δέομαι

Matthew 9:38 δεήθητε do beseech

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”

Here: A command to all the disciples (plural) to make a specific request out of need. It is not a call to devotion in general. The aorist form makes it a direct instruction: 'make this request.'

Luke 5:12 ἐδεήθη begged

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Here: 'He begged': an urgent plea from someone in need. Luke uses the same verb for prayer to God (Luke 21:36; 22:32), so it sits between pleading with a person and praying.

Luke 8:28 δέομαί I implore

When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”

Here: 'I beg'. This is how a weaker party pleads with a stronger one. The hostile question turns straight into begging.

Luke 8:38 ἐδεῖτο Was begging

The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,

Luke 9:38 δέομαί I implore

Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only child.

Luke 9:40 ἐδεήθην I begged

I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”

Luke 10:2 δεήθητε do pray earnestly

And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.

Here: A command (aorist imperative) to make an urgent request out of need. It is the language of a petitioner pleading, not just 'say prayers'.

Luke 21:36 δεόμενοι praying

So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Here: 'Begging' or 'petitioning'. The word is narrower than the general word for prayer and means asking for something you need. The participle describes how the staying awake is carried out: by constant asking.

Luke 22:32 ἐδεήθην begged

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Here: An aorist, a tense that presents the action as a whole and here as already done: "I petitioned." The word is for an urgent request on someone's behalf, not general devotion. Jesus has already pleaded for Peter before Peter knows he needs it.

Acts 4:31 δεηθέντων when were praying

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Here: 'When they had made their request.' The verb means asking for something specific, and they had just asked for boldness and for signs (4:29–30). The construction marks the prayer as the setting, and probably as already finished, when God answered.

Acts 8:22 δεήθητι do pray earnestly

Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.

Here: Plead with, petition out of need. Simon, who tried to get power by paying, is told to get forgiveness by begging. It is also a definite, urgent command.

Acts 8:24 δεήθητε do pray earnestly

Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

Here: A plural command: 'you (all) make petition.' Peter had just used the same verb in the singular, telling Simon himself to pray (v. 22). Simon hands the job back to the apostles.

Acts 8:34 δέομαί I pray

“Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”

Acts 10:2 δεόμενος praying

He and all his household were devout and God-fearing. He gave generously to the people and prayed to God regularly.

Here: Present participle of a verb meaning to ask out of need: earnest petition, not merely general worship. Luke favours this word for urgent prayer (Luke 21:36; 22:32).

Acts 21:39 δέομαι I implore

But Paul answered, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no ordinary city. Now I beg you to allow me to speak to the people.”

Here: A polite, urgent request to a superior: 'I ask you, please'. Elsewhere the word can mean praying to God, but here it is addressed to a Roman officer and is simply a courteous petition.

Acts 26:3 δέομαι I implore

especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

Romans 1:10 δεόμενος, [10] imploring,

in my prayers at all times, asking that now at last by God’s will I may succeed in coming to you.

Here: A present participle, so the asking keeps going: 'asking again and again'. The verb is about asking for something you need and cannot get on your own, so it is stronger than simply 'praying'.

2 Corinthians 5:20 δεόμεθα We implore

Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: Be reconciled to God.

Here: 'We beg.' This is a request made out of need. It is often used for petitions to God, but here it is addressed to people. Envoys of a sovereign would normally make demands, and these ones plead.

2 Corinthians 8:4 δεόμενοι imploring

they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

Here: Present participle: "begging," "pleading," an asking that comes from felt need. The ones in deep poverty (v. 2) are the ones begging, and what they beg for is the chance to give.

2 Corinthians 10:2 δέομαι I implore [you]

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.

Galatians 4:12 δέομαι I implore

I beg you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong.

Here: An urgent personal request, 'I beg you'. Here it is addressed to people, not a prayer to God. Paul chooses to plead rather than give orders.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 δεόμενοι imploring

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Here: The present tense means continuing action: 'as we keep begging'. The word is a request for something specific that is needed, not general worship. The participle carries on the sentence from v. 9: our joy before God goes along with constant pleading to come back.