Lexical Summary palal: pray, prayed, praying Original Word: פָלַל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance entreat, judgment, make prayer make supplication A primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede, pray -- intreat, judge(-ment), (make) pray(-er, -ing), make supplication. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to intervene, interpose NASB Translation expected (1), intercede (2), interceded (1), interposed (1), made judgment favorable (1), make supplication (1), mediate (1), pray (36), prayed (28), praying (8), prays (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מָּלַל]84 verb probably intervene, interpose (hence both arbitrate, judge, and intercede, pray, compare Dr1Samuel 2:25; Late Hebrew פלל (rare), נתפלל, pray, מִּילּוּל act of prayer, מְּלִילָה judicial matter; — otherwise WeHeid. (2), 126 who conjectures derivation for הִתְמַּלֵּל from Arabic ![]() Pi`el mediate, judge: Perfect3masculine singular consecutive, arbitrate, suffix וּפִלְלוֺ 1 Samuel 2:25 (but read probably 3 plural וּפִלְלוּ We Dr and others, word-play with ׳יִתְפ following); 2 feminine singular מִּלַּלְתְּ Ezekiel 16:52 mediate for (ל person) namely, through thine own sins; 1 singular מִּלָּ֑לְתִּי Genesis 48:11 (E; possibly denominative from פליל) I did not judge (have the opinion, expect) to see, etc.; Imperfect3masculine singular וַיְפַלֵּל Psalm 106:30 (absolute) he interposed (by slaying offender). Hithpa`el80 Perfect3masculine singular הִתְמַּלֵּל 1 Kings 8:42; 1singular הִתְמַּלָּ֑לְתִּי 1 Samuel 1:27, etc.; Imperfect יִתְמַּלֵּל Psalm 32:6 +; יִתְמַּלֶּלֿ 1 Samuel 2:25; 1singular אֶתְאֶתְמּלָּ֑ל Psalm 5:3, etc.;Imperative הִתְמַּלֵּל Numbers 21:7 +, etc.; Infinitive construct הִתְמַּלֵּל Ezekiel 10:1 +, etc.; Participle מִתְמַּלֵּל Jeremiah 42:4 +, etc.; — 1 specifically intercede (with ׳י), with בעד, on behalf of Genesis 20:7; Numbers 21:7 (E) Deuteronomy 9:20; 1 Samuel 12:23 6t.; with לִ, 1 Samuel 2:25; אֶליֿהוה Numbers 11:2; Numbers 21:7 (JE) Deuteronomy 9:26; with בעד + אליֿהוה 1 Samuel 7:5; Jeremiah 29:7 4t.; אלהֿאלהים Genesis 20:17 (E); with על for2Chronicles 30:18; Job 42:8 (late). 2 Generally pray, with אֶל, unto idol Isaiah 44:17; Isaiah 45:20; unto Israel Isaiah 45:14; ׳בוֺא אלמֿקדשׁ להתפ Isaiah 16:12. 3 pray (to ׳י), absolute 1 Kings 8:33; 2 Kings 6:17; Ezra 10:1; Daniel 9:20; 2Chronicles 6:24; 7:1,14, with ׳אֶליֿ 1 Samuel 1:26; 1 Samuel 8:6; 2 Kings 4:33; 2 Kings 6:18; 2 Kings 20:2 = Isaiah 38:2 2Chronicles 32:24, + 10 t.; ׳תפלה אֶליֿ ׳הִתְפ 2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Kings 8:54; על יהוה 1 Samuel 1:10 (readאֶל); לִפְנֵי 1 Samuel 1:12; 1 Kings 8:28 + 5t.; with לְ Daniel 9:4; with אֶל of thing prayed for 1 Samuel 1:27; with אֶל against 2 Kings 19:20 = Isaiah 37:21(read עַל); עַלזֹֿאת because of this2Chronicles 32:20; Psalm 32:6; with אֶל location: אֶלֿ הַמָּקוֺם 1 Kings 8:29,30,35 2Chronicles 6:20,21,26; אֶלהַֿבַּית 1 Kings 8:42 2Chronicles 6:32; with accusative דֶּרֶךְ הָעִיר 1 Kings 8:44 2Chronicles 6:34; דֶּרֶךְ אַרְצָם 1 Kings 8:48 2Chronicles 6:38. 4 of poetical, liturgical prayer, absolute 1 Samuel 2:1, with אֶל Jonah 2:2. Topical Lexicon Scope and Significance פָלַל is the principal Old Testament verb for prayer and intercession, appearing about eighty-four times from Genesis to Zechariah. Every occurrence portrays a deliberate movement into God’s presence to seek mercy, justice, guidance, or deliverance for oneself or others. Because the act invites divine evaluation, it shapes personal holiness, national destiny, and eschatological hope. Frequency and Distribution • Pentateuch – foundational examples with Abraham (Genesis 20:17) and Moses (Numbers 11:2). Theology of Intercession Intercession assumes covenant relationship. God acts in history through the prayers of His people, yet remains free to refuse hardened rebels (Jeremiah 14:11). Prayer therefore balances appeal to mercy with submission to divine judgment (Psalm 17:2). Prayer for Deliverance and Healing Genesis 20:17; Exodus 8:30; Numbers 21:7; 2 Kings 19:20. Each instance shows God reversing catastrophe in response to prayer. Prayer for Forgiveness and Covenant Mercy Deuteronomy 9:26; 1 Kings 8:30; 2 Chronicles 30:18. Confession and restoration are central, linking individual sin to national welfare. Prayer and Spiritual Leadership 1 Samuel 12:23 – refusal to pray is called sin. Kings and prophets succeed or fail in proportion to their prayer life. Personal Lament and Praise Hannah’s anguish (1 Samuel 1:10), David’s fasting (2 Samuel 12:16), Jonah’s cry (Jonah 2:1) illustrate prayer as the believer’s first resort in distress. Temple and Liturgical Context Solomon’s dedication (1 Kings 8:22-54) establishes the temple as a “house of prayer” open to Gentiles (Isaiah 56:7). Posture includes standing, kneeling, prostration, and uplifted hands. Prophetic Commentary Jeremiah exposes scenarios where intercession is futile because judgment is irrevocable, while Zechariah foresees nations streaming to Jerusalem to “seek the LORD and entreat His favor” (Zechariah 8:21). Eschatological-Messianic Hints Psalm 72:15 envisions perpetual prayer for the ideal king; Isaiah 53:12 joins intercession to substitutionary suffering, preparing the way for the Messiah who “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25). Continuity into the New Testament Although expressed in Greek, the same pattern governs the early church (Acts 1:14), culminating in Christ’s high-priestly ministry and the believer’s royal-priestly calling (1 Peter 2:9). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Prayer is a covenant duty; neglect is moral failure. Selected Passages for Study Genesis 20:17; Exodus 8:30; Numbers 11:2; Deuteronomy 9:26; 1 Samuel 7:5; 1 Samuel 12:23; 2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Kings 8:22-54; 2 Kings 19:15-20; 2 Chronicles 32:20; Ezra 10:1; Nehemiah 1:4-11; Job 42:10; Psalm 5:2; Psalm 122:6; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 29:12; Jonah 2:1; Zechariah 8:21-22. Forms and Transliterations אֶתְפַּלָּֽל׃ אתפלל׃ בְּהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֖וֹ בהתפללו הִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל הִתְפַּלֵּ֧ל הִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל הִתְפַּלֵּל֙ הִתְפַּלֶּל־ הִתְפַּלַּ֣לְתָּ הִתְפַּלַּ֧לְתָּ הִתְפַּלָּ֑לְתִּי התפלל התפלל־ התפללת התפללתי וְאֶתְפַּלֵּ֥ל וְהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֗וּ וְהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֞וּ וְהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֣וּ וְהִֽתְפַּֽלְל֧וּ וְהִֽתְפַּלְל֖וּ וְהִֽתְפַּלְל֞וּ וְהִתְפַּֽלְל֣וּ וְהִתְפַּֽלְל֥וּ וְהִתְפַּֽלְל֧וּ וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל וְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל וְהִתְפַּלַּלְתֶּ֖ם וְיִֽתְפַּֽלְלוּ֙ וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל וַיְפַלֵּ֑ל וַיִּ֨תְפַּלֵּ֔ל וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֞ל וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֣ל וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ וַנִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֤ל וַתִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל וָֽאֶתְפַּֽלְלָ֛ה וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֔ל וָֽאֶתְפַּלֵּ֛ל וָאֶתְפַּלֵּ֖ל וָאֶתְפַּלֵּ֣ל וּכְהִתְפַּלֵּ֤ל וּמִתְפַּלְלִ֔ים וּמִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ ואתפלל ואתפללה והתפלל והתפללו והתפללתם ויפלל ויתפלל ויתפללו וכהתפלל ומתפלל ומתפללים ונתפלל ופללו ותתפלל יִֽתְפַּֽלְל֖וּ יִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל יִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל יִתְפַּלֵּ֬ל יִתְפַּלֶּל־ יִתְפַּלָּ֔לוּ יתפלל יתפלל־ יתפללו לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֔ל לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל לְהִתְפַּלֵּל֙ להתפלל מִתְפַּלֵּ֛ל מִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל מִתְפַּלֵּ֨ל מתפלל פִּלַּלְתְּ֙ פִלָּ֑לְתִּי פללת פללתי תִּתְפַּלֵּ֛ל תִּתְפַּלֵּ֣ל ׀ תִּתְפַּלֵּל֙ תתפלל ’eṯ·pal·lāl ’eṯpallāl bə·hiṯ·pal·lōw behitpalLo bəhiṯpallōw etpalLal filLalti hiṯ·pal·lā·lə·tî hiṯ·pal·lal·tā hiṯ·pal·lêl hiṯ·pal·lel- hiṯpallālətî hitpalLalta hiṯpallaltā hitpalLalti hitpalLel hiṯpallêl hiṯpallel- lə·hiṯ·pal·lêl lehitpalLel ləhiṯpallêl miṯ·pal·lêl mitpalLel miṯpallêl p̄il·lā·lə·tî pil·lalt p̄illālətî pillalt tiṯ·pal·lêl titpalLel tiṯpallêl ū·ḵə·hiṯ·pal·lêl ū·miṯ·pal·lêl ū·miṯ·pal·lîm ū·p̄il·lōw uchehitpalLel ufilLo ūḵəhiṯpallêl umitpalLel ūmiṯpallêl umitpalLim ūmiṯpallîm ūp̄illōw vaetpalLah vaetpalLel vaiyitpalLel vannitpalLel vattitpalLel vayfalLel veetpalLel vehitpallalTem vehitpalLel vehitpalLu veyitpalLel veyitpalLu wā’eṯpallāh wā’eṯpallêl wā·’eṯ·pal·lāh wā·’eṯ·pal·lêl wan·niṯ·pal·lêl wanniṯpallêl wat·tiṯ·pal·lêl wattiṯpallêl way·p̄al·lêl way·yiṯ·pal·lêl wayp̄allêl wayyiṯpallêl wə’eṯpallêl wə·’eṯ·pal·lêl wə·hiṯ·pal·lal·tem wə·hiṯ·pal·lêl wə·hiṯ·pal·lū wə·yiṯ·pal·lêl wə·yiṯ·pal·lū wəhiṯpallaltem wəhiṯpallêl wəhiṯpallū wəyiṯpallêl wəyiṯpallū yiṯ·pal·lā·lū yiṯ·pal·lêl yiṯ·pal·lel- yiṯ·pal·lū yitpalLalu yiṯpallālū yitpallel yiṯpallêl yiṯpallel- yitpalLu yiṯpallūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 20:7 HEB: נָבִ֣יא ה֔וּא וְיִתְפַּלֵּ֥ל בַּֽעַדְךָ֖ וֶֽחְיֵ֑ה NAS: for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. KJV: for he [is] a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, INT: prophet and he will pray thee will live Genesis 20:17 Genesis 48:11 Numbers 11:2 Numbers 21:7 Numbers 21:7 Deuteronomy 9:20 Deuteronomy 9:26 1 Samuel 1:10 1 Samuel 1:12 1 Samuel 1:26 1 Samuel 1:27 1 Samuel 2:1 1 Samuel 2:25 1 Samuel 2:25 1 Samuel 7:5 1 Samuel 8:6 1 Samuel 12:19 1 Samuel 12:23 2 Samuel 7:27 1 Kings 8:28 1 Kings 8:29 1 Kings 8:30 1 Kings 8:33 1 Kings 8:35 84 Occurrences |