Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Luke 18:1

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

KJV

Ἔλεγεν δὲ παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς πρὸς τὸ δεῖν πάντοτε προσεύχεσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ μὴ ἐνκακεῖν,

Greek NT

Dicebat autem et parabolam ad illos, quoniam oportet semper orare et non deficere,

Vulgate

And he spake a parable unto them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint;

ASV

And he spoke also a parable to them, that we ought always to pray and not to faint,

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

12 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
δεῖ
dei
verb · 103×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
λέγω
lego
verb · 2256×
μή
me
particle · 1033×
πάντοτε
pantote
adverb · 41×
παραβολή
parabole
noun · 50×
προσεύχομαι
proseuchomai
verb · 85×
πρός
pros
preposition · 697×
ἐκκακέω
ekkakeo
verb · 6×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×

Textual variants

2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

notable
SBLGNT: δὲ | WH/NIV: δὲ | Treg/RP: + καὶ
  • δὲ — SBLGNT
  • δὲ — Westcott-Hort, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • + καὶ — Tregelles, Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
trivial
SBLGNT: αὐτοὺς | WH/Treg/NIV: αὐτοὺς
  • αὐτοὺς — SBLGNT
  • αὐτοὺς — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Parable

Historic Christian voices

10 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§2098The acts of faith, hope, and charity enjoined by the first commandment are accomplished in prayer. Lifting up the mind toward God is an expression of our adoration of God: prayer of praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition. Prayer is an indispensable condition for being able to obey God's commandments. " (We) ought always to pray and not lose heart."15 Sacrifice
§2573God renews his promise to Jacob, the ancestor of the twelve tribes of Israel.17 Before confronting his elder brother Esau, Jacob wrestles all night with a mysterious figure who refuses to reveal his name, but he blesses him before leaving him at dawn. From this account, the spiritual tradition of the Church has retained the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the trium…
§2613Three principal parables on prayer are transmitted to us by St. Luke: - the first, "the importunate friend,"75 invites us to urgent prayer: "Knock, and it will be opened to you." To the one who prays like this, the heavenly Father will "give whatever he needs," and above all the Holy Spirit who contains all gifts. - the second, "the importunate widow,"76 is centered on one of t…
Homilies on Matthew · 2 passages
2. And when He had said, not to do it before men, He added, to be seen of them. And though it seems as if the same thing were said a second time, yet if any one give particular attention, it is not the same thing, but one is different from the other; and it has great security, and unspeakable care and tenderness. For it may be, both that one doing alms before men may not do it …
2. Now when, as you see, He had demonstrated the greatness of God's providential care, and they were in what follows to be rebuked also, even in this He was sparing, laying to their charge not want, but poverty, of faith. Thus, if God, says He, so clothe the grass of the field, much more you, O you of little faith. Matthew 6:30 And yet surely all these things He Himself works. …
1. Relation of the Baptist to Elijah. The Theory of Transmigration Considered. The disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? Matthew 17:10 The disciples indeed who went up with Jesus remembered the traditions of the scribes concerning Elijah, that before the advent of Christ, Elijah would come and prepare for Him the souls of those who w…
1. The Power of Harmony in Relation to Prayer. Again I say unto you that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them. Matthew 18:19 The word symphony is strictly applied to the harmonies of sounds in music. And there are indeed among musical sounds some accordant and others discordant. But the Evangelic Scripture is fam…
Is prayer an act of the appetitive or of the cognitive power? Is it fitting to pray to God? Is prayer an act of religion? Should we pray to God alone? Should we ask for something definite when we pray? Should we ask for temporal things when we pray? Should we pray for others? Should we pray for our enemies? The seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer Is prayer proper to the ration…

Cross-references

  • 1Kgs 18:43 — And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
  • 1Sam 1:12 — And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
  • 1Thess 5:17 — Pray without ceasing.
  • 1Thess 5:17 — Pray without ceasing.
  • 1Tim 5:5 — Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.
  • 2Cor 4:1 — Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
  • 2Thess 3:13 — But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
  • Acts 1:14 — These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
  • Acts 12:5 — Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
  • Col 4:2 — Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
  • Col 4:2 — Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
  • Col 4:12 — Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
  • Dan 6:20 — And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able t
  • Deut 9:14 — Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.
  • Eph 6:18 — Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  • Eph 6:18 — Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  • Exod 17:11 — And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
  • Gal 6:9 — And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
  • Gal 6:9 — And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
  • Gen 18:27 — And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, which am but dust and ashes:
  • Gen 32:9 — And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
  • Gen 32:24 — And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
  • Gen 32:26 — And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
  • Heb 12:3 — For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
  • Isa 40:31 — But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
  • Isa 62:7 — And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
  • Jas 5:16 — Confess 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.
  • Jer 29:12 — Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
  • Job 27:8 — For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
  • Jonah 2:7 — When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
  • Luke 11:5 — And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
  • Luke 11:5 — And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
  • Luke 11:8 — I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
  • Luke 11:10 — For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
  • Luke 21:36 — 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.
  • Luke 21:36 — 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.
  • Mark 11:24 — Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
  • Matt 6:5 — And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you,
  • Matt 7:7 — Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
  • Matt 26:44 — And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.