Lexical Summary euchomai: To pray, to wish, to vow Original Word: εὔχομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pray, will, wish. Middle voice of a primary verb; to wish; by implication, to pray to God -- pray, will, wish. HELPS Word-studies 2172 eú [2172 (eúxomai) is the root of the chief NT term for "praying" (4336/proseu NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to pray NASB Translation pray (3), wish (1), wished (1), would wish (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2172: εὔχομαιεὔχομαι; imperfect ηὐχόμην (Romans 9:3) and εὐχόμην (Acts 27:29 T Tr, see εὐδοκέω at the beginning (cf. Veitch, under the word; Tdf. Proleg., p. 121)); (1 aorist middle εὐξάμην Acts 26:29 Tdf., where others read the optative ἐυχαιμην; deponent verb, cf. Winer's Grammar, § 38, 7); 1. to pray to God (the Sept. in this sense for הִתְפַּלֵּל and עָתַר): τῷ Θεῷ (as very often in classical Greek from Homer down (cf. Winers Grammar, 212 (199); Buttmann, 177 (154))), followed by the accusative with an infinitive, Acts 26:29; πρός τόν Θεόν (Xenophon, mem. 1, 3, 2; symp. 4, 55; often in the Sept.), followed by the accusative with infinitive 2 Corinthians 13:7; ὑπέρ with the genitive of person, for one, James 5:16 where L WH text Tr marginal reading προσεύχεσθε (Xenophon, mem. 2, 2, 10). (Synonym: see αἰτέω, at the end) 2. to wish: τί, 2 Corinthians 13:9; followed by the accusative with an infinitive 3 John 1:2 (others, adhere to the religious sense, to pray, pray for, in both the preceding passages); Acts 27:29; ηὐχόμην (on this use of the imperfect cf. Winers Grammar, 283 (266); Buttmann, § 139, 15; (Lightfoot on Philemon 1:13)) εἶναι, I could wish to be, Romans 9:3. (Compare: προσεύχομαι.) Strong’s Greek 2172 (εὔχομαι) marks an earnest heart-attitude of petition or desire, whether directed to God in prayer or expressed as a fervent wish for others. Across seven New Testament occurrences the term spans intercession, pastoral concern, crisis supplication, and evangelistic longing, showing prayer to be integral to apostolic life and doctrine. Old Testament Background In the Septuagint εὔχομαι often renders Hebrew verbs for prayer (notably פלל and שאל), situating it within Israel’s covenantal dialogue with the LORD. Examples include Genesis 28:20 and Numbers 21:7, where Jacob and Moses voice vows or supplications. Thus the New Testament writers inherit a vocabulary already saturated with covenant meaning: prayer is relational, covenantal, and oriented toward God’s redemptive purposes. New Testament Usage 1. Romans 9:3 – Paul’s sacrificial yearning: “For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own kinsmen according to the flesh.” Here εὔχομαι exposes the apostle’s willingness to bear loss for Israel’s salvation, mirroring Messiah-like self-giving love (compare Exodus 32:32; John 15:13). 2. 2 Corinthians 13:7, 9 – Apostolic intercession for sanctification: “Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong…” (13:7) “…our prayer is for your perfection.” (13:9) Paul’s pastoral leadership is expressed through continual petition for moral integrity and maturity within the church. 3. Acts 26:29 – Evangelistic plea before rulers: “Paul replied, ‘Short time or long, I pray to God that not only you but all who hear me today may become what I am, except for these chains.’” The term frames evangelism itself as prayerful dependence upon God to convert hearers, even within hostile judicial settings. 4. Acts 27:29 – Crisis prayer at sea: “Fearing that we would run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daybreak.” Sailors and prisoners alike instinctively turn Godward in extremity, underscoring humanity’s innate recognition of divine sovereignty in peril. 5. James 5:16 – Mutual, effectual prayer within the body: “Therefore 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 and produces wonderful results.” The imperative εὔχεσθε grounds communal confession and healing in fervent, righteous intercession. 6. 3 John 1:2 – Personal well-being petition: “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as your soul also prospers.” Spiritual and physical welfare are linked, showing pastoral concern for holistic prosperity under God’s care. Patterns and Theology • Direction: While εὔχομαι can denote a mere wish (Romans 9:3), six of seven usages are expressly God-ward, confirming prayer’s ultimate orientation. Historical Church Understanding Early patristic writers echoed this spectrum. Ignatius of Antioch writes, “I pray (εὔχομαι) that I may not only be called a Christian, but found one,” reflecting martyr-hope shaped by New Testament diction. Later, liturgical prayers retained the verb in petitions for rulers and for the sick, illustrating continuity in intercession for spiritual and temporal needs. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Intercessory Priority: Leaders modeled by Paul are to “struggle on behalf” of the flock in prayer (Colossians 4:12), aiming at ethical and doctrinal soundness (2 Corinthians 13). Related Words and Distinctions Whereas προσεύχομαι (Strong’s 4336) emphasizes directed prayer to God and appears far more frequently, εὔχομαι can shade toward inward longing or vow. Nevertheless, New Testament context generally merges the concepts, warning against any artificial separation between “wish” and “prayer.” Genuine desire for others’ good is ultimately brought before the throne of grace. Conclusion Strong’s 2172 portrays prayer as earnest, relational, and missionally driven. Whether for a nation’s salvation, a church’s integrity, or a friend’s health, εὔχομαι challenges believers to align heartfelt desires with God’s redemptive purposes, trusting Him to accomplish what human strength cannot. Englishman's Concordance Acts 26:29 V-AOM-1SGRK: δὲ Παῦλος Εὐξαίμην ἂν τῷ NAS: And Paul [said], I would wish to God, INT: and Paul [said] I would wish anyhow Acts 27:29 V-IIM/P-3P Romans 9:3 V-IIM/P-1S 2 Corinthians 13:7 V-PIM/P-1P 2 Corinthians 13:9 V-PIM/P-1P James 5:16 V-PMM/P-2P 3 John 1:2 V-PIM/P-1S Strong's Greek 2172 |
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