Scriptures on prayerG4336 προσεύχομαι proseuchomai pros-yoo'-khom-ahee From G4314 and G2172; to pray to Yah, that is, supplicate, worship: - pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer. G4314 πρός pros pros A strengthened form of G4253; a preposition of direction; forward to, that is, toward (with the genitive case the side of, that is, pertaining to; with the dative case by the side of, that is, near to; usually with the accusative case the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, that is, whither or for which it is predicated): - about, according to, against, among, at, because of, before, between, ([where-]) by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), + together, to ([you]) -ward, unto, with (-in). In compounds it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at. G4253 πρό pro pro A primary preposition; “fore”, that is, in front of, prior (figuratively superior) to. In compounds it retains the same significations: - above, ago, before, or ever. In compounds it retains the same significations. G2172 εὔχομαι euchomai yoo'-khom-ahee Middle voice of a primary verb; to wish; by implication to pray to Yah: - pray, will, wish: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those insulting you and persecuting you..." (Matt 5:44) “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the congregations and on the corners of the streets, to be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward." (Matt 6:5) “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place. And your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly." (Matt 6:6) “And when praying, do not keep on babbling like the gentiles. For they think that they shall be heard for their many words." (Matt 6:7) “This, then, is the way you should pray: ‘Our Father who is in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart..." (Matt 6:9) And having dismissed the crowds, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there. (Matt 14:23) Then young children were brought to Him to lay His hands on them and pray, and the taught ones rebuked them. (Matt 19:13) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you eat up widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers. Because of this you shall receive greater judgment." (Matt 23:14) “And pray that your flight does not take place in winter or on the Sabbath." (Matt 24:20) Then יהושע came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the taught ones, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (Matt 26:36) And going forward a little, He fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “Oh My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I desire, but as You desire.” (Matt 26:39) “Watch and pray, lest you enter into trial. The spirit indeed is eager, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt 26:41) Again He went away, a second time, and prayed, saying, “Oh My Father, if it is impossible for this to pass unless I drink it, let Your desire be done.” (Matt 26:42) And He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Matt 26:44) And having risen very early in the morning, while still dark, He went out, and went away to a lonely place, and there He prayed. (Mark 1:35) And having sent them away, He went away to the mountain to pray. (Mark 6:46) “Because of this I say to you, whatever you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them." (Mark 11:24) “And whenever you stand praying, if you hold whatever against anyone, forgive, so that your Father in the heavens shall also forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:25) "They who are devouring widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers. These shall receive greater judgment.” (Mark 12:40) “And pray that your flight does not take place in winter." (Mark 13:18) “Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is..." (Mark 13:33) And they came to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to His taught ones, “Sit here while I pray.” (Mark 14:32) And He went on a little, and fell on the ground, and was praying that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. (Mark 14:35) “Watch and pray, lest you enter into trial. The spirit indeed is eager, but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14:38) And again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. (Mark 14:39) And the entire crowd of people was praying outside at the hour of incense. (Luke 1:10) And it came to be, when all the people were immersed, יהושע also being immersed, and praying, the heaven was opened... (Luke 3:21) But He was often withdrawing Himself to lonely places and praying. (Luke 5:16) And in those days it came to be that He went out to the mountain to pray, and was spending the night in prayer to Elohim. (Luke 6:12) “Bless those cursing you, and pray for those insulting you." (Luke 6:28) And it came to be, as He was alone praying, the taught ones were with Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Luke 9:18) And it came to be, about eight days after these words, taking with Him Kĕpha and Yoḥanan and Yaʽaqov̱, He went up to the mountain to pray. (Luke 9:28) And it came to be, as He prayed, the appearance of His face changed, and His garment dazzling white. (Luke 9:29) And it came to be while He was praying in a certain place, as He ceased, one of His taught ones said to Him, “Master, teach us to pray, as Yoḥanan also taught his taught ones.” (Luke 11:1) And He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in the heavens, let Your Name be set-apart, let Your reign come, let Your desire be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Luke 11:2) And He spoke a parable to them, that they should always pray and not lose heart, (Luke 18:1) “Two men went up to the Set-apart Place to pray – the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector." (Luke 18:10) “The Pharisee stood and began to pray with himself this way, ‘Elohim, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men, swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector." (Luke 18:11) "They who devour widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers. They shall receive greater judgment.” (Luke 20:47) And coming to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you do not enter into trial.” (Luke 22:40) And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and falling on His knees He was praying... (Luke 22:41) And being in agony, He was praying more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44) And He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into trial.” (Luke 22:46) And praying they said, “You, יהוה, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two You have chosen." (Acts 1:24) Whom they set before the emissaries. And when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. (Acts 6:6) ...who, when they had come down, prayed for them to receive the Set-apart Spirit, (Acts 8:15) And the Master said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and seek in the house of Yehuḏah for one called Sha’ul of Tarsos, for look, he is praying..." (Acts 9:11) But Kĕpha sent them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tav̱itha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and seeing Kĕpha, she sat up. (Acts 9:40) And on the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Kĕpha went up on the house-top to pray, about the sixth hour. (Acts 10:9) And Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour. And at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and see, a man stood before me in shining garments..." (Acts 10:30) “I was in the city of Yapho praying. And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descending like a great sheet, let down from the heaven by four corners, and it came to me." (Acts 11:5) And having realized this, he went to the house of Miryam, the mother of Yoḥanan who was also called Mark, where many had gathered to pray. (Acts 12:12) Then having fasted and prayed, and having laid hands on them, they sent them away. (Acts 13:3) And having appointed elders in every assembly, having prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Master in whom they had believed. (Acts 14:23) And at midnight Sha’ul and Sila were praying and singing songs to Elohim, and the prisoners were listening to them. (Acts 16:25) And having said this, he knelt down and prayed with them all. (Acts 20:36) And when it came to be that our days there were ended, we left and went on, all of them accompanying us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. (Acts 21:5) “And it came to be, when I returned to Yerushalayim, and while I was praying in the Set-apart Place, I came to be in a trance..." (Acts 22:17) And it came to be that the father of Poplius lay sick with inflammation and dysentery. Sha’ul went in to him, and having prayed he laid his hands on him and healed him. (Acts 28:8) And in the same way the Spirit does help in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray, but the Spirit Himself pleads our case for us with groanings unutterable. (Rom 8:26) Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, brings shame to his Head. (1Co 11:4) And every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered brings shame to her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. (1Co 11:5) Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to Elohim with her head uncovered? (1Co 11:13) Therefore, he who is speaking in a tongue, let him pray that he might interpret. (1Co 14:13) For if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but my understanding is without fruit. (1Co 14:14) What then is it? I shall pray with the spirit, and I shall also pray with the understanding. I shall sing with the spirit, and I shall also sing with the understanding. (1Co 14:15) ...praying at all times, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the set-apart ones... (Eph 6:18) And this I pray, that your love might extend more and more in knowledge and all discernment... (Php 1:9) We give thanks to the Elohim and Father of our Master יהושע Messiah, praying always for you... (Col 1:3) That is also why we, from the day we heard, have not ceased praying for you, and asking that you be filled with the knowledge of His desire in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, (Col 1:9) ...praying at the same time also for us, that Elohim would open to us a door for the word, to speak the secret of Messiah, for which I am also in chains... (Col 4:3) ...pray without ceasing... (1Th 5:17) Brothers, pray for us. (1Th 5:25) To this end we always pray for you that our Elohim would count you worthy of this calling, and complete all the good pleasure of goodness, and the work of belief with power... (2Th 1:11) For the rest, brothers, pray for us, so that the Word of יהוה spreads rapidly and be praised, as also with you... (2Th 3:1) So I resolve that the men pray everywhere, lifting up hands that are set-apart, without wrath and disputing. (1Ti 2:8) Pray for us, for we trust that we have a good conscience, desiring to behave well in every way. (Heb 13:18) Is any of you suffering evil? Let him pray. Is anyone in good spirits? Let him sing psalms. (Yas 5:13) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, having anointed him with oil in the Name of the Master. (Yas 5:14) Ěliyahu was a man with feelings like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. (Yas 5:17) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the land brought forth its fruit. (Yas 5:18) But you, beloved ones, building yourselves up on your most set-apart belief, praying in the Set-apart Spirit... (Yude 1:20) G2172 εὔχομαι euchomai yoo'-khom-ahee Middle voice of a primary verb; to wish; by implication to pray to Yah: - pray, will, wish: And Sha’ul said, “Much or little, I pray to Elohim that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become such as I also am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:29) And, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and were praying for day to come. (Acts 27:29) For I myself could have wished to be banished from Messiah for the sake of my brothers, my relatives according to the flesh... (Rom 9:3) And we pray to Elohim that you do no evil at all – not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is right, even though we should appear unapproved. (2Co 13:7) For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray for: your perfection. 1 Footnote: 1Mt. 5:48. (2Co 13:9) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, so that you are healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous one accomplishes much. (Yas 5:16) Beloved ones, I pray for you to do well in every way, and be in health, as your life is doing well. (3Yn 1:2) H6419 פּלל pâlal paw-lal' A primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension to intercede, pray: - intreat, judge (-ment), (make) pray (-er, -ing), make supplication: “And now, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and let him pray for you and you live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall certainly die, you and all that are yours.” (Gen 20:7) And Av̱raham prayed to Elohim, and Elohim healed Aḇimeleḵ, and his wife, and his female servants, so they bore children... (Gen 20:17) And Yisra’ĕl said to Yosĕph, “I had not thought to see your face. But see, Elohim has also shown me your seed!” (Gen 48:11) And the people cried out to Mosheh, and Mosheh prayed to יהוה, and the fire died down. (Num 11:2) Then the people came to Mosheh, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against יהוה and against you. Pray to יהוה to take away the serpents from us.” So Mosheh prayed on behalf of the people. (Num 21:7) “And יהוה was very enraged with Aharon, to destroy him, so I prayed for Aharon at that time also. (Deu 9:20) “And I prayed to יהוה, and said, ‘Oh Master יהוה, do not destroy Your people and Your inheritance whom You have redeemed in Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Mitsrayim with a strong hand." (Deu 9:26) And she was bitter in life, and prayed to יהוה and wept greatly. (1Sa 1:10) And it came to be, as she kept on praying before יהוה, that Ěli was watching her mouth. (1Sa 1:12) And she said, “Oh my master! As your being lives, my master, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to יהוה. (1Sa 1:26) “I prayed for this youth, and יהוה has granted me what I asked of Him." (1Sa 1:27) And Ḥannah prayed and said, “My heart rejoices in יהוה, my horn has been high in יהוה. My mouth is opened wide over my enemies, for I have rejoiced in Your deliverance." (1Sa 2:1) “If one man sins against another, Elohim shall judge him. But if a man sins against יהוה, who shall pray for him?” But they did not listen to the voice of their father, though יהוה was pleased to put them to death. (1Sa 2:25) And Shemu’ĕl said, “Gather all Yisra’ĕl to Mitspah and let me pray to יהוה for you.” (1Sa 7:5) But the word was evil in the eyes of Shemu’ĕl when they said, “Give us a sovereign to rule us.” So Shemu’ĕl prayed to יהוה. (1Sa 8:6) And all the people said to Shemu’ĕl, “Pray for your servants to יהוה your Elohim, that we do not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil of asking for ourselves a sovereign.” (1Sa 12:19) “Also, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against יהוה in ceasing to pray for you, but I shall teach you the good and straight way." (1Sa 12:23) “For You, O יהוה of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I build you a house.’ Therefore Your servant has taken heart to pray this prayer to You. (2Sa 7:27) “Yet, shall You turn to the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, Oh יהוה my Elohim, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today?" (1Ki 8:28) “For Your eyes to be open toward this House night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name is there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place." (1Ki 8:29) “Then, shall You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Yisra’ĕl when they pray toward this place, when You hear in Your dwelling place, in the heavens? And shall You hear, and forgive?" (1Ki 8:30) “When Your people Yisra’ĕl are smitten before an enemy, because they have sinned against You, and they shall turn back to You and confess Your Name, and pray and make supplication to You in this House..." (1Ki 8:33) “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they sin against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your Name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them..." (1Ki 8:35) ...since they hear of Your great Name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm – and he shall come and pray toward this House... (1Ki 8:42) “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, in the way that You send them, and they shall pray to יהוה toward the city which You have chosen and toward the House which I have built for Your Name..." (1Ki 8:44) ...and they shall turn back to You with all their heart and with all their being in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and shall pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the House which I have built for Your Name... (1Ki 8:48) And it came to be, when Shelomoh had ended praying all this prayer and supplication to יהוה, that he rose up from before the altar of יהוה, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to the heavens. (1Ki 8:54) And the sovereign answered and said to the man of Elohim, “Please appease the face of יהוה your Elohim, and pray for me, that my hand might be restored to me.” And the man of Elohim appeased the face of יהוה, and the sovereign’s hand was restored to him, and became as it was before. (1Ki 13:6) ...and he went in, and shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to יהוה. (2Ki 4:33) And Elisha prayed, and said, “יהוה, I pray, open his eyes and let him see.” And יהוה opened the eyes of the young man, and he looked and saw the mountain covered with horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2Ki 6:17) And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to יהוה, and said, “Strike this nation with blindness, I pray.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. (2Ki 6:18) And Ḥizqiyahu prayed before יהוה, and said, “Oh יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, the One who dwells between the keruv̱im, You are Elohim, You alone, of all the reigns of the earth. You have made the heavens and earth." (2Ki 19:15) Then Yeshayahu son of Amots sent to Ḥizqiyahu, saying, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, ‘I have heard that which you have prayed to Me against Sanḥĕriv̱ sovereign of Ashshur.’ (2Ki 19:20) And he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to יהוה, saying... (2Ki 20:2) “For You, Oh my Elohim, have revealed to Your servant to build a house for him. Therefore Your servant has found courage to pray before You." (1Ch 17:25) “Yet, shall You turn to the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, Oh יהוה my Elohim, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant is praying before You?" (2Ch 6:19) “For Your eyes to be open toward this House day and night, toward the place You have said to put Your Name there, to listen to the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place." (2Ch 6:20) “And shall You give heed to the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Yisra’ĕl, when they pray toward this place, and hear from Your dwelling place, in the heavens, and shall hear and forgive?" (2Ch 6:21) “And if Your people Yisra’ĕl are smitten before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they shall turn back and confess Your Name, and pray and make supplication before You in this House..." (2Ch 6:24) “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, and they shall pray toward this place and confess Your Name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them..." (2Ch 6:26) “Also, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Yisra’ĕl, but who comes from a far land for the sake of Your great Name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this House..." (2Ch 6:32) “When Your people go out to battle against their enemies, in the way that You send them, and they shall pray to You toward this city which You have chosen and toward the House which I have built for Your Name..." (2Ch 6:34) ...and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their being in the land of their captivity, where they have taken them captive, and they shall pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, and the city which You have chosen, and toward the House which I have built for Your Name... (2Ch 6:38) And when Shelomoh had ended praying, fire came down from the heavens and consumed the burnt offering and the slaughterings. And the esteem of יהוה filled the House. (2Ch 7:1) ...and My people upon whom My Name is called, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I shall hear from the heavens, and forgive their sin and heal their land." (2Ch 7:14) For many of the people, many from Ephrayim and Menashsheh, Yissasḵar and Zev̱ulun, had not been cleansed, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Ḥizqiyahu prayed for them, saying, “יהוה who is good, provide atonement for everyone." (2Ch 30:18) And Sovereign Ḥizqiyahu and the prophet Yeshayahu, son of Amots, prayed about this, and cried out to the heavens. (2Ch 32:20) In those days Ḥizqiyahu was sick and near death, and he prayed to יהוה. And He spoke to him and appointed a sign for him. (2Ch 32:24) ...and prayed to Him. And He was moved by his entreaty and heard his supplication, and brought him back to Yerushalayim into his reign. And Menashsheh knew that יהוה was Elohim. (2Ch 33:13) And while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the House of Elohim, a very large assembly – men and women and children – gathered unto him from Yisra’ĕl, for the people wept very bitterly. (Ezr 10:1) And it came to be, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days. And I was fasting and praying before the Elohim of the heavens... (Neh 1:4) ...please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, for the children of Yisra’ĕl Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Yisra’ĕl which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned." (Neh 1:6) And the sovereign said to me, “What are you asking for?” Then I prayed to the Elohim of the heavens... (Neh 2:4) But we prayed to our Elohim, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. (Neh 4:9) "And now, take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Iyoḇ, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And let My servant Iyoḇ pray for you – for I accept him – lest I punish you; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as did My servant Iyoḇ.” (Yov 42:8) And יהוה turned the captivity of Iyoḇ when he prayed for his friends. And יהוה gave Iyoḇ twice as much as he had before. (Yov 42:10) Attend to the voice of my cry, My Sovereign and my Elohim, for unto You I pray. (Psa 5:2) Therefore, let every kind one pray to You while You might be found; even in a flood of great waters they would not reach him. (Psa 32:6) And He shall live, and the gold of Shev̱a be given to Him, and prayer be made for Him continually; let Him be blessed all day long. (Psa 72:15) Then Pineḥas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stopped. (Psa 106:30) And it shall be, when it is seen that Mo’av̱ has wearied herself on the high place, that she shall come to her set-apart place to pray, but not be able. (Isa 16:12) And Ḥizqiyahu prayed to יהוה, saying... (Isa 37:15) Then Yeshayahu son of Amots sent to Ḥizqiyahu, saying, “Thus said יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, ‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sanḥĕriv̱ sovereign of Ashshur... (Isa 37:21) And Ḥizqiyahu turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to יהוה, (Isa 38:2) And the rest of it he makes into a mighty one, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships, prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my mighty one.” (Isa 44:17) Thus said יהוה, “The labor of Mitsrayim and merchandise of Kush and of the Seḇaites, men of size, come over to you and they are yours. They walk behind you, they come over in chains, and they bow down to you. They make supplication to you, saying, ‘Indeed, Ěl is in you, and there is none else, no mighty one.’ ” (Isa 45:14) “Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the gentiles. No knowledge have they who are lifting up the wood of their carved image, and pray to a mighty one that does not save." (Isa 45:20) “And you, do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me, for I do not hear you." (Yer 7:16) “And you, do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, for I do not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their evil." (Yer 11:14) And יהוה said to me, “Do not pray for this people for their good." (Yer 14:11) ‘And seek the peace of the city where I have exiled you, and pray to יהוה for it, for in its peace you have peace." (Yer 29:7) ‘Then you shall call on Me, and shall come and pray to Me, and I shall listen to you.' (Yer 29:12) “And after I had given the deed of purchase to Varuḵ son of Nĕriyah, I prayed to יהוה, saying..." (Yer 32:16) And Tsiḏqiyahu the sovereign sent Yehuḵal son of Shelemyah, and the priest, Tsephanyahu son of Maʽasĕyah, to the prophet Yirmeyahu, saying, “Please pray to יהוה our Elohim for us.” (Yer 37:3) ...and said to Yirmeyahu the prophet, “We beg you, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to יהוה your Elohim, for all this remnant, for we are few left of many, as your eyes see us." (Yer 42:2) And Yirmeyahu the prophet said to them, “I have heard. See, I am praying to יהוה your Elohim according to your words, and it shall be that I declare to you all the word יהוה answers you. I withhold not a word from you.” (Yer 42:4) “For you deceived yourselves when you sent me to יהוה your Elohim, saying, ‘Pray for us to יהוה our Elohim, and according to all that יהוה your Elohim says, so declare to us and we shall do it.’ (Yer 42:20) “You also, who pleaded for your sisters, bear your own shame, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs. They are more righteous than you. So be ashamed too, and bear your own shame, because you have made your sisters seem righteous." (Eze 16:52) And I prayed to יהוה my Elohim, and made confession, and said, “Oh יהוה, great and awesome Ěl, guarding the covenant and the kindness to those who love Him, and to those who guard His commands." (Dan 9:4) And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Yisra’ĕl, and presenting my supplication before יהוה my Elohim for the set-apart mountain of my Elohim... (Dan 9:20) And Yonah prayed to יהוה his Elohim from the stomach of the fish. (Yon 2:1) And he prayed to יהוה, and he said, “Please, יהוה, was this not what I said while I was in my own land? This is why I went ahead and fled to Tarshish. For I know that You are an Ěl showing favor, and compassionate, patient and of great kindness, and relenting from doing evil." (Yon 4:2) H1245 בּקשׁ bâqash baw-kash' A primitive root; to search out (by any method; specifically in worship or prayer); by implication to strive after: - ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for): “That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you, I myself bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night." (Gen 31:39) And a certain man found him, and see, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What do you seek?” (Gen 37:15) And he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please inform me where they are feeding their sheep.” (Gen 37:16) “I myself shall stand guaranty for him – from my hand you are to require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever." (Gen 43:9) And Yosĕph hurried, for his emotions were deeply moved towards his brother, and he looked for a place to weep, and went into his room and wept there. (Gen 43:30) And Pharaoh heard of this matter, and he sought to kill Mosheh. But Mosheh fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Miḏyan. And he sat down by a well. (Exo 2:15) And יהוה said to Mosheh in Miḏyan, “Go, return to Mitsrayim, for all the men are dead who sought your life.” (Exo 4:19) And it came to be on the way, in the lodging place, that יהוה met him and sought to kill him. (Exo 4:24) “Not so! You men go now, and serve יהוה, for that is what you desired.” And they were driven out from the presence of Pharaoh. (Exo 10:11) And Mosheh took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the Tent of Meeting. And it came to be that everyone who sought יהוה went out to the Tent of Meeting which was outside the camp. (Exo 33:7) ‘Do not turn to mediums, and do not seek after spiritists to be defiled by them. I am יהוה your Elohim.' (Lev 19:31) ...and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brothers, the sons of Lĕwi, with you? Yet you seek the priesthood as well?" (Num 16:10) ...or uses a stone, by which a man could die, throwing it at him without seeing him, so that he dies, while he was not his enemy or seeking his harm... (Num 35:23) “But from there you shall seek יהוה your Elohim, and shall find, when you search for Him with all your heart1 and with all your being." Footnote: 1Yer. 29:13. (Deu 4:29) ...and you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage." (Deu 13:10) So they left and came to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. And the pursuers sought them in all the way, but did not find them. (Yos 2:22) “If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following יהוה, or if to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings on it, or if to make peace offerings on it, let יהוה Himself require it." (Yos 22:23) And see, as Varaq pursued Sisera, Yaʽĕl came out to meet him, and said to him, “Come, let me show you the man whom you are seeking.” And when he went into her tent, there lay Sisera, dead with the peg in the side of his head. (Ydg 4:22) And they said to each other, “Who has done this deed?” And when they had inquired and asked, they said, “Giḏʽon son of Yo’ash has done this deed.” (Ydg 6:29) However, his father and mother did not know that it was of יהוה, that He was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines were ruling over Yisra’ĕl. (Ydg 14:4) In those days there was no sovereign in Yisra’ĕl. And in those days the tribe of the Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in, for until that day all their inheritance among the tribes of Yisra’ĕl had not yet fallen to them. (Ydg 18:1) And Naʽomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, so that it is well with you?" (Rth 3:1) And the donkeys of Qish, father of Sha’ul, were lost. And Qish said to his son Sha’ul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys.” (1Sa 9:3) “When you leave me today, you shall find two men by Raḥĕl’s tomb in the border of Vinyamin at Tseltsaḥ, and they shall say to you, ‘The donkeys which you went to look for have been found. And see, your father has left the matters of the donkeys and is worrying about you, saying, “What shall I do for my son?” ’ (1Sa 10:2) And the uncle of Sha’ul asked him and his servant, “Where did you go?” And he said, “To look for the donkeys. And when we saw that they were nowhere to be found, we went to Shemu’ĕl.” (1Sa 10:14) Then he brought near the tribe of Vinyamin, by their clans, and the clan of Matri was taken, and Sha’ul son of Qish was taken. And when they sought him, he could not be found. (1Sa 10:21) “But now, your reign is not going to stand. יהוה shall seek for Himself a man after His own heart1, and יהוה shall command him to be leader over His people, because you have not guarded what יהוה commanded you.” Footnote: 1See Acts 13:22. (1Sa 13:14) And between the passes, by which Yonathan sought to go over to the outpost of the Philistines, there was an edge of a rock on one side and an edge of a rock on the other side. And the name of one was Votsĕts, and the name of the other Seneh. (1Sa 14:4) “Please, let our master command your servants who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skilled player on the lyre. And it shall be that when the evil spirit from Elohim is upon you, that he shall play with his hand, and you be well.” (1Sa 16:16) ...and Yehonathan declared to Dawiḏ, saying, “My father Sha’ul seeks to put you to death. And now, please be on your guard until morning, and dwell in secrecy, and hide." (1Sa 19:2) ...and Sha’ul sought to smite the spear through Dawiḏ, and into the wall, but he slipped away from the presence of Sha’ul, so he smote the spear into the wall. And Dawiḏ fled and escaped that night. (1Sa 19:10) And Dawiḏ fled from Nawith in Ramah, and went and said to Yehonathan, “What have I done? What is my crookedness, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” (1Sa 20:1) And Yehonathan made a covenant with the house of Dawiḏ, saying, “יהוה shall require it at the hand of the enemies of Dawiḏ.” (1Sa 20:16) “Remain with me, do not fear. For he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you are safe.” (1Sa 22:23) And Dawiḏ said, “Oh יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, Your servant has heard for certain that Sha’ul seeks to come to Qeʽilah to destroy the city for my sake." (1Sa 23:10) And Dawiḏ remained in the wilderness, in strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the Wilderness of Ziph. And Sha’ul sought him every day, but Elohim did not give him into his hand. (1Sa 23:14) And Dawiḏ saw that Sha’ul had come out to seek his life while Dawiḏ was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Ḥoresh. (1Sa 23:15) And Sha’ul and his men went to seek him, and they informed Dawiḏ, so he went down to the rock, and remained in the Wilderness of Maʽon. And when Sha’ul heard this, he pursued Dawiḏ in the Wilderness of Maʽon. (1Sa 23:25) So Sha’ul took three thousand chosen men from all Yisra’ĕl, and went to seek Dawiḏ and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. (1Sa 24:2) And Dawiḏ said to Sha’ul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘See, Dawiḏ seeks to do you evil’? (1Sa 24:9) “And now my master, as יהוה lives and as your being lives, since יהוה has withheld you from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies be as Nav̱al, even those seeking evil against my master." (1Sa 25:26) “And if a man rises to pursue you and seek your life, and the life of my master has been bound in the bundle of the living with יהוה your Elohim, then the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling." (1Sa 25:29) And Sha’ul rose up and went down to the Wilderness of Ziph, and with him three thousand chosen men of Yisra’ĕl, to seek Dawiḏ in the Wilderness of Ziph. (1Sa 26:2) “And now, do not let my blood fall to the earth before the face of יהוה. For the sovereign of Yisra’ĕl has come out to seek a flea, as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains.” (1Sa 26:20) And Dawiḏ said in his heart, “Now I shall perish by the hand of Sha’ul, some day. There is naught better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Sha’ul shall give up searching for me any longer in any part of Yisra’ĕl, and I shall escape out of his hand.” (1Sa 27:1) And it was reported to Sha’ul that Dawiḏ had fled to Gath, so he sought him no more. (1Sa 27:4) Sha’ul then said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, to go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Look, there is a woman who is a medium at Ěn Dor.” (1Sa 28:7) And Av̱nĕr had a word with the elders of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “In time past you were seeking for Dawiḏ to be sovereign over you." (2Sa 3:17) ...and brought the head of Ishvosheth to Dawiḏ at Ḥeḇron, and said to the sovereign, “See, the head of Ishbosheth, the son of Sha’ul your enemy, who sought your life. So יהוה has given my master the sovereign vengeance on Sha’ul and his seed this day.” (2Sa 4:8) “How much more, when wrong men have slain a righteous man in his own house on his bed, should I not now require his blood at your hand and remove you from the earth?” (2Sa 4:11) And the Philistines heard that they had anointed Dawiḏ sovereign over Yisra’ĕl, and all the Philistines went up to search for Dawiḏ, but Dawiḏ heard and went down to the stronghold. (2Sa 5:17) And Dawiḏ sought Elohim for the child, and Dawiḏ fasted and went in and spent all night lying on the ground. (2Sa 12:16) And Dawiḏ said to Av̱ishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life, and how much more now this Vinyamite? Leave him alone, and let him curse, for יהוה has spoken to him." (2Sa 16:11) ...and bring back all the people to you. When all return except the man whom you seek, all the people should be at peace.” (2Sa 17:3) And the servants of Av̱shalom came to the woman at the house and said, “Where are Aḥimaʽats and Yehonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have passed over the stream of water.” And they looked and did not find them, and returned to Yerushalayim. (2Sa 17:20) “I am of the peaceable and trustworthy ones in Yisra’ĕl. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Yisra’ĕl. Why do you swallow up the inheritance of יהוה?” (2Sa 20:19) And there was a scarcity of food in the days of Dawiḏ for three years, year after year. And Dawiḏ sought the face of יהוה, and יהוה answered, “Because of Sha’ul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Giv̱ʽonites.” (2Sa 21:1) The sovereign therefore called the Giv̱ʽonites and spoke to them. Now the Giv̱ʽonites were not of the children of Yisra’ĕl, but of the remnant of the Amorites. And the children of Yisra’ĕl had sworn protection to them, but Sha’ul had sought to kill them in his ardour for the children of Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah. (2Sa 21:2) So his servants said to him, “Let them seek for our master the sovereign a young woman, a maiden, and she shall stand before the sovereign and be his companion, and shall lie in your bosom, so that our master the sovereign gets warm.” (1Ki 1:2) And they sought for a lovely young woman in all the border of Yisra’ĕl, and found Av̱ishaḡ the Shunammite, and brought her to the sovereign. (1Ki 1:3) And Shimʽi rose up, and saddled his donkey, and went to Aḵish at Gath to look for his slaves. And Shimʽi went and brought his slaves from Gath. (1Ki 2:40) And all the earth sought the presence of Shelomoh to hear his wisdom, which Elohim had put in his heart. (1Ki 10:24) And Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me, that you are now seeking to go to your own land?” And he answered, “No, but please let me go.” (1Ki 11:22) And Shelomoh sought to kill Yarov̱ʽam, but Yarov̱ʽam rose up and fled to Mitsrayim, to Shishaq sovereign of Mitsrayim, and was in Mitsrayim until the death of Shelomoh. (1Ki 11:40) “As יהוה your Elohim lives, there is no nation or reign where my master has not sent to look for you." And when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made the reign or nation swear that they could not find you. (1Ki 18:10) And he said, “I have been very jealous for יהוה Elohim of hosts, for the children of Yisra’ĕl have forsaken Your covenant. They have thrown down Your altars, and they have slain Your prophets with the sword, and I am left, I alone, and they seek my life, to take it.” (1Ki 19:10) And he said, “I have been very jealous for יהוה Elohim of hosts, for the children of Yisra’ĕl have forsaken Your covenant. They have thrown down Your altars, and they have slain Your prophets with the sword, and I am left, I alone, and they seek my life, to take it.” (1Ki 19:14) And the sovereign of Yisra’ĕl called all the elders of the land, and said, “Please know and see the evil this one is seeking, for he sent to me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold, and I did not refuse him.” (1Ki 20:7) And they said to him, “Look, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest the Spirit of יהוה has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “Send no one.” (2Ki 2:16) But they pressed upon him till he was ashamed, and he said, “Send.” So they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. (2Ki 2:17) And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and let me bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Shomeron. (2Ki 6:19) And they went to the entrance of Geḏor, as far as the east side of the valley, to look for pasture for their flocks... (1Ch 4:39) And when the Philistines heard that Dawiḏ had been anointed sovereign over all Yisra’ĕl, all the Philistines went up to seek Dawiḏ. And Dawiḏ heard and went out against them. (1Ch 14:8) Boast in His set-apart Name, let the hearts of those seeking יהוה rejoice! (1Ch 16:10) Seek יהוה and His strength, seek His face continually! (1Ch 16:11) And Yo’av̱ answered, “יהוה does add to His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my master the sovereign, are they not all my master’s servants? Why does my master seek to do this? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Yisra’ĕl?” (1Ch 21:3) ...and My people upon whom My Name is called, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I shall hear from the heavens, and forgive their sin and heal their land." (2Ch 7:14) And all the sovereigns of the earth sought the presence of Shelomoh to hear his wisdom, which Elohim had put in his heart. (2Ch 9:23) And after the Lĕwites left, those from all the tribes of Yisra’ĕl, such as set their heart to seek יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, came to Yerushalayim to offer to יהוה Elohim of their fathers. (2Ch 11:16) “But in their distress they turned to יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and they sought Him, and He was found by them." (2Ch 15:4) And all Yehuḏah rejoiced concerning the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their being. And He was found by them, and יהוה gave them rest all around. (2Ch 15:15) And Yehuḏah gathered to inquire of יהוה, even from all the cities of Yehuḏah they came to seek יהוה. (2Ch 20:4) So he searched for Aḥazyahu, and they caught him while he was hiding in Shomeron, and brought him to Yĕhu, and put him to death, then buried him, for they said, “He is the son of Yehoshaphat, who sought יהוה with all his heart.” And there was none in the house of Aḥazyahu strong enough to reign." (2Ch 22:9) These sought their register among those who were counted by genealogy, but they were not found, so they were barred from the priesthood as defiled. (Ezr 2:62) I then proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahawa, to humble ourselves before our Elohim, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions, (Ezr 8:21) ...for I was ashamed to ask of the sovereign a group of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the sovereign, saying, “The hand of our Elohim is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” (Ezr 8:22) So we fasted and prayed to our Elohim for this, and He answered our prayer. (Ezr 8:23) And the sovereign said to me, “What are you asking for?” Then I prayed to the Elohim of the heavens... (Neh 2:4) And Sanvallat the Ḥoronite and Tov̱iyah the Ammonite official heard of it, and to them it was evil, a great evil that a man had come to seek good for the children of Yisra’ĕl. (Neh 2:10) And they said, “Let us give it back, and ask no more from them, we do as you say.” Then I called the priests, and made them swear to do according to this word. (Neh 5:12) And that which was prepared for me daily was one ox and six choice sheep, and birds were prepared for me, and once every ten days plenty of all kinds of wine. And in spite of this I did not seek the governor’s food, because the bondage was heavy on this people. (Neh 5:18) These sought their register among those who were counted by genealogy, but it was not found, so they were barred from the priesthood as defiled. (Neh 7:64) And at the dedication of the wall of Yerushalayim they sought out the Lĕwites in all their places, to bring them to Yerushalayim to perform the dedication with gladness, and with thanksgivings, and with singing, cymbals, harps and lyres. (Neh 12:27) Then the sovereign’s servants who attended him said, “Let lovely young maidens be sought for the sovereign..." (Est 2:2) And when the turn came for Estĕr, the daughter of Av̱ihayil the uncle of Mordeḵai, who had taken her as his daughter, to come in to the sovereign, she sought no matter but what Hĕḡai the sovereign’s eunuch, guardian of the women, advised. And Estĕr found favor in the eyes of all who saw her. (Est 2:15) In those days, while Mordeḵai sat within the sovereign’s gate, two of the sovereign’s eunuchs, Viḡthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, were wroth and sought to lay hands on Sovereign Aḥashwĕrosh. (Est 2:21) And when the matter was searched into, it was confirmed, and both were impaled on a stake. And it was written in the book of the annals in the presence of the sovereign. (Est 2:23) But it was despicable in his eyes to lay hands on Mordeḵai alone, for they had informed him of the people of Mordeḵai. Therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Yahuḏim who were throughout all the reign of Aḥashwĕrosh, the people of Mordeḵai. (Est 3:6) And he gave him a copy of the written decree to destroy them, which was given at Shushan, to show it to Estĕr and explain it to her, and to command her to go in to the sovereign to make supplication to him, and plead before him for her people. (Est 4:8) And it was found written that Mordeḵai had told of Viḡthana and Teresh, two of the sovereign’s eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on Sovereign Aḥashwĕrosh. (Est 6:2) And the sovereign, arising in his wrath from the feast of wine, went into the palace garden. And Haman remained before Sovereigness Estĕr, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil had been decided against him by the sovereign. (Est 7:7) The Yahuḏim assembled in their cities, throughout all the provinces of Sovereign Aḥashwĕrosh to lay hands on those who sought their evil. And no one stood against them, because fear of them fell upon all people. (Est 9:2) ...that You should seek for my crookedness and search out my sin?" (Yov 10:6) Till when, oh you sons of men, would you turn my esteem to shame, would you love emptiness, seek falsehood? Selah. (Psa 4:2) This is the generation of those who seek Him; Yaʽaqov̱, who seek His face. Selah. (Psa 24:6) One matter I asked of יהוה – this I seek: To dwell in the House of יהוה all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of יהוה, and to inquire in His Hĕḵal. (Psa 27:4) To my heart You have said, “Seek My face.” Your face, יהוה, I seek. (Psa 27:8) Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psa 34:14) Let those be ashamed and blush who seek my life; let those be turned back and abashed who plot evil to me. (Psa 35:4) I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his seed begging bread. (Psa 37:25) The wrong one is watching for the righteous, and is seeking to slay him. (Psa 37:32) Yet he passed away, and see, he was not; and I sought him, but he was not found. (Psa 37:36) And those seeking my life lay a snare; and those seeking my evil have spoken of destruction, and utter deceit all day long. (Psa 38:12) Let those who seek to destroy my life be ashamed and abashed altogether; let those who are desiring my evil be driven back and put to shame. (Psa 40:14) Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let those who love Your deliverance always say, “יהוה be exalted!” (Psa 40:16) For strangers have risen up against me, and cruel men have sought after my life; they have not set Elohim before them. Selah. (Psa 54:3) But those who seek to destroy my life, go into the lower parts of the earth. (Psa 63:9) Let not those who wait for You, Oh Master יהוה of hosts, be ashamed because of me; let not those who seek You be humbled because of me, Oh Elohim of Yisra’ĕl. (Psa 69:6) Let those who seek my life be ashamed and abashed, let those who are desiring my evil be turned back and humiliated. (Psa 70:2) Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; and let those who love Your deliverance always say, “Let Elohim be made great!” (Psa 70:4) Let those who are adversaries of my life be ashamed, consumed, let those who seek my evil be covered with reproach and confusion. (Psa 71:13) My tongue, too, utters Your righteousness all day long; for those who have been seeking my evil have been put to shame, have become abashed. (Psa 71:24) Fill their faces with shame, and let them seek Your Name1, Oh יהוה. Footnote: 1See also 44:21-22, 74:18, Isa. 52:5, Yer. 23:26-27. (Psa 83:16) Oh Elohim, the proud have risen against me, and a band of dreaded men have sought my life, and have not set You before them. (Psa 86:14) The young lions are roaring for prey, and seeking their food from Ěl. (Psa 104:21) Make your boast in His set-apart Name; let the hearts rejoice of those seeking יהוה. (Psa 105:3) Seek יהוה and His strength; seek His face always. (Psa 105:4) I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commands. (Psa 119:176) For the sake of the House of יהוה our Elohim I seek your good. (Psa 122:9) If you seek her as silver, and search for her as hidden treasures... (Pro 2:4) He who earnestly seeks good, seeks what is pleasing; but to him who seeks evil, It comes to him. (Pro 11:27) A scoffer shall seek wisdom but find none, but knowledge is swift to him who has understanding. (Pro 14:6) The heart of the understanding one seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly. (Pro 15:14) He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. (Pro 17:9) An evil one seeks only rebellion, so a cruel messenger is sent against him. (Pro 17:11) He who loves transgression loves strife, he who exalts his door seeks destruction. (Pro 17:19) The separatist seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound wisdom. (Pro 18:1) The heart of the understanding one gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. (Pro 18:15) Gaining treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, heading for death. (Pro 21:6) “They smote me, I was not sick! They beat me, I did not know! When shall I wake up? Let me seek it again!” (Pro 23:35) Evil men do not understand right-ruling, but those who seek יהוה understand all. (Pro 28:5) Bloodthirsty men hate the perfect, and seek the life of the straight. (Pro 29:10) Many seek the face of a ruler, but right-ruling for man comes from יהוה. (Pro 29:26) ...a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away... (Ecc 3:6) Whatever is has already been, and what shall be has been before. But Elohim seeks out what has been pursued. (Ecc 3:15) I have turned round, even my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom and a conclusion, to know the wrongness of folly, even of foolishness and madness. (Ecc 7:25) ...which my being still seeks but have not found: I have found one man among a thousand, but a woman among all these I have not found. (Ecc 7:28) "Truly, this only I have found: that Elohim made man straight, but they have sought out many devices.” (Ecc 7:29) ...then I saw all the work of Elohim, that man is unable to find out the work that has been done under the sun. For though a man labors to seek, yet he does not find it. And even though a wise one claims to know, he is unable to find it. (Ecc 8:17) Qoheleth sought to find out words of delight, and words of truth, rightly written. (Ecc 12:10) On my bed at night I sought the beloved of my being; I sought him, but I did not find him. (Son 3:1) “Come, let me arise, and go about the city, in the streets and in the broad places I seek the beloved of my being.” I sought him, but I did not find him. (Son 3:2) I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away, had gone. My being went out when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. (Son 5:6) “Where has your beloved gone, oh fairest among women? Where has your beloved turned aside? Let us seek him with you.” (Son 6:1) “When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courtyards?" (Isa 1:12) He who is too poor for such an offering chooses a tree that does not rot. He seeks for himself a skilled craftsman to prepare a carved image that does not totter. (Isa 40:20) “You seek them but do not find them, those who struggle with you. Those who fight you are as non-existent, as naught. (Isa 41:12) “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues have failed for thirst, I, יהוה, do answer them; I, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, do not forsake them." (Isa 41:17) “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. I have not said to the seed of Yaʽaqov̱, ‘Seek Me in vain.’ I am יהוה, speaking righteousness, declaring matters that are straight." (Isa 45:19) “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, seeking יהוה: Look to the rock you were hewn from, and to the hole of the pit you were dug from." (Isa 51:1) “I have let Myself be inquired of, not by those who asked; I was found, not by those who sought Me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am,’ to a nation not calling on My Name." (Isa 65:1) ...a wild donkey used to the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the desire of her being – in her time of mating, who turns her away? All those who seek her need not weary themselves; in her month they find her. (Yer 2:24) “Why do you embellish your way to seek love? Therefore you have even taught the evil women your ways." (Yer 2:33) And when you are ravaged, what would you do? Though you put on crimson, though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with paint, you adorn yourself in vain. Your lovers despise you, they seek your life. (Yer 4:30) “Diligently search the streets of Yerushalayim, and please look, and know and seek in her open places if you find a man, if there is anyone doing right-ruling, seeking the truth, then I shall pardon her." (Yer 5:1) “Therefore thus said יהוה concerning the men of Anathoth who are seeking your life, saying, ‘Do not prophesy in the Name of יהוה, lest you die by our hand...’ (Yer 11:21) “And I shall pour out the counsel of Yehuḏah and Yerushalayim in this place, and I shall make them fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hands of those who seek their lives. And I shall give their corpses as meat for the birds of the heavens and for the beasts of the earth." (Yer 19:7) “And I shall make them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and eat one another’s flesh in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their lives distress them.” (Yer 19:9) “And afterward,” declares יהוה, “I give Tsiḏqiyahu sovereign of Yehuḏah, his servants and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence and the sword and the scarcity of food, into the hand of Nev̱uḵaḏretstsar sovereign of Bav̱el, into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life. And he shall smite them with the edge of the sword. He shall not pardon them, nor spare nor have compassion.” (Yer 21:7) ...and I shall give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear, into the hand of Nev̱uḵaḏretstsar sovereign of Bav̱el and the hand of the Chaldeans." (Yer 22:25) And when Yehoyaqim the sovereign, with all his mighty men and all the heads, heard his words, the sovereign sought to put him to death. But Uriyahu heard of it, and was afraid and fled, and went to Mitsrayim. (Yer 26:21) ‘And you shall seek Me, and shall find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart'. 1 Footnote: 1Dt. 4:29, Yoel 2:12. (Yer 29:13) ‘And I shall give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. And their corpses shall be for food to the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the earth.' (Yer 34:20) ‘And I shall give Tsiḏqiyahu sovereign of Yehuḏah and his heads into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life, and into the hand of the sovereign of Bav̱el’s army that has withdrawn from you.' (Yer 34:21) But Tsiḏqiyahu the sovereign swore secretly to Yirmeyahu, saying, “As יהוה lives, who made us this life, I do not put you to death, nor do I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life.” (Yer 38:16) “Thus said יהוה, ‘See, I am giving Pharaoh Ḥophra sovereign of Mitsrayim into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Tsiḏqiyahu sovereign of Yehuḏah into the hand of Nev̱uḵaḏretstsar sovereign of Bav̱el, his enemy who sought his life.” (Yer 44:30) “And do you seek great matters for yourself? Do not seek them, for look, I am bringing evil on all flesh,” declares יהוה. "But I shall give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” (Yer 45:5) “And I shall give them into the hand of those who seek their lives, into the hand of Nev̱uḵaḏretstsar sovereign of Bav̱el and into the hand of his servants. And afterward it shall be inhabited as in the days of old” declares יהוה. (Yer 46:26) ‘And I shall break Ěylam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. And I shall bring evil upon them, my burning displeasure’ declares יהוה. ‘And I shall send the sword after them until I have consumed them.' (Yer 49:37) “In those days and at that time,” declares יהוה, “the children of Yisra’ĕl shall come, they and the children of Yehuḏah together, weeping as they come, and seek יהוה their Elohim." (Yer 50:4) “In those days and at that time,” declares יהוה, “the crookedness of Yisra’ĕl shall be searched for, but there shall be none; and the sin of Yehuḏah, but none shall be found. For I shall pardon those whom I leave as a remnant." (Yer 50:20) All her people are sighing, seeking bread. They have given their precious matters for food, to bring back life. “See, O יהוה, and look, for I have become despised.” (Lam 1:11) I called for my lovers, but they deceived me. My priests and my elders breathed their last in the city, while they sought food to bring back their life. (Lam 1:19) “When I say to the wrong1, ‘You shall certainly die,’ and you have not warned him, nor spoken to warn the wrong from his wrong way, to save his life, that same wrong man shall die in his crookedness, and his blood I require at your hand." Footnote: 1This passage is almost the same as in 18:20-32 and 33:8-20. (Eze 3:18) “And when a righteous one turns from his righteousness and shall do unrighteousness, when I have put a stumbling-block before him, he shall die. Because you did not warn him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done is not remembered, and his blood I require at your hand." (Eze 3:20) ‘Destruction shall come. And they shall seek peace, but there is none.' (Eze 7:25) ‘Calamity upon calamity shall come, and report shall be upon report. And they shall seek a vision from a prophet. But the teaching has perished from the priest, and counsel from the elders!' (Eze 7:26) “And I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the breach before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it – but I did not find one!" (Eze 22:30) ‘I make you a horror, and let you be no more. And you are sought for, but never found again,’ declares the Master יהוה. (Eze 26:21) “When I say to the wrong, ‘Oh wrong one, you shall certainly die!’ and you have not spoken to warn the wrong from his way, that wrong one shall die in his crookedness, and his blood I require at your hand." (Eze 33:8) “You have not strengthened the weak, nor have you healed the sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back the straying, nor sought what was lost; but you have ruled them with might and harshness." (Eze 34:4) “My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill. And My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.” (Eze 34:6) “I shall seek out the lost and bring back the strayed. And I shall bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick, but the fat and the strong I shall destroy. I shall feed them with right-ruling.” (Eze 34:16) But Dani’ĕl laid it upon his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the sovereign’s food, nor with the wine which he drank. So he asked permission from the chief of the eunuchs not to defile himself. (Dan 1:8) And in any word of wisdom and understanding about which the sovereign examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians, the astrologers, who were in all his reign. (Dan 1:20) And it came to be, when I, Dani’ĕl, had seen the vision, that I sought understanding, and see, before me stood one having the appearance of a mighty man. (Dan 8:15) So I set my face toward יהוה the Elohim to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes. (Dan 9:3) “And she shall pursue her lovers but not overtake them, and shall seek them but not find them. Then she shall say, ‘Let me go and return to my first husband, for then it was better for me than now.’ " (Hos 2:7) Afterward the children of Yisra’ĕl shall return, and seek יהוה their Elohim, and Dawiḏ their sovereign, and fear יהוה and His goodness, in the latter days. (Hos 3:5) “With their flocks and herds they go to seek יהוה, but do not find Him – He has withdrawn from them." (Hos 5:6) “I shall go, I shall return to My place, until they confess their guilt and seek My face, in their distress diligently search for Me, and say..." (Hos 5:15) “And the Excellency of Yisra’ĕl did witness to his face, but they did not return to יהוה their Elohim, nor did they seek Him for all this." (Hos 7:10) “And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east – they shall diligently search, seeking the Word of יהוה, but they shall not find it. 1Footnote: 1Yer. 5:13, Hos. 8:12, Ezek. 34:3-10. (Amos 8:12) H1875 דּרשׁ dârash daw-rash' A primitive root; properly to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication to seek or ask; specifically to worship: - ask, X at all, care for, X diligently, inquire, make inquisition, [necro-] mancer, question, require, search, seek [for, our... |
Is it Scriptural to pray for the dead?For those of you who believe it is scriptural to pray for the dead, or ask saints that have passed on to pray for you such as many in the Catholic religion believe, I decided to compile an article that would address this issue. Is it scriptural to pray for those that have passed on? Is it scriptural to ask those believers who have passed on to pray for you? Deu 18:9 "When you come into the land which ???? your Elohim is giving you, do not learn to do according to the abominations of those gentiles. Deu 18:10 "Let no one be found among you who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practises divination, or a user of magic, or one who interprets omens or a sorcerer, Deu 18:11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. Deu 18:12 "For whoever does these are an abomination to ????, and because of these abominations ???? your Elohim drives them out from before you. Lew 19:31 'Do not turn to mediums, and do not seek after spiritists to be defiled by them. I am ???? your Elohim. Lew 20:6 'And the being who turns to mediums, and to spiritists, to go whoring after them, I shall set My face against that being and cut him off from the midst of his people 1Ch 10:13 Thus Sha'ul died for his trespass which he had trespassed against ????, because he did not guard the Word of ????, and also for asking a medium for to make inquiry, 1Ch 10:14 and did not inquire of ????. So He put him to death, and turned the reign over to Dawi? son of Yishai. Praying For The Dead Can the living help the dead by praying for them? According to Catholic doctrine, they can: "Communion with the dead. In full consciousness of this communication of the whole Mystical Body of Yahushua, the Church in its pilgrim members, from the earliest days of the Christian religion, has honored with great respect the memory of the dead; and because it is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins she offers her suffrages for them. Our prayer for them is capable not only of helping them, but also of making their intercession for us effective." Pg. 250, #958 Three statements here contradict the Scriptures. Let's look at each: 1. "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead." According to YHWH's Word, it is neither holy nor wholesome to pray for the dead. Christians are instructed to pray for the living, but not one example exists of true Christians praying for the dead. This is another tradition of men. 2. Praying for the dead can help loose them from their sins. Here is a tradition built upon a tradition. The Scriptures never suggest that this statement is true. As we have already learned, one must be loosed from their sins before death. 3. Our prayers make their intercession for us effective. Like building blocks, they keep piling, tradition on top of tradition, all without any scriptural foundation. Now, we have reached a peak, where our prayers are supposedly capable of: "...making their intercession for us effective." The obvious question is: Why do we need others interceding for us? Isn't it enough to have YHWH the Son interceding for us? Does the Creator of the Universe need the help of mortal men and women to persuade the Father on our behalf? What a degrading attitude towards Yahushua. The Catholic position insults Elohim by portraying Him as an incapable, powerless bystander who needs the help of anyone He can grab to persuade the Father. This is not the picture of Yahushua presented in the Scriptures. Yahushua declared of Himself: "...all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matt 28:18) Here's another Scriptural portrait of Yahushua: "Which He (YHWH) wrought in Messiah, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the congragation..." (Ephesians 1:20-22) How different this is from the Catholic picture of Yahushua, which reduces Elohim to a spiritual weakling devoid of power and authority. Dear Catholic friend, Yahushua does not need help from anyone! He is well able to do the job: "Wherefore He (Yahushua) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto YHWH by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25) Before you pray for another deceased loved one, please understand that these are all man-made rules. YHWH never asked you to pray for the dead, nor did He promised it would do any good. Some have always assumed that all these rules were somehow coming from YHWH. But they' re not! Read the Scriptures and see for yourself. The Catechism teaches traditions of men, not commands of YHWH. The Same Pattern Surely, you have noticed that Yahushua has taken yet another serious demotion. From the One and only Divine Intercessor at the Father's right hand, Yahushua is hurled down into the crowd of dead humans and is relegated to being one of many intercessors. Why does the Catholic religion keep doing this to Elohim Yahushua? Conclusion Once again, you are faced with several important decisions: Will you continue praying for the dead, knowing that it is a tradition of men and not a command of YHWH? Will you cling to a doctrine which degrades Elohim Yahushua so that church tradition can be exalted? Will you knowingly reject the Word of YHWH to follow man' s traditions? These are decisions you must make. As you ponder these things, remember the words of Yahushua: "But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matt 15:9) Catholics Commit Idolatry by Praying to Dead Saints Rome teaches that Catholic faithful are to honor and invoke the saints in heaven, who offer prayers to YHWH for man. 956. "The intercession of the saints. 'Being more closely united to Messiah, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.... They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between YHWH and men, Messiah Yahushua.... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped.'[LG 49; cf. 1 Tim 2:5 .] ?" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, Doubleday:New York, © 1994 United States Catholic Conference, Inc. - Libreria Editrice Vaticana, p. 271) This is how it works, more or less: The Catholic on earth prays to the spirit of someone the pope (at least in latter times) has declared to have lived an exemplar life of faith and who now resides in heaven. Then, the spirit of the dead saint prays to YHWH on behalf of the earthbound Catholic. It is something like that old kids' game called "Pass It On." Have you ever wondered how the saint in heaven can be assured that the person seeking his intercession is playing straight? Or does he just intercede for anyone who asks, even Satanists, atheists, pranksters, etc? Think about it. If a voodoo priestess calls upon the name of Yohn the Baptist - who must surely be residing in Heaven - does Yohn just dash off a quick intercessory prayer for that priestess' intentions? Perhaps there is a heaven-based private detective agency that does background checks on everyone who seeks help from the Catholic saints. The Scriptures teach that YHWH is omnipresent - that He exists everywhere all the time (Psalm 139:7-12). That YHWH is omniscient we also know from Scriptures (1 Yohn 3:20). These are some of the attributes of YHWH. I know of no passage in Scripture where I might read that the spirits in heaven exist everywhere and know everything. Rome, of course, has found a way to twist a passage of Scripture to support her idea that these spirits can keep abreast of events on earth. "That the saints know something of what passes on earth and can sympathize with us, may be inferred from what our Savior says in Matt 22:30i, that the saints "shall be as the angels of YHWH in heaven," and from what He says in Luke 25:7-10, "I say unto you, there shall be joy before the angels of YHWH upon one sinner doing penance." If the angels see a sinner doing penance, the saints who are like angels of YHWH can do the same." (C. F. Donovan, Our Faith and the Facts, Patrick L. Baine:Chicago (1927), p. 322: w/Nihil Obstat and Imprimitur) There you go. To support prayers to saints, one RCC theologian takes a proof text out of context and forces it to match his need. Then he misquotes or mistranslates another passage and then bends it to his will as well. Finally, he draws a false parallel between angels and the souls of the dead. One more example of Roman Catholic eisegesis. Let's break it down and see if the Scriptures indeed do support "father" Donovan's arguments. The verse from Matt, in context, reads as follows in the KJV: Matt 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Matt 22:24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Matt 22:25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: Matt 22:26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. Matt 22:27 And last of all the woman died also. Matt 22:28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. Matt 22:29 Yahushua answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of YHWH. Matt 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of YHWH in heaven. Matt 22:31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by YHWH, saying, Matt 22:32 I am not the Elohim of Avraham, and the Elohim of Isaac, and the Elohim of Yacov? YHWH is not the Elohim of the dead, but of the living. Matt 22:33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at His doctrine. Yahushua was having one of THOSE days. First, the Pharisees had sent their disciples to try to trick Him into making a declaration that would be considered treasonous by Roman authorities. That didn't work. Then the Sadducees thought to snare Him with a trick question - and that is what the above passage records. When reading the passage, one should bear in mind that the Sadducees did not believe in things supernatural; things like the resurrection of the dead and the existence of angels. The loaded question is detailed in verses 25-28. I suppose the cunning Sadducees figured they'd chivvy Yahushua into a situation where He would be forced to admit there is no resurrection of the dead. Didn't work, as we see in the succeeding verses. Yahushua slammed them hard in verse 29, when He told them the premise upon which their question was based was flawed. And the reason for their error? Crystal clear. "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of YHWH." And this is, of course, the same charge that can be laid against "father" Donovan, whose teaching on this issue is certified to contain nothing contrary to Roman Catholic doctrine. Yahushua, being the perfect Teacher, went on to explain their error to the Sadducees - and to us. In the process, He exposes another of their false beliefs. Angels are deathless creatures, who do not propagate and therefore have no need for marriage. In the resurrection, the saints will have those same characteristics. The proof text cited by Donovan in no way supports the saints "know something of what passes on earth and can sympathize with us." Roman Catholic eisegesis of a verse taken out of context. But what about the proof texts from Luke? Let's first read them, again in context: Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him. Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This Man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luke 15:3 And He spake this parable unto them, saying, Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? Luke 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luke 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? Luke 15:9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of YHWH over one sinner that repenteth. Did you notice? There is no mention of anyone doing penance in either verse 7 or verse 10. I went to the Catholic Douay-Rheims Bible, the Renewed Testament of which was "Translated from the Latin Vulgate and diligently compared with the original Greek" back in 1582. There, I found these renderings for verses 7 and 10: Luke 15:7 I say to you, that even so there shall be joy in heaven upon one sinner that doth penance, more than upon ninety-nine just who need not penance. Luke 15:10 So I say to you, there shall be joy before the angels of YHWH upon one sinner doing penance. Wow! Now we're talking penance. Let's see now. The translations in the KJV were made from available Greek texts. The Rheims Renewed Testament was translated from the Latin Vulgate, which was translated from Greek texts, and then was compared with whatever Greek texts were available in Rheims in 1582. I don't read Latin, so it would serve no useful purpose for me to look at the verses in that version. I did go to the 21st edition of Eberhard Nestle's Novum Testamentum Graece to see how the verses read in that document. Since this BBS does not support a Greek alphabet, I shall simply provide a literal, word-for-word translation, in the original word order. Luke 15:7 I tell you that thus joy in - heaven will be over one sinner repenting than over ninety-nine just men who no need have of repentance. Luke 15:10 So I tell you there is joy before the angels - of YHWH over one sinner repenting. Oops! Sure seems as though those folks who worked on the Rheims Renewed Testament were not terribly diligent when comparing their translation of the Vulgate with the original Greek. Tsk. Tsk. For a more detailed examination of these passages, I invite the reader to Robertson's Word Pictures in the Renewed Testament, Volume II, pages 204-7; Baker Book House edition. But for now, back to "father" Donovan's teaching: The verses from Luke cited by Donovan are drawn from a larger account of Yahushua reproaching the Pharisees. The high and mighty Pharisees were increasingly upset by the popularity of Yahushua's message with the tax collectors and outcasts of society. Yahushua was aware of their grumbling, so He used parables to rebuke them for their pious self-righteousness. In verse 4, He describes how YHWH takes the initiative in seeking sinners. This was the opposite of what "rabbis" were teaching: that YHWH would receive sinners who sought His forgiveness with sufficient earnestness (Sounds a lot like what the RCC teaches, doesn't it?). Verse 7 and verse 10 speak to joy over the return of the lost. The "joy in Heaven" mentioned in verse 7 refers to the joy of YHWH Himself. On earth, the Pharisees were complaining (see verse 2), but in Heaven there was great joy with YHWH and among the angels. The heavenly joy resulted from the repentance of those sinners who responded to Yahushua's message, as opposed to those who think themselves righteous and have no need to repent. Look again at verse 6. The shepherd is the one who is joyful at the recovery of his lost sheep and it is the shepherd who calls his friends to share his good news with them. In verse 9, it is the woman who found her lost coin who is filled with joy and who gathers her friends and neighbors to tell them of her good news. In neither parable do the friends and neighbors have any reason to be joyful until they are informed of the good fortune of one who recovered what was lost. Think about the teaching. Who is symbolized by the shepherd and the woman and who are the lost? It is fallen man who has strayed from the fold and it is Elohim YHWH Who feels joy when one of His lost ones returns. The angels in heaven are like the friends and neighbors in the parables; until Elohim shares His joy with them, there is no reason to believe they have any idea what is going on with the lost. Context. Context. Context. Donovan provides another pseudo-scriptural support for the idea that saints are aware of happenings on earth: "Moshe, when with YHWH on the mountain, far away and out of sight, was allowed to know that his people had fallen into idolatry. He could see what was passing elsewhere and could pray to YHWH for them. It is only natural to suppose the saints can do the same. Those blessed souls in heaven, who are bound to us by ties of nature and grace, must have a sincere desire to help us in our necessities. We believe that the Blessed Virgin and the Saints enjoy the power of interceding for us with YHWH, a privilege bestowed upon them by Yahushua." (Donovan, Op. cit.) Wrong again. Donovan informs his Catholic readers that Moshe, while up on the mountain top with YHWH, was empowered to see what was happening down below. He then builds on the basis of this "power" of Moshe by claiming it is "natural to suppose the Saints can do the same." I confess that for me it is not "natural to suppose" any such thing. The scriptural account of Moshe's visit with Elohim YHWH atop Mt. Horeb is long and complex and one that I had to refresh myself on. So, I carefully read again Exodus chapters 19 through 32 to see whether the "priest" was correct. I found nothing to support the idea that Moshe was able to see "what was passing elsewhere." What I did find was that YHWH TOLD Moses what was passing elsewhere. And that is very much different from the Catholic teaching Donovan provides: Exodus 32:7 And Elohim said unto Moshe, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: Exodus 32:8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy elohims, O YIsrael, which have brought thee up out of the land of Mitsrayim. I checked the Douay-Rheims Tanakh and Exodus 32:7,8 reads essentially the same as my KJV. Donovan's book carries the Nihil Obstat and Imprimitur, so we are assured that it has been reviewed by ecclesiastical authorities and was determined to contain nothing contrary to Roman Catholic doctrine. This must be an assurance that what Donovan wrote above at least parallels official RCC doctrine. If this is so, then Rome is wrong. Period. The arguments and Scriptures the RCC uses to support the fantasy that the spirits of dead know what is going on - to some degree at least - and are available to intercede on behalf of the Catholic faithful still living on earth don't work. The premise is false. Believers don't need to make contact with spirits of the dead to seek their intercession with YHWH Almighty. As children of YHWH, members of His family, we have the right to go boldly before the throne of grace with our petitions. We can appeal to our heavenly Father directly: Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Yahushua the Son of YHWH, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. First, the Scriptures are clear that there is one Mediator between man and YHWH, our Elohim Yahushua - 1 Timothy 2:5. Our Elohim lives forever to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). He tells us that whatever we ask Him in His name, He will do it (Yohn 14:13-14). Why would we possibly want to make our petitions to a mere saint, when we can and are commanded to make them to our Elohim Himself. That is like seeking permission from a sergeant, when our Father is the general. I think it is an offense to YHWH not to come to Him as our loving Father. Also, Shaul got into a great deal of trouble when he tried to consult the dead saint, Shemuel (1 Shemuel 28). If the Scriptures provide us with all things necessary for life and righteousness (2 Kepha 1:1-4), and with them the man of YHWH is thoroughly equipped for every good word (2 Timothy 3:14-17), then why would we employ something that the Scriptures do not speak of, but does speak against? |