In the context of the Bible, the term "asked" often refers to the act of seeking information, guidance, or a request from God or others. This action is a fundamental aspect of human interaction with the divine and with one another, reflecting a dependence on God and a desire for understanding and assistance.

Old Testament Instances

1. Hannah's Prayer: One of the most notable instances of asking in the Old Testament is found in the account of Hannah. In 1 Samuel 1:27 , Hannah says, "I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him." Hannah's earnest prayer for a child demonstrates the power of asking God with faith and sincerity. Her request was granted, and she named her son Samuel, which means "asked of God."

2. Solomon's Request for Wisdom: In 1 Kings 3:5-14, Solomon famously asked God for wisdom to govern the people of Israel. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask for whatever you want Me to give you" (1 Kings 3:5). Solomon's request pleased God, who granted him unparalleled wisdom, as well as riches and honor.

3. The Israelites' Requests: Throughout their journey, the Israelites frequently asked God for provision and guidance. In Exodus 16:3, they asked for food, and God provided manna. Their requests often reflected their immediate needs and sometimes their lack of faith, as seen in their grumbling and testing of God.

New Testament Instances

1. Jesus' Teachings on Asking: Jesus emphasized the importance of asking in faith. In Matthew 7:7-8 , He teaches, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." This passage underscores the assurance that God hears and responds to the prayers of His people.

2. The Request of James and John: In Mark 10:35-37, James and John asked Jesus for positions of honor in His glory. Their request revealed a misunderstanding of Jesus' mission and the nature of true greatness, which Jesus corrected by teaching about servanthood.

3. The Early Church: The early Christians frequently asked God for boldness and guidance. In Acts 4:29-31, they prayed, "And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness." Their request was answered as they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Theological Significance

The act of asking in the Bible is deeply connected to faith, humility, and dependence on God. It is an acknowledgment of human limitations and a recognition of God's sovereignty and generosity. Asking is not merely about receiving what one desires but aligning one's will with God's purposes. The Bible encourages believers to ask with the right motives, as stated in James 4:3 : "And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures."

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to approach God with their requests, trusting in His wisdom and timing. The practice of asking should be accompanied by thanksgiving, as advised in Philippians 4:6 : "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." This reflects a heart of gratitude and trust in God's provision and care.(imp. & p. p.) of Ask.1905. eperotao -- to inquire of
... Word Origin from epi and erotao Definition to inquire of NASB Word Usage ask (5),
ask...question (1), ask...questions (1), asked (14), asked...a question (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1905.htm - 8k

3131. manna -- manna
... 3131 -- literally, "What is it?" -- the question asked by the wandering Israelites
in the OT when God gave them (divinely-sent bread wafers) (see Nu 11:6 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3131.htm - 7k

156. aitia -- cause, reason
... From the same as aiteo; a cause (as if asked for), ie (logical) reason (motive,
matter), (legal) crime (alleged or proved) -- accusation, case, cause, crime ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/156.htm - 6k

1331. dierotao -- to find by inquiry
... Word Origin from dia and erotao Definition to find by inquiry NASB Word
Usage asked directions (1). to ask about, learn by inquiry. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1331.htm - 6k

155. aitema -- a request
... petition, request, required. From aiteo; a thing asked or (abstractly) an asking --
petition, request, required. see GREEK aiteo. (aitema) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/155.htm - 6k

3004. lego -- to say
... verb Definition to say NASB Word Usage addressing (1), agree* (1), ask (1), asked
(3), asking (4), bring charges (1), call (8), called (34), calling (1), calls ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3004.htm - 11k

2065. erotao -- to ask, question
... Word Origin akin to eromai (to ask) Definition to ask, question NASB Word Usage
ask (15), ask a question (1), asked (14), asking (11), asks (3), beg (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2065.htm - 9k

154. aiteo -- to ask, request
... verb Definition to ask, request NASB Word Usage ask (36), asked (16), asking (7),
asks (7), beg (1), called (1), making a request (1), requesting (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/154.htm - 9k

7586. Shaul -- "asked (of Yah)," first king of Isr., also an ...
... "asked (of Yah)," first king of Isr., also an Edomite and two Israelites.
Transliteration: Shaul Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-ool') Short Definition: Saul. ...
/hebrew/7586.htm - 6k

7597. Shealtiel -- "I have asked of God," an Israelite name
... Shealtiel. 7598 . "I have asked of God," an Israelite name. Transliteration:
Shealtiel Phonetic Spelling: (sheh-al-tee-ale') Short Definition: Shealtiel. ...
/hebrew/7597.htm - 6k

7596. sheelah -- request, thing asked for
... sheelah or shelah. 7597 . request, thing asked for. Transliteration: sheelah or
shelah Phonetic Spelling: (sheh-ay-law') Short Definition: petition. ...
/hebrew/7596.htm - 6k

7598. Shealtiel -- "I have asked of God," an Israelite name
... Shealtiel. 7599 . "I have asked of God," an Israelite name. Transliteration:
Shealtiel Phonetic Spelling: (sheh-al-tee-ale') Short Definition: Shealtiel. ...
/hebrew/7598.htm - 6k

7592. shaal -- to ask, inquire
... root Definition to ask, inquire NASB Word Usage ask (45), asked (41), asking (5),
asks (5), beg (1), begged (1), begs (1), borrow (1), borrowed (1), borrows (1 ...
/hebrew/7592.htm - 6k

7593. sheel -- to ask
... 7592, 7593. sheel. 7594 . to ask. Transliteration: sheel Phonetic Spelling:
(sheh-ale') Short Definition: asked. Word Origin (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/7593.htm - 6k

1697. dabar -- speech, word
... 52), advice (3), affair (3), affairs (3), agreement (1), amount* (2), annals (1),
answer (6), answer* (5), anything (12), anything* (4), asked (1), because* (10 ...
/hebrew/1697.htm - 8k

559. amar -- to utter, say
... root Definition to utter, say NASB Word Usage address (1), advised (1), answer
(2), answered (50), answers (1), ask (2), asked (4), asking (1), Asserting (1 ...
/hebrew/559.htm - 7k

2470b. chalah -- to mollify, appease, entreat the favor of
... Word Origin from chalah Definition to mollify, appease, entreat the favor of NASB
Word Usage asked (1), entreat (6), entreated (4), favor* (3), seek (2), seek ...
/hebrew/2470b.htm - 5k

Why the Pharisees Asked a Sign from Heaven.
... Book XII. 2. Why the Pharisees Asked a Sign from Heaven. Now, to this point
we have come in our discourse, because of the Pharisees ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/2 why the pharisees asked.htm

When a Man is Asked to Write Down what He Really Thinks on ...
... Chapter 31 When a man is asked to write down what he really thinks on
education? When a man is asked to write down what he really ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 31 when a man.htm

What Abbot Joseph Asked us in the First Instance.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter I. What Abbot Joseph asked us in the
first instance. The blessed Joseph, [1963] whose instructions ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter i what abbot joseph.htm

I have Been Asked to Tell You About the Back of the North Wind. .. ...
... Chapter 1 I have been asked to tell you about the back of the north wind.? I
have been asked to tell you about the back of the north wind. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 1 i have been.htm

If it Here be Asked, Whether I Would have all Private Christians ...
... Address 172: If it here be asked, whether I would have all private Christians
to beggar themselves? If it here be asked, whether ...
/.../address 172 0 0 if it here.htm

"Then Why," it is Asked, "Did the Deity Descend to Such ...
... Chapter XIV. "Then why," it is asked, "did the Deity descend to such humiliation? ...
"Then why," it is asked, "did the Deity descend to such humiliation? ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xiv then why it.htm

Concerning those who Asked Him to Show them a Sign from Heaven.
... Book XII. 1. Concerning Those Who Asked Him to Show Them a Sign from Heaven.
"And the Sadducees and Pharisees came, and tempting ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/1 concerning those who asked.htm

And the Chief Priest Asked Jesus About his Disciples...
... And the chief priest asked Jesus about his disciples? [1, 2] [3387] And the chief
priest asked Jesus about his disciples, and about his doctrine. ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xlix and the chief.htm

Again the Jews Asked Mary and Joseph a Third Time to Coax Him to ...
... Chapter 39. Again the Jews asked Mary and Joseph a third time to coax
Him to go? Again the Jews asked Mary and Joseph a third ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 39 again the jews.htm

Ep. Lii. Nicobulus Asked Gregory to Publish a Collection of his ...
... Ep. LII. Nicobulus asked Gregory to publish a collection of his letters.?
(Nicobulus asked Gregory to publish a collection of his letters. ...
/.../select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep lii nicobulus asked gregory.htm

Asked (1840 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Asked (1840 Occurrences). Asked occurs 1840 times in 12
translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search. ...
/a/asked.htm - 6k

Permission (23 Occurrences)
... the sea. (WEB NAS NIV). Mark 5:18 As He was embarking, the man who had been
possessed asked permission to accompany Him. (WEY). Mark ...
/p/permission.htm - 13k

Discernment (43 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 3:11 And God said to him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not
asked for thyself long life, neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast ...
/d/discernment.htm - 18k

Administering (4 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 3:11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked
for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have ...
/a/administering.htm - 7k

Reply (61 Occurrences)
... lies. (WEY). Mark 10:18 "Why do you call me good?" asked Jesus in reply;
"there is no one truly good except One--that is, God. (WEY). ...
/r/reply.htm - 23k

Commanding (79 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Acts 21:37 As Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he asked the
commanding officer, "May I speak to you?" He said, "Do you know Greek? (WEB). ...
/c/commanding.htm - 31k

Sayest (66 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT). Matthew 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and
the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? ...
/s/sayest.htm - 26k

Asking (111 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:14 At that time John's disciples came and asked Jesus, "Why do we
and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?" (See NAS). ...
/a/asking.htm - 34k

Discern (49 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 3:11 God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked
for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have ...
/d/discern.htm - 22k

Elias (30 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY). Matthew 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes
that Elias must first come? ... John 1:21 And they asked him, What then? ...
/e/elias.htm - 15k

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