euchomai (to pray/wish for)

Meaning

Usually translated “would wish”, “were praying for” and “was wishing”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated

i would wish 1
they were praying for 1
was wishing 1
we pray 1
we pray for 1
do pray 1
i pray 1

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most

Acts 2
2 Corinthians 2
Romans 1
James 1
3 John 1

5 books in all.

Explore in Scripture

Acts 26:29And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
Acts 27:29Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
Romans 9:3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
2 Corinthians 13:7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
2 Corinthians 13:9For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
James 5:16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Greek dictionary

εὔχομαι euchomai · to pray/wish for

εὔχομαι [in LXX chiefly for נָדַד, also for עָתַר hi., etc. ;] to pray: with accusative of thing(s), 2Co.13:9; with dative of person(s), τ. θεῷ, Act.26:29; before πρὸς τ. θεόν, 2Co.13:7; with accusative and inf., Act.27:29, 3Jn.2; before ὑπέρ, Jas.5:16; ηὐχόμην εἶναι (On imperfect here, see ICC, in l, Lft., Phm 13), Rom.9:3 (Cremer, 718).† (AS)

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “pray” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

PRAY, verb intransitive

[Latin precor; proco; this word belongs to the same family as preach and reproach; Heb. to bless, to reproach; rendered in, to curse; properly, to reproach, to rail at or upbraid. In Latin the word precor signifies to supplicate good or evil, and precis signifies a prayer and a curse. See Imprecate.]

To ask with earnestness or zeal, as for a favor, or for something desirable; to entreat; to supplicate.“PRAY for them who despitefully use you and persecute you” Matthew 5:44
To petition; to ask, as for a favor; as in application to a legislative body.
In worship, to address the Supreme Being with solemnity and reverence, with adoration, confession of sins, supplication for mercy, and thanksgiving for blessings received.“When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly” Matthew 6:6
I pray that is, I pray you tell me, or let me know, is a common mode of introducing a question.

All definitions and other forms of “pray”

PRAY, verb transitive

To supplicate; to entreat; to urge.

“We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God” 2 Corinthians 5:20
In worship, to supplicate; to implore; to ask with reverence and humility.“Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thy heart may be forgiven thee” Acts 8:22
To petition.
To ask or intreat in ceremony or form.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.