δέησις (G1162) — Greek Lexicon

δέησις

déēsis

G1162 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

An urgent request or entreaty, especially addressed to a person in a position of authority or to a deity. In literary and religious contexts, particularly the Hellenistic and New Testament periods, most frequently denotes an earnest plea for help, favor, or intervention. Also used for formal written or spoken petitions, and for prayers specifically requesting deliverance, assistance, or mercy.

Semantic Range

supplication, entreaty, urgent request, plea, petition, prayer for help, formal or informal request addressed to a superior or deity

Root / Etymology

From the verb δέομαι (to want, to lack, to beg, to entreat), itself derived from the root δε-, conveying the idea of need or lack. Δέησις is the nominal form, indicating the object or act of entreating or making a request. No borrowing from Semitic is present; formation is regular in Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δέησις is a general term for a request or beseeching, addressed either to humans or the gods. In later Hellenistic and Koine sources, it increasingly acquires religious connotations, often describing a prayer of petition (as distinct from thanksgiving or praise). In the Septuagint, δέησις commonly renders Hebrew terms for plea or supplication, typically directed to God for aid in distress. In the New Testament, δέησις is most often used for individual or communal prayers requesting intervention, deliverance, or favor—frequently paired with terms such as προσευχή (prayer in general) to distinguish modes or aspects of prayer. English translations may often render δέησις simply as 'prayer,' which does not always distinguish between general prayer and specific supplicant request. The nuance of urgent, earnest entreaty is core to its sense, and this specificity is not always preserved in translation. The term may overlap with ἱκετεία (supplication) but is semantically distinct from terms for formal intercession or thanksgiving.

Translation Consistency

primary "supplication" 11 occurrences

déēsis most often denotes an urgent, petitionary request or entreaty—especially a prayerful plea for help. "Supplication" captures the petitionary, urgent, and often formal sense better than the broader "prayer" or the less formal "plea," and is the common English equivalent in Biblical contexts.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):

"earnest plea" (3x) "urgent pleas" (3x) "prayers" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from δέομαι; a petition:--prayer, request, supplication.

Root Family

δέησις (deēsis) — need, lack, entreaty, urgent request, plea

Root δε- to lack, to need, to entreat, to beg

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1162-01`	δεήσει	deesei	`N DAT F SG`	prayer	to an urgent plea	to a supplication	5
`G1162-04`	δεήσεσιν	deesesin	`N DAT F PL`	prayers	to urgent pleas	to supplications	3
`G1162-02`	δεήσεις	deeseis	`N ACC F PL`	prayers	urgent pleas	urgent pleas	3
`G1162-06`	δέησίς	deesis	`N NOM F SG`	prayer	earnest plea	earnest plea	3
`G1162-05`	δέησιν	deesin	`N ACC F SG`	prayer	an urgent plea	an urgent supplication	2
`G1162-03`	δεήσεως	deeseos	`N GEN F SG`	prayer	of urgent plea	of urgent supplication	2

Occurrences in Scripture

18 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1162-06`	Luke 1:13	δέησίς	deesis	`N NOM F SG`	prayer	earnest plea	earnest plea
`G1162-04`	Luke 2:37	δεήσεσιν	deesesin	`N DAT F PL`	prayers	to urgent pleas	to supplications
`G1162-02`	Luke 5:33	δεήσεις	deeseis	`N ACC F PL`	prayers	urgent pleas	urgent pleas
`G1162-06`	Romans 10:1	δέησις	deesis	`N NOM F SG`	prayer	earnest plea	earnest plea
`G1162-01`	2 Corinthians 1:11	δεήσει	deesei	`N DAT F SG`	prayer	to an urgent plea	to a supplication
`G1162-01`	2 Corinthians 9:14	δεήσει	deesei	`N DAT F SG`	prayer	to an urgent plea	to a supplication
`G1162-03`	Ephesians 6:18	δεήσεως	deeseos	`N GEN F SG`	supplication	of urgent plea	of urgent supplication
`G1162-01`	Ephesians 6:18	δεήσει	deesei	`N DAT F SG`	supplication	to an urgent plea	supplication
`G1162-01`	Philippians 1:4	δεήσει	deesei	`N DAT F SG`	prayer	to an urgent plea	to a supplication
`G1162-05`	Philippians 1:4	δέησιν	deesin	`N ACC F SG`	prayer	an urgent plea	an urgent supplication
`G1162-03`	Philippians 1:19	δεήσεως	deeseos	`N GEN F SG`	prayer	of urgent plea	of urgent supplication
`G1162-01`	Philippians 4:6	δεήσει	deesei	`N DAT F SG`	supplication	to an urgent plea	supplication
`G1162-02`	1 Timothy 2:1	δεήσεις	deeseis	`N ACC F PL`	supplications	urgent pleas	urgent pleas
`G1162-04`	1 Timothy 5:5	δεήσεσιν	deesesin	`N DAT F PL`	supplications	to urgent pleas	to supplications
`G1162-04`	2 Timothy 1:3	δεήσεσίν	deesesin	`N DAT F PL`	prayers	to urgent pleas	prayers
`G1162-02`	Hebrews 5:7	δεήσεις	deeseis	`N ACC F PL`	prayers	urgent pleas	urgent pleas
`G1162-06`	James 5:16	δέησις	deesis	`N NOM F SG`	prayer	earnest plea	earnest plea
`G1162-05`	1 Peter 3:12	δέησιν	deesin	`N ACC F SG`	prayer	an urgent plea	an urgent supplication

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