תְּפִלָּה (te.phil.lah)
te.phil.lah
prayer
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 51 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun tephillah refers to prayer, encompassing both the act of speaking to God and the specific words or petitions offered. Derived from a root meaning to judge or intercede, it carries a sense of earnest entreaty. In the Old Testament, this word appears frequently in historical books like Kings and Chronicles, often describing Solomon’s dedicatory prayers for the temple (1 Kings 8) or Hezekiah’s plea for deliverance (2 Kings 19:4). It signifies a direct appeal to God for help, mercy, or guidance.
While often translated simply as "prayer," tephillah can also denote a hymn or sacred song. This broader usage appears in the superscriptions of several Psalms and in Habakkuk 3:1, where the prophet’s vision is labeled a prayer. In these contexts, the word bridges the gap between petition and praise, suggesting that worshipful acknowledgment of God’s character is itself a form of intercession. The term thus captures the full range of human communication with the divine, from desperate supplication to grateful song.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word tephillah describes more than a ritual; it is an earnest entreaty directed toward God. It bridges the gap between desperate supplication and grateful song, showing that worshipful acknowledgment of God’s character is itself a form of intercession. This term captures the full range of human communication with the divine, from pleading for mercy to offering praise.
In Scripture, this word often appears in moments of profound vulnerability or dedication. Solomon used it when dedicating the temple, asking God to listen to the cries of His people. Hezekiah and Nehemiah called on it when facing impossible odds or deep sorrow. These examples remind us that prayer is not about perfect words but about a sincere heart reaching out to the One who hears.
Whether you are standing in a holy place or sitting in quiet distress, this word invites you to bring your whole self to God. It suggests that every cry, every confession, and every song has weight in heaven. You are invited to speak openly, knowing that God is attentive to the prayers of those who seek Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 51 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- prayer/ my8×
- prayer7×
- the/ prayer6×
- [the] prayer of6×
- prayer/ their5×
- prayer/ your4×
- and/ prayer/ my3×
- and/ prayer/ his3×
- to/ [the] prayer of2×
- and/ a prayer2×
- to the/ prayer1×
- prayer/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/תְּפִלָּ֔ה4×
- תְּפִלָּתָ֖/ם3×
- תְּפִלָּתֶ֔/ךָ3×
- תְּפִלָּתִֽ/י\׃2×
- תְּפִלָּ֣ה2×
- תְּפִלָּ֖ה2×
- תְּפִלַּ֧ת2×
- תְּפִלַּ֣ת2×
- תְפִלָּ֔ה2×
- לִ/תְפִלַּ֖ת2×
- וּ֝/תְפִלָּתִ֗/י2×
- וּ/תְפִלָּת֣/וֹ2×
Key Verses
-
II Kings 19:4
It may be Yahweh your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’”
Hezekiah uses this word when facing the threat of Assyria, showing it as a plea for God to rebuke those who defy Him.
-
I Kings 8:29
that your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there;’ to listen to the prayer which your servant prays toward this place.
Solomon asks that God’s eyes remain open toward the temple so He may listen to the prayers directed there by His people.
-
Nehemiah 1:6
let your ear now be attentive and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the children of Israel your servants, while I confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against you. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.
Nehemiah pairs this word with confession, showing prayer as a space for acknowledging sin while seeking God’s attention.
-
II Chronicles 33:18
Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the acts of the kings of Israel.
This verse records Manasseh’s prayer after his humility, highlighting that even those who have strayed can find forgiveness through earnest entreaty.