:7; 34:6
Drawing near to God: Ps 73:28; Heb 10:22
Crying to heaven: 2Ch 32:20
Beseeching the Lord: Ex 32:11
Seeking to God: Job 8:5
Seeking the face of the Lord: Ps 27:8
Making supplication: Job 8:5; Jer 36:7
Acceptable through Christ: Joh 14:13,14; 15:16; 16:23,24
Ascends to heaven: 2Ch 30:27; Re 5:8
Quickening grace necessary to: Ps 80:18
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Promised as a Spirit of: Zec 12:10
As the Spirit of adoptions, leads to: Ro 8:15; Ga 4:6
Helps our infirmities in: Ro 8:26
An evidence of conversion: Ac 9:11
Of the righteous, avails much: Jas 5:16
Of the upright, a delight to God: Pr 15:8
SHOULD BE OFFERED UP
In the Holy Spirit: Eph 6:18; Jude 1:20
In faith: Mt 21:22; Jas 1:6
In full assurance of faith: Heb 10:22
In a forgiving spirit: Mt 6:12
With the heart: Jer 29:13; La 3:41
With the whole heart: Ps 119:58,145
With preparation of heart: Job 11:13
With a true heart: Heb 10:22
With the soul: Ps 42:4
With the spirit and understanding: Joh 4:22-24; 1Co 14:15
With confidence in God: Ps 56:9; 86:7; 1Jo 5:14
With submission to God: Lu 22:42
With unfeigned lips: Ps 17:1
With deliberation: Ec 5:2
With holiness: 1Ti 2:8
With humility: 2Ch 7:14; 33:12
With truth: Ps 145:18; Joh 4:24
With desire to be heard: Ne 1:6; Ps 17:1; 55:1,2; 61:1
With desire to be answered: Ps 27:7; 102:2; 108:6; 143:1
With boldness: Heb 4:16
With earnestness: 1Th 3:10; Jas 5:17
With importunity: Ge 32:26; Lu 11:8,9; 18:1-7
Night and day: 1Ti 5:5
Without ceasing: 1Th 5:17
Everywhere: 1Ti 2:8
In everything: Php 4:6
For temporal blessings: Ge 28:20; Pr 30:8; Mt 6:11
For spiritual blessings: Mt 6:33
For mercy and grace to help in time of need: Heb 4:16
Model for: Mt 6:9-13
Vain repetitions in, forbidden: Mt 6:7
Ostentation in, forbidden: Mt 6:5
ACCOMPANIED WITH
Repentance: 1Ki 8:33; Jer 36:7
Confession: Ne 1:4,7; Da 9:4-11
Self-abasement: Ge 18:27
Weeping: Jer 31:9; Ho 12:4
Fasting: Ne 1:4; Da 9:3; Ac 13:3
Watchfulness: Lu 21:36; 1Pe 4:7
Praise: Ps 66:17
Thanksgiving: Php 4:6; Col 4:2
PLEAD IN THE
Promises of God: Ge 32:9-12; Ex 32:13; 1Ki 8:26; Ps 119:49
Covenant of God: Jer 14:21
Faithfulness of God: Ps 143:1
Mercy of God: Ps 51:1; Da 9:18
Righteousness of God: Da 9:16
Rise early for: Ps 5:3; 119:147
Seek divine teaching for: Lu 11:1
Faint not in: Lu 18:1
Continue instant in: Ro 12:12
Avoid hindrances in: 1Pe 3:7
Suitable in affliction: Isa 26:16; Jas 5:13
Shortness of time a motive to: 1Pe 4:7
POSTURES IN
Standing: 1Ki 8:22; Mr 11:25
Bowing down: Ps 95:6
Kneeling: 2Ch 6:13; Ps 95:6; Lu 22:41; Ac 20:36
Falling on the face: Nu 16:22; Jos 5:14; 1Ch 21:16; Mt 26:39
Spreading forth the hands: Isa 1:15
Lifting up the hands: Ps 28:2; La 2:19; 1Ti 2:8
The promises of God encourage to: Isa 65:24; Am 5:4; Zec 13:9
The promises of Christ encourage to: Lu 11:9,10; Joh 14:13,14
Experience of past mercies an incentive to: Ps 4:1; 112:2

Prayer in Nave's Topical Bible

Prayer in Torrey's Topical Textbook

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