Original Word: תְּפִלָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: tphillah
Pronunciation: tef-il-LAW
Phonetic Spelling: (tef-il-law')
KJV: prayer
NASB: prayer, prayers
Word Origin: [from H6419 (פָּלַל - pray)]

1. intercession, supplication
2. (by implication) a hymn

prayer

From palal; intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn -- prayer.

see HEBREW palal

Word Origin
from palal
Definition
prayer
NASB Translation
prayer (70), prayers (2).

תְּפִלָּה₇₇ noun feminine prayer; — ׳ת Isaiah 1:15 +, construct תְּמִּלַּת Psalm 80:5 +; suffix תְּפלָּתִי Psalm 4:2 +, etc.; plural תְּפִלּוֺת Psalm 72:20; —

1. a. prayer, 1 Kings 8:38 2Chronicles 6:29; Isaiah 1:15; Psalm 35:13; Psalm 80:5 +.

b. pray a prayer, ׳ת ׳הִתְפ 2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Kings 8:54 (compare 1 Kings 8:28; 1 Kings 8:29 2Chronicles 6:19,20); ׳דִּבֶּר בַּתּ Daniel 9:21; specifically of intercession, ׳נשׂא ת, with בְּעַד in behalf of 2 Kings 19:4 = Isaiah 37:4; Jeremiah 7:16; Jeremiah 11:14.

c. אֶלאֱֿלֹהִים ׳ת2Chronicles 33:18, לְאֵל Psalm 42:9, compare Psalm 69:14; with verb + לפני Psalm 88:3; Psalm 141:2; תְּקַדְּמֶ֑ךָּ ׳תּ Psalm 88:14.

d. ׳בית ת Isaiah 56:7 (twice in verse) house of prayer (temple); with verb + ׳אֶליֿ + אלהֿיכל Jonah 2:8; with verb + למעון קדשׁו2Chronicles 30:27.

e. hear prayer ׳שׁמע (אֶתֿ) ת 1 Kings 8:45,49 2Chronicles 6:35,39; 1 Kings 9:3; Psalm 4:2; Psalm 39:13 9t.; ׳שׁמע אֶלתֿ 1 Kings 8:28,29 2Chronicles 6:19,20; Nehemiah 1:6; Daniel 9:17; ׳פנהאל ת 1 Kings 8:28 2Chronicles 6:19; Psalm 102:18; ׳אָזְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁבוֺת לת2Chronicles 6:40; 7:15, compare Nehemiah 1:11 (אֶל), הַקְשִׁיבָה ׳ת Psalm 61:2; ׳הִקְשִׁיבּ בְּקוֺל ת Psalm 66:19; ׳הַאֲזִינָה ת Psalm 17:1; Psalm 55:2; Psalm 86:6; ׳לקח ת Psalm 6:10; compare Psalm 66:20; Psalm 102:18b.

2 in Psalm-titles, poetic, liturgical prayer Psalm 17:1; Psalm 86:1; Psalm 90:1; Psalm 102:1; Psalm 142:1; Habakkuk 3:1; of Davidic Psalter, תפלות דוד Psalm 72:20.

Overview

The Hebrew noun תְּפִלָּה (tefillah) denotes the act, place, or content of prayer. Found roughly seventy-seven times in the Old Testament, it marks prayer as a conscious, God-directed response of faith that encompasses praise, confession, thanksgiving, petition, and intercession.

Frequency and Distribution

Occurrences span the Torah (Deuteronomy 9:26), Historical Books (1 Kings 8:28), Wisdom Literature (Job 16:17), Psalms (more than thirty instances), Prophets (Isaiah 56:7; Daniel 9:3), and Post-Exilic writings (Nehemiah 1:6). This breadth shows prayer as integral to every era of Israel’s story.

Prayer as Worship

Prayer is frequently coupled with praise and thanksgiving. David declares, “Let my prayer be set before You like incense” (Psalm 141:2), equating prayer with the fragrant worship prescribed in the sanctuary. Asaph likewise introduces Psalm 17 with the superscription “A Prayer of David,” highlighting prayer as a liturgical act, not merely private speech.

Prayer as Petition and Intercession

Tephillah often introduces pleas for mercy (2 Samuel 7:27), deliverance (Psalm 102:17), and restoration (Jeremiah 37:3). Moses models intercessory prayer when he says, “I prayed to the LORD and said, ‘O Lord GOD, do not destroy Your people’” (Deuteronomy 9:26). The prophets repeatedly urge the people to seek God through prayer as the means of averting judgment (Joel 2:17).

Prayer in National Life of Israel

Solomon’s temple dedication speech centers on tephillah, asking God to hear “the prayer Your servant prays toward this place” (1 Kings 8:28). The nation’s covenant health is tied to prayerful dependence, whether in drought, exile, or victory. Chronicles records multiple reforms (2 Chronicles 30:27; 33:18) where renewed prayer accompanies revival.

Prayer in the Psalms

Six psalms bear the title “A Prayer” (17; 86; 90; 102; 142; and Habakkuk 3:1 in a prophetic setting). These compositions cover lament, confidence, penitence, and doxology, demonstrating the theological depth of biblical prayer. Psalm 90, attributed to Moses, views human frailty against God’s eternity, teaching the worshiper to “number our days aright” (Psalm 90:12).

Prayer and the Temple

Isaiah foresees a new era when the house of God “will be called a house of prayer for all the nations” (Isaiah 56:7). Jesus later cites this verse, underscoring the abiding purpose of corporate prayer. The temple motif links prayer to atonement and reconciliation, situating individual petitions within God’s redemptive framework.

Prayer in Times of Crisis

Nehemiah’s opening chapter contains a model crisis prayer: confession of national sin, appeal to covenant promises, and request for favor (Nehemiah 1:4-11). Similarly, Daniel “turned his face to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3), anchoring eschatological hope in prayerful repentance.

Prophetic and Eschatological Prayer

Habakkuk’s closing hymn (Habakkuk 3:1) is labeled a tephillah, blending trembling awe with victorious confidence: “Yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18). Prayer thus bridges current distress and future glory.

Theological Themes

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Prayer appeals to God’s hesed—His loyal love (Psalm 6:4).
2. Holiness and Repentance: Sin obstructs prayer (Isaiah 1:15), but confession restores fellowship (Psalm 32).
3. Sovereignty and Providence: Believers pray because God rules and answers (Psalm 65:2).
4. Mission to the Nations: Isaiah 56:7 anticipates worldwide prayer, fulfilled in the church’s global witness (Acts 2:42 echoes the pattern).

Christocentric Perspective

Old Testament tephillah prepares the way for the perfect Intercessor. Messianic psalms (Psalm 22; Psalm 69) articulate the suffering Savior’s prayers, later echoed in the Gospels (Mark 15:34). Jesus embodies, teaches, and fulfills biblical prayer, opening a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20) for continual access to the Father.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Call congregations to prayer as essential labor, not mere formality (1 Timothy 2:1-2 echoes the Old Testament priority).
• Employ Scripture-saturated prayer in worship services, revivals, and missions, following Solomon’s and Nehemiah’s examples.
• Encourage personal tephillah disciplines—adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication—modeled on the psalms.
• Integrate fasting when seeking divine intervention, reflecting Daniel 9 and Ezra 8:21.

Notable Old Testament Prayers Using tefillah

• Moses for Israel’s survival: Deuteronomy 9:26-29.
• Hannah for a son: 1 Samuel 1:27 (context includes prayer though tefillah appears in 1 Samuel 1:27 Hebrew text).
• David’s penitential plea: Psalm 86.
• Solomon’s temple dedication: 1 Kings 8:28-52.
• Hezekiah’s deliverance request: Isaiah 37:15-20.
• Ezra’s confession: Ezra 9:6-15.
• Nehemiah’s rebuild petition: Nehemiah 1:4-11.
• Daniel’s seventy-weeks supplication: Daniel 9:3-19.
• Habakkuk’s song of faith: Habakkuk 3:1-19.

Conclusion

Tephillah threads through Israel’s narrative as the lifeline of faith, weaving together worship, repentance, and hope. Rooted in God’s covenant character and culminating in Christ’s mediatorial work, biblical prayer invites every generation to approach the throne of grace with assurance that the Lord still hears and answers “the prayer of the destitute” (Psalm 102:17).

בִּתְפִלַּ֥ת בַּתְּפִלָּ֑ה בתפלה בתפלת הַתְּפִלָּ֔ה הַתְּפִלָּ֖ה הַתְּפִלָּ֥ה התפלה וּ֝תְפִלָּת֗וֹ וּ֝תְפִלָּתִ֗י וּֽתְפִלָּתִ֥י וּתְפִלַּ֖ת וּתְפִלָּ֑ה וּתְפִלָּ֖ה וּתְפִלָּת֣וֹ ותפלה ותפלת ותפלתו ותפלתי לִתְפִלַּ֖ת לַתְּפִלָּ֔ה לתפלה לתפלת תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה תְּ֝פִלָּת֗וֹ תְּ֭פִלָּה תְּֽפִלָּתִ֥י תְּפִלַּ֣ת תְּפִלַּ֤ת תְּפִלַּ֧ת תְּפִלַּ֨ת תְּפִלָּ֑ה תְּפִלָּ֖ה תְּפִלָּ֗ה תְּפִלָּ֣ה תְּפִלָּ֥ה תְּפִלָּֽה׃ תְּפִלָּה֮ תְּפִלָּתְךָ֣ תְּפִלָּתִ֑י תְּפִלָּתִ֔י תְּפִלָּתִ֗י תְּפִלָּתִ֣י תְּפִלָּתִ֥י תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃ תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ תְּפִלָּתָ֖ם תְּפִלָּתָֽם׃ תְּפִלָּתָם֙ תְפִלָּ֔ה תְפִלָּ֖ה תְפִלָּֽה׃ תְפִלָּתִ֑י תְפִלָּתִ֨י ׀ תְפִלָּתִֽי־ תְפִלָּתָ֛ם תְפִלּ֑וֹת תפלה תפלה׃ תפלות תפלת תפלתו תפלתי תפלתי־ תפלתך תפלתם תפלתם׃ bat·tə·p̄il·lāh battefilLah battəp̄illāh biṯ·p̄il·laṯ bitfilLat biṯp̄illaṯ hat·tə·p̄il·lāh hattefilLah hattəp̄illāh lat·tə·p̄il·lāh lattefilLah lattəp̄illāh liṯ·p̄il·laṯ litfilLat liṯp̄illaṯ tə·p̄il·lā·ṯām ṯə·p̄il·lā·ṯām tə·p̄il·lā·ṯe·ḵā tə·p̄il·lā·ṯə·ḵā tə·p̄il·lā·ṯî ṯə·p̄il·lā·ṯî ṯə·p̄il·lā·ṯî- tə·p̄il·lā·ṯōw tə·p̄il·lāh ṯə·p̄il·lāh tə·p̄il·laṯ ṯə·p̄il·lō·wṯ tefilLah tefilLat tefillaTam tefillateCha tefillaTi tefillaTo tefilLot təp̄illāh ṯəp̄illāh təp̄illaṯ təp̄illāṯām ṯəp̄illāṯām təp̄illāṯeḵā təp̄illāṯəḵā təp̄illāṯî ṯəp̄illāṯî ṯəp̄illāṯî- təp̄illāṯōw ṯəp̄illōwṯ ū·ṯə·p̄il·lā·ṯî ū·ṯə·p̄il·lā·ṯōw ū·ṯə·p̄il·lāh ū·ṯə·p̄il·laṯ utefilLah utefilLat utefillaTi utefillaTo ūṯəp̄illāh ūṯəp̄illaṯ ūṯəp̄illāṯî ūṯəp̄illāṯōwInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts