"to be in want, to need; to ask, request, Mt. 9:38; Lk. 5:12; 8:28, 38; in NT absol. to pray, offer prayer, beseech, supplicate, Lk. 21:36; 22:32; Acts 4:31; 8:22, 24"
Definition and meaning
to be in want, to need; to ask, request, Mt. 9:38; Lk. 5:12; 8:28, 38; in NT absol. to pray, offer prayer, beseech, supplicate, Lk. 21:36; 22:32; Acts 4:31; 8:22, 24
In the original Greek the word is written: δέομαι
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of deomai (G1189) across the King James Bible.
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
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Common questions
Strong's G1189 (deomai) is a Greek word that means: to be in want, to need; to ask, request, Mt. 9:38; Lk. 5:12; 8:28, 38; in NT absol. to pray, offer prayer, beseech, supplicate, Lk. 21:36; 22:32; Acts 4:31; 8:22, 24 It appears 22 times in the King James Bible.
The word deomai (G1189) appears 22 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1189 is deomai, a Greek word defined as: to be in want, to need; to ask, request, Mt. 9:38; Lk. 5:12; 8:28, 38; in NT absol. to pray, offer prayer, beseech, supplicate, Lk. 21:36; 22:32; Acts. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
deomai is a Greek word found in the New Testament.