αἴτημα (aitēma)
aitēma
request
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun aitēma refers to a specific thing that has been asked for, whether it is a simple request or a formal petition. In the New Testament, this word appears only three times, carrying a concrete sense of an object or outcome desired by the petitioner rather than just the act of asking.
Its usage highlights distinct contexts of need and authority. In Luke 23:24, Pilate grants the Jewish leaders’ aitēma to release Barabbas, showing how a request can result in a legal decision. Conversely, Philippians 4:6 encourages believers to present their aitēmata to God with thanksgiving, framing prayer as bringing specific needs before Him.
The word is rooted in the verb aiteō, meaning to ask or demand. While related terms exist for general asking, aitēma focuses on the content of the request itself. This precision helps readers see that Christian prayer involves bringing concrete concerns to God, trusting that He hears and responds to specific petitions.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word aitēma points to the specific substance of what we ask for, rather than just the act of asking itself. It suggests that God is interested in the concrete details of our lives. When we bring our aitēmata to Him, we are not offering vague wishes but tangible needs and desires. This precision invites us to be honest about what weighs on our hearts, trusting that He hears the specific content of our prayers.
In Philippians 4:6, believers are encouraged to present these requests with thanksgiving. This implies that our petitions are part of an ongoing relationship where gratitude shapes our expectations. We do not need to hide our anxieties or simplify our needs; instead, we can lay out the actual items of our concern before God. He is capable of handling the specifics of our situation.
Even in difficult contexts like Luke 23:24, the word appears when a request leads to a legal outcome. While that instance shows human injustice, it reminds us that words carry weight and requests have consequences. For your faith life, this means your prayers are significant. You can bring your real problems to God, knowing He listens to the actual things you need.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- requests2×
- demand1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αἰτήματα2×
- αἴτημα1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 4:6
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
This verse defines the Christian practice of bringing specific needs (aitēmata) to God as an alternative to anxiety, linking petition directly with thanksgiving.
-
I John 5:15
And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
Here the word confirms that answered prayer involves receiving the exact object or outcome requested, not just a general sense of divine attention.
-
Luke 23:24
Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.
This occurrence shows the word used in a legal context where a formal request results in a binding judicial decision, highlighting the seriousness of petitions.