BibleVerse research

Asked of God, and what came of it

What people in the Bible asked God for, and what the text says came of it: given as asked, given another way, not given, promised, or not told. And how long they waited, where the text says.

A small cloud rising over the sea beyond a dry stone summit as rain gathers in the distance

Scope & care

“Asked of God” means a request made to God: in a prayer whose words the Bible gives, in a prayer it tells of without the words, or through a prophet or priest who takes it to God. The page reports what the text records after each request. It does not say how God answers prayer, and it does not measure anyone's faith by what came of their request.

An outcome counts as an answer only when the text ties it to the asking. Otherwise the page shows what follows in the story, and says so. “Not told” means only that the text does not say what came of a request; it is not a refusal.

The Psalms are counted apart, because they seldom tell what came of a request. Requests made to Jesus face to face, in the Gospels and before his ascension, such as the many asking to be healed, are not included; requests to the risen Jesus in visions and in prayer are.

The short answer

197requests people make of God, from Genesis to Revelation

121outcomes the text itself ties to the asking

39requests whose outcome the text does not tell

People in the Bible ask God for a child, for rain, for their own lives and the lives of others, for guidance before a battle, and now and then to die. This page reads 197 of their requests, from Abraham's question about an heir (Genesis 15:2) to “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20), and sets beside each what the text says came of it.

The text ties the outcome to the asking in 121 of them: it says God heard, answered, granted or relented, or it gives His reply. In 36 more, what follows in the story is told without being called an answer. For 39, the text does not say what came of the request.

Of the requests whose outcome is told, most are given as asked: 129, and the text ties 95 of those to the asking. Seven are given another way, sixteen are not given, and five are promised or met with an instruction to wait. One, Jesus's prayer in Gethsemane, is shown in its own terms.

What came of it

Each request is placed in one of six outcomes, by what the text records next.

Given as asked: What was asked happens, or God answers the question put to Him.
Given another way: Something is given, but not what was asked. Paul asks three times to be rid of his thorn and hears, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Not given: God refuses or does not answer, or what was asked does not happen.
Promised, or told to wait: God's answer places the outcome in the future, and the text does not tell it.
Not told: The text does not say what came of it.
In its own terms: In Gethsemane Jesus asks that the cup pass and, in the same prayer, that the Father's will be done; the cup does not pass. The page shows it in its own terms.

An outcome is tied to the asking when the text says God heard, answered, listened, granted, relented, remembered or did as asked, when it gives His reply, or when His word links the two. Everything else is shown as following in the story, even when the text says God did what was asked, as when “the LORD delivered them into his hand” (Judges 11:32). In the books of the prophets, God's words that follow a prayer count as His reply only when the text presents them as said to the one praying.

What came of 197 requests, by what the text records

The text ties it to the askingFollows in the storyNo outcome told, or in its own terms

Given as asked
Given another way
Not given
Promised, or told to wait
Not told
In its own terms

Answered in so many words

Sixteen of the requests the text ties to their outcome, from Jabez to Zechariah.

Jabez asks for blessing, more land, and protection from harm: If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain. 1 Chronicles 4:10

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking And God granted the request of Jabez. 1 Chronicles 4:10

Hannah asks for a son: if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son 1 Samuel 1:11

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son 1 Samuel 1:20

The text: the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him 1 Samuel 1:27

The text says “the LORD remembered her” (1:19), and she names her son Samuel, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.” (1:20). How long it took is not said: “in the course of time” (1:20).

Isaac asks for a child, as his wife was barren: Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren Genesis 25:21

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking his wife Rebekah conceived Genesis 25:21

The text: the LORD heard his prayer Genesis 25:21

Moses asks that God turn from His anger and not destroy the people: Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. Exodus 32:12

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people. Exodus 32:14

Moses retells the plea in Deuteronomy, where he lies before the LORD “forty days and forty nights” (Deuteronomy 9:25) and says “the LORD again listened to me” (10:10).

Moses asks for pardon for the people: Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people Numbers 14:19

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking I have pardoned them as you requested Numbers 14:20

Yet none of those who tested God will see the land (14:22–23).

Joshua asks that the sun and moon stand still: O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. Joshua 10:12

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Joshua 10:13

The text: the LORD listened to the voice of a man Joshua 10:14

Joshua speaks these words to the LORD in the presence of Israel (10:12).

Samuel asks that God save Israel from the Philistines: He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel 1 Samuel 7:9

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines 1 Samuel 7:10

The text: and the LORD answered him 1 Samuel 7:9

The people had asked him, “Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” (7:8).

Solomon asks for an understanding heart to judge the people: give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil 1 Kings 3:9

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure 1 Kings 4:29

The text: behold, I will do what you have asked 1 Kings 3:12

God adds what he did not ask for, “both riches and honor” (3:13). He asks in a dream at Gibeon (3:5, 15).

Elijah asks that the widow's son live again: O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him! 1 Kings 17:21

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking the child’s life returned to him, and he lived 1 Kings 17:22

The text: the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah 1 Kings 17:22

Hezekiah asks to be saved from Sennacherib king of Assyria: please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God 2 Kings 19:19

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians 2 Kings 19:35

The text: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria 2 Kings 19:20

The camp is struck “that very night” after Isaiah sends the LORD's answer (19:35); the text does not say how soon after the prayer that was. Chronicles says Hezekiah and Isaiah cried out to heaven together (2 Chronicles 32:20).

Hezekiah asks to live, when told he would die: Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion 2 Kings 20:3

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking Hezekiah recovered 2 Kings 20:7

The text: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. 2 Kings 20:5

He is told he will die (20:1); God adds fifteen years to his life (20:6).

Manasseh asks for mercy, as a captive in Babylon: in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself 2 Chronicles 33:12

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. 2 Chronicles 33:13

The text: the LORD received his plea and heard his petition 2 Chronicles 33:13

Ezra and the returning exiles asks for a safe journey to Jerusalem: ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions Ezra 8:21

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking So we arrived at Jerusalem Ezra 8:32

The text: He granted our request Ezra 8:23

Ezra was “ashamed to ask the king for an escort” (8:22).

Daniel asks to understand a vision: from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God Daniel 10:12 (the request is implied)

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days Daniel 10:14

The text: your words were heard, and I have come in response to them Daniel 10:12

Amos asks for forgiveness for Israel, when he saw the locusts: Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small? Amos 7:2

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking “It will not happen,” He said. Amos 7:3

The text: So the LORD relented from this plan. Amos 7:3

Zechariah, whose request is not given: your prayer has been heard Luke 1:13 (the request is implied)

Given as asked The text ties it to the asking When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Luke 1:57

The text: your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son Luke 1:13

They were “both well along in years” (1:7). Elizabeth conceives after his days of service in the temple are complete (1:23–24).

Given, as the story tells it

In these, what was asked comes to pass, but the text does not call it an answer. Abraham's servant asks for a sign at the spring, and Rebekah comes out before he has finished praying.

Abraham's servant asks for success in finding a wife for Isaac, and a sign to know her by: please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham Genesis 24:12

Given as asked Follows in the story Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out Genesis 24:15

He blesses the LORD, “who led me on the right road” (24:48).

Jephthah asks for victory over the Ammonites, with a vow: If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand Judges 11:30

Given as asked Follows in the story the LORD delivered them into his hand Judges 11:32

His daughter is the first to come out to meet him (11:34). After two months, “he did to her as he had vowed.” (11:39).

Samson asks for strength once more, to repay the Philistines: O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more Judges 16:28

Given as asked Follows in the story he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people in it Judges 16:30

He dies with them (16:30).

Nehemiah asks for success, and mercy from the king: Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Nehemiah 1:11

Given as asked Follows in the story because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests Nehemiah 2:8

He prays again when the king asks, “What is your request?” (2:4).

The sailors asks for not to perish for Jonah's life, nor be charged with innocent blood: Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! Jonah 1:14

Given as asked Follows in the story the raging sea grew calm Jonah 1:15

Afterwards “the men feared the LORD greatly” (1:16).

The church in Jerusalem asks for Peter in prison: the church was fervently praying to God for him Acts 12:5

Given as asked Follows in the story the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp Acts 12:11

Not given

The text records sixteen requests that were not given. In fourteen, God's answer or the text's own words show it: God refuses, tells Jeremiah to stop praying for the people, or answers with a question, and twice Saul gets no answer at all. Two it shows only by what follows: David's child dies, and an angel wakes Elijah, who had asked to die, and feeds him.

Elijah and Jonah each ask to die, and neither is taken; so does Moses, who is given elders to share his burden instead (Numbers 11:14–17). Three times God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people (Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11). These are particular moments in the story, and the page does not draw from them a rule about when a request is refused.

Jacob, to the man who wrestled with him asks for his name: Please tell me your name. Genesis 32:29

Not given The text ties it to the asking Why do you ask my name? Genesis 32:29

Moses asks for forgiveness for the people, or else to be blotted out of God's book: if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written Exodus 32:32

Not given The text ties it to the asking Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book … on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin Exodus 32:33–34

Moses is told to lead the people on, with God's angel going before them (32:34). A plague follows (32:35).

The Israelites, whose request is not given: you returned and wept before the LORD Deuteronomy 1:45

Not given The text ties it to the asking He would not listen to your voice or give ear to you Deuteronomy 1:45

It was after their defeat by the Amorites (1:44).

Moses asks to cross the Jordan and see the good land: Please let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan Deuteronomy 3:25

Not given The text ties it to the asking Do not speak to Me again about this matter. Deuteronomy 3:26

He is told to look at the land from the top of Pisgah (3:27). Before he dies the LORD shows him the whole land and says, “I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross into it.” (34:4).

Manoah asks for the name of the angel of the LORD: What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes to pass? Judges 13:17

Not given The text ties it to the asking Why do you ask my name … since it is beyond comprehension? Judges 13:18

Manoah did not yet know that it was the angel of the LORD (13:16).

Saul asks whether to go after the Philistines: Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel? 1 Samuel 14:37

Not given The text ties it to the asking But God did not answer him that day. 1 Samuel 14:37

Saul asks for guidance, afraid of the Philistine army: He inquired of the LORD 1 Samuel 28:6

Not given The text ties it to the asking the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets 1 Samuel 28:6

He then seeks out a medium (28:7).

David asks that his child live: David pleaded with God for the boy 2 Samuel 12:16

Not given Follows in the story On the seventh day the child died. 2 Samuel 12:18

David says afterwards, “Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.” (12:22). Nathan had told him the child would die (12:14).

Elijah asks to die: Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4

Not given Follows in the story Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 1 Kings 19:5

Strengthened by the food, he walks forty days and forty nights to Horeb (19:8).

Jeremiah, for the people asks that God not forsake His people: Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us! Jeremiah 14:9

Not given The text ties it to the asking Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Jeremiah 14:11

God had twice told him before not to pray for the people (7:16; 11:14).

Jeremiah, for the people asks that God not despise His people, and remember His covenant: For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it. Jeremiah 14:21

Not given The text ties it to the asking Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Jeremiah 15:1

Zedekiah king of Judah asks for a wonder, so that Nebuchadnezzar would withdraw through Jeremiah: Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders Jeremiah 21:2

Not given The text ties it to the asking And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm Jeremiah 21:5

Zedekiah king of Judah asks that Jeremiah pray for them through Jeremiah: Please pray to the LORD our God for us! Jeremiah 37:3

Not given The text ties it to the asking Then the Chaldeans will return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it down. Jeremiah 37:8

The Chaldeans had withdrawn when Pharaoh's army marched out of Egypt (37:5).

Ezekiel asks that God not destroy the whole remnant of Israel: Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel? Ezekiel 9:8

Not given The text ties it to the asking But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Ezekiel 9:10

Those marked for sighing and groaning over the city's abominations had been spared (9:4–6).

The elders of Israel asks to inquire of the LORD through Ezekiel: some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD Ezekiel 20:1

Not given The text ties it to the asking As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you Ezekiel 20:3

Jonah asks to die: please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live Jonah 4:3

Not given The text ties it to the asking Have you any right to be angry? Jonah 4:4

Later, faint in the sun, he wishes again to die (4:8), and God asks him about the plant and the great city of Nineveh (4:9–11).

A closed wooden doorway in a stone courtyard at night with a small lamp still burning on the threshold — A continuing lamp before a closed door: an editorial reflection on requests that were not given.

Given another way, or later

Given another way

Abraham pleads for Sodom, and the city falls, but Lot is brought out. Moses asks to see God's glory and is shown His goodness passing by, but not His face. The people ask for the snakes to be taken away, and God gives a remedy for those who are bitten.

Abraham asks that Sodom be spared for the sake of the righteous in it: Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? … Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? Genesis 18:23–24

Given another way The text ties it to the asking He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived Genesis 19:29

The text: He remembered Abraham Genesis 19:29

The city is not spared, but the text says God remembered Abraham and brought Lot out (19:29).

God had agreed to spare the city for the sake of ten (18:32).

Moses asks that God send someone else: Please, Lord, send someone else. Exodus 4:13

Given another way The text ties it to the asking He will speak to the people for you. Exodus 4:16

Moses is still sent, but God gives him Aaron to speak for him (4:14–16).

Moses asks to see God's glory: Please show me Your glory. Exodus 33:18

Given another way The text ties it to the asking Then the LORD passed in front of Moses Exodus 34:6

God's reply: I will cause all My goodness to pass before you … You cannot see My face Exodus 33:19–20

God lets His goodness pass before Moses, but not His face (33:19–23).

Moses asks that the snakes be taken away: Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us … So Moses interceded for the people Numbers 21:7

Given another way The text ties it to the asking If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live. Numbers 21:9

God's reply: Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live. Numbers 21:8

God answers with a remedy for those bitten: whoever looks at the bronze snake lives (21:8–9).

The people had asked him to intercede (21:7).

David asks that the plague fall on him and his family rather than the people: Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house. 2 Samuel 24:17

Given another way The text ties it to the asking the plague upon Israel was halted 2 Samuel 24:25

The text: Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land 2 Samuel 24:25

The hand does not fall on David; the plague stops after he builds the altar, and the text says the LORD answered the prayers for the land.

The text has already said that the LORD relented and told the angel, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” (24:16). David builds an altar at the prophet Gad's word; Chronicles adds that God answered him “with fire from heaven” (1 Chronicles 21:26).

Job asks that God withdraw His hand, answer him, and show him his sin: Withdraw Your hand from me … Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. Job 13:21–23

Given another way The text ties it to the asking Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind Job 38:1

God answers Job from the whirlwind; the text does not have Him name a sin.

God speaks to him of His works in creation (chapters 38 to 41). Afterwards God says Job has spoken accurately about Him (42:7) and restores his prosperity (42:10).

Paul asks that his thorn in the flesh be taken away: Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 2 Corinthians 12:8

Given another way The text ties it to the asking My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The thorn is not said to be removed; the Lord answers that His grace is sufficient.

Paul does not say what the thorn was; he calls it “a messenger of Satan, to torment me” (12:7).

Promised, or told to wait

Habakkuk asks how long he must call for help and is told of a vision that awaits its time: “Though it lingers, wait for it” (Habakkuk 2:3). The others are answered with promises whose keeping the text does not tell: twice to Jeremiah, once to Ezekiel, and in Gabriel's answer to Daniel.

Jeremiah asks to see God's vengeance on those plotting against him: let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause Jeremiah 11:20

Promised, or told to wait The text ties it to the asking I will punish them … I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment Jeremiah 11:22–23

God answers with a promise to punish the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.

He asks again in 12:3, and God's reply there is a question: “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?” (12:5).

Jeremiah asks to be remembered, avenged, and kept alive: remember me and attend to me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Jeremiah 15:15

Promised, or told to wait The text ties it to the asking I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. Jeremiah 15:21

God answers with a promise to deliver him, if he returns.

The promise begins with a call to him: “If you return, I will restore you” (15:19).

Ezekiel asks that God not bring the remnant of Israel to an end: Oh, Lord GOD, will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end? Ezekiel 11:13

Promised, or told to wait The text ties it to the asking I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel. Ezekiel 11:17

God answers with a promise to gather the exiles.

Daniel asks for forgiveness, and that God's anger turn from Jerusalem: O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay Daniel 9:19

Promised, or told to wait The text ties it to the asking Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city Daniel 9:24

The text: At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out Daniel 9:23

Gabriel's answer, which went out at the beginning of his petitions, speaks of what is decreed for the people and the city over seventy weeks.

Gabriel's answer speaks of the city rebuilt “in times of distress” (9:25), and later destroyed (9:26).

Habakkuk asks that God act against violence and injustice: How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? Habakkuk 1:2

Promised, or told to wait The text ties it to the asking Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3

God answers that the vision awaits an appointed time and tells him to wait for it.

God's first answer is that He is raising up the Chaldeans (1:5–6). Habakkuk asks again (1:12–13) and waits at his post to see what God will say (2:1).

One hillside path ending at fallen stones while another quieter path curves toward dawn — Some requests in the text are met differently from the form in which they were made.

In its own terms: Gethsemane

In Gethsemane Jesus asks, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39). He goes away a second time and prays, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42), and a third time, “saying the same thing” (Matthew 26:44). Mark and Luke tell it too (Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42).

The asking and the yielding come in the same prayer, so the page does not count it as given or not given. Luke adds that “an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him” (Luke 22:43), in verses some early manuscripts do not have. That night He is arrested (Matthew 26:47–50). Hebrews says that during His earthly life He “offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence” (Hebrews 5:7), words many readers connect with Gethsemane.

How long they waited

The text gives a time for 31 of the requests. It runs from “Before the servant had finished praying” (Genesis 24:15) to twenty years and more. Where the text gives only a span, the page gives the span and the arithmetic behind it, never a single figure the text does not give.

For most requests it gives no time at all. Hannah's son is born “in the course of time” (1 Samuel 1:20).

While they were still praying

Before he had finished praying Abraham's servant asks for success in finding a wife for Isaac, and a sign to know her by Genesis 24:12
An answer came while he was still praying Daniel asks for forgiveness, and that God's anger turn from Jerusalem Daniel 9:19

At once

Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard Hezekiah asks to live, when told he would die 2 Kings 20:3The answer comes “Before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard” (20:4), and promises that he will go up to the house of the LORD “On the third day from now” (20:5).
As soon as they had prayed The church in Jerusalem asks for boldness to speak, with healing and signs Acts 4:29–30

That day or night, or the next morning

The same day Abraham asks to know that he would possess the land Genesis 15:8
By the next morning Abraham asks that Sodom be spared for the sake of the righteous in it Genesis 18:23–24
The next morning Jacob asks to be saved from his brother Esau Genesis 32:11
The next day, the time Pharaoh chose Moses asks that the frogs be taken away Exodus 8:12
The next day Moses asks that the swarms of flies depart Exodus 8:30
That night and the next morning The Israelites at the sea asks for rescue from Pharaoh's army Exodus 14:10
The next day Moses asks that God not accept the rebels' offering Numbers 16:15
The next morning Gideon asks for dew on the fleece alone, as a sign Judges 6:37
That night Gideon asks for the fleece dry and the ground wet, as a second sign Judges 6:39
The next day The Israelites asks whether to fight again, or stop Judges 20:28
The same day Samuel asks that God save Israel from the Philistines 1 Samuel 7:9
That day Samuel asks for thunder and rain at the wheat harvest, as a sign to the people 1 Samuel 12:18
The next morning Jehoshaphat asks for a word from the LORD for three armies without water 2 Kings 3:11
The next day Jehoshaphat asks that God judge the army invading Judah 2 Chronicles 20:12
That night Daniel and his friends asks for mercy concerning the king's dream, so that they would not be killed Daniel 2:18
After his servant looked toward the sea seven times Elijah, as James tells it asks for rain James 5:18In 1 Kings, Elijah bows down on Mount Carmel while his servant looks toward the sea seven times; then heavy rain begins (1 Kings 18:42–45).

Within days

Seven days Moses asks for healing for his sister Miriam Numbers 12:13
Seven days David asks that his child live 2 Samuel 12:16
Before Herod could bring him out The church in Jerusalem asks for Peter in prison Acts 12:5He is seized during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (12:3) and freed on the night before Herod was to bring him to trial (12:6); the church is still praying when he arrives (12:12).
Ten days Johanan and the remnant of Judah asks that the LORD tell them where to go and what to do Jeremiah 42:3

Within weeks

Three weeks Daniel asks to understand a vision Daniel 10:12Daniel mourns “three full weeks” (10:2). The angel says he was opposed “for twenty-one days” (10:13).

Months

About three and a half months Ezra and the returning exiles asks for a safe journey to Jerusalem Ezra 8:21They set out from the Ahava Canal on the twelfth day of the first month (8:31) and arrive in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month (7:9).
About four months Nehemiah asks for success, and mercy from the king Nehemiah 1:11He hears the news and begins to pray in the month of Chislev (1:1–4) and speaks to the king in the month of Nisan (2:1), four months later. He dates both to the twentieth year.

Years

Up to about seven years Rachel asks for a child of her own Genesis 30:22Rachel marries Jacob when his first seven years of service are complete (29:20–28). Joseph is born before Jacob asks to leave, when the fourteen years for Laban's daughters are done (30:25–26; 31:41). The text does not say when she prayed.
Up to twenty years Isaac asks for a child, as his wife was barren Genesis 25:21Isaac is forty when he marries Rebekah (25:20) and sixty when the twins are born (25:26). The text says only that he prayed later.
More than twenty years Jacob asks for God's care on his journey, and a safe return home Genesis 28:20–21He serves Laban twenty years (31:38, 41) before he sets out for home.
Up to twenty-five years Abraham asks for an heir of his own Genesis 15:2–3Abraham is seventy-five when he leaves Haran (12:4) and a hundred when Isaac is born (21:5). The text does not date this prayer within those years.

How long what was given lasted

About a full day Joshua asks that the sun and moon stand still Joshua 10:12
Fifteen more years Hezekiah asks to live, when told he would die 2 Kings 20:3Hezekiah reigns twenty-nine years (18:2), and the Assyrian attack of the time of his illness comes in his fourteenth year (18:13; 20:6), which leaves fifteen.
Three and a half years Elijah, as James tells it asks that it not rain James 5:17

A nearly spent lamp, flowering branch and long dawn shadows in a quiet stone courtyard — The Bible sometimes names the wait: before a prayer ends, days, months or years.

What they asked for, and for whom

People ask most for guidance, for rescue and for mercy. Requests for judgment on others are rarely told as given: three of fifteen. For ten of the others, most of them Nehemiah's, Jeremiah's or in Lamentations, the text does not say what came of them; two are answered with a promise, or told to wait.

What people asked for

Given, as asked or another wayNot given, promised, not told, or in its own terms

1Guidance, or an answer
2Rescue, protection or victory
3Mercy or forgiveness
4Judgment on others
5Something else
6Blessing, presence or remembrance
7Healing, or life for the dying
8A sign
9A child
10An end to a plague
11The restoring of God's people
12Strength, help or success
13Water, food or rain
14Wisdom or understanding
15To die
16The Lord's coming

Most requests are for the one asking, or for a people the asker belongs to. Fifty-one are made for someone else, among them Abraham's for Sodom, Moses's for his sister and for the people, Elijah's for the widow's son, and Stephen's for those who stoned him.

Requests by whom they are for, and what came of them
For	Given as asked	Given another way	Not given	Promised, or told to wait	Not told	In its own terms
For themselves 103	63	4	9	2	24	1
For others 51	39	3	3	1	5	–
For themselves and others 43	27	–	4	2	10	–

Conversations with God

Sometimes the answer comes within the prayer itself. Of the prayers on Prayers in the Bible, 20 have God speaking within them. The longest is Moses at the burning bush: of its 25 verses, God speaks in 20. For 48 of the requests on this page, what came of it is a word in reply, from God or from a prophet speaking for Him.

1 Moses, Exodus 3:11–4:13 25 verses; God speaks in 20
2 Moses, Numbers 11:11–22 12 verses; God speaks in 5
3 Abraham, Genesis 18:23–32 10 verses; God speaks in 6
4 Jeremiah, Jeremiah 11:18–12:4 10 verses; God speaks in 3
5 Abraham, Genesis 15:2–8 7 verses; God speaks in 3
6 Moses, Exodus 33:12–18 7 verses; God speaks in 2
7 Manoah, Judges 13:11–17 7 verses; the angel of the LORD speaks in 4
8 Cain, Genesis 4:9–14 6 verses; God speaks in 4
9 The Israelites, Judges 10:10–15 6 verses; God speaks in 4
10 Elijah, 1 Kings 19:10–14 5 verses; God speaks in 2

All 20 conversations

Prayers in which God answers within the prayer, longest first, with the requests on this page that come from them
Where	Who	Verses	God speaks in	Requests
Exodus 3:11–4:13	Moses	25	20	Exodus 3:13, Exodus 4:13
Numbers 11:11–22	Moses	12	5	Numbers 11:14
Genesis 18:23–32	Abraham	10	6	Genesis 18:23
Jeremiah 11:18–12:4	Jeremiah	10	3	Jeremiah 11:20
Genesis 15:2–8	Abraham	7	3	Genesis 15:2, Genesis 15:8
Exodus 33:12–18	Moses	7	2	Exodus 33:13, Exodus 33:18
Judges 13:11–17	Manoah	7	4	Judges 13:17
Genesis 4:9–14	Cain	6	4	none
Judges 10:10–15	The Israelites	6	4	Judges 10:15
1 Kings 19:10–14	Elijah	5	2	none
Acts 9:10–14	Ananias	5	3	none
Isaiah 6:8–11	Isaiah	4	4	Isaiah 6:11
Amos 7:2–5	Amos	4	1	Amos 7:2, Amos 7:5
Genesis 3:10–12	Adam	3	1	none
1 Samuel 3:10	Samuel	1	1	none
1 Samuel 16:2	Samuel	1	1	none
2 Samuel 2:1	David	1	1	2 Samuel 2:1
2 Samuel 5:19	David	1	1	2 Samuel 5:19
Isaiah 63:2	Isaiah	1	1	none
Acts 9:5	Paul	1	1	Acts 9:5

The Psalms, counted apart

The Psalms are full of requests, but they seldom tell what came of one, so they are not counted above. Of the 150 psalms, 110 speak to God. In 18 the psalmist says that God heard or answered him, and six more say it of others. Nine ask “How long?”, and three ask God to answer quickly.

Psalm 22 holds both: “I cry out by day, O my God, but You do not answer” (Psalm 22:2), and later, “You have answered me!” (Psalm 22:21). Psalm 88 ends without an answer: “darkness is my closest companion” (Psalm 88:18).

Psalms that say God heard or answered

He answers me from His holy mountain Psalm 3:4
the LORD hears when I call to Him Psalm 4:3
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy Psalm 6:9
From His temple He heard my voice Psalm 18:6
You have answered me! Psalm 22:21
He has heard my cry for mercy Psalm 28:6
I cried to You for help, and You healed me Psalm 30:2
You heard my plea for mercy when I called to You for help Psalm 31:22
I sought the LORD, and He answered me Psalm 34:4
He inclined to me and heard my cry Psalm 40:1
He hears my voice Psalm 55:17
You have heard my vows Psalm 61:5
But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer Psalm 66:19
He has heard my voice Psalm 116:1
In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered and set me free Psalm 118:5
I recounted my ways, and You answered me Psalm 119:26
In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me Psalm 120:1
On the day I called, You answered me Psalm 138:3

Six more say it of others: of the people of Israel, of Moses, Aaron and Samuel, and of the king.

He answers him from His holy heaven Psalm 20:6
He asked You for life, and You granted it Psalm 21:4
I answered you from the cloud of thunder Psalm 81:7
They called to the LORD and He answered Psalm 99:6
Nevertheless He heard their cry Psalm 106:44
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress Psalm 107:6

Psalms that ask how long

My soul is deeply distressed. How long, O LORD, how long? Psalm 6:3
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? Psalm 13:1
How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions. Psalm 35:17
How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever? Psalm 74:10
How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? Psalm 79:5
O LORD God of Hosts, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people? Psalm 80:4
How long, O LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath keep burning like fire? Psalm 89:46
Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants. Psalm 90:13
How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult? Psalm 94:3

Psalms that ask God to answer quickly

Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly! Psalm 69:17
Do not hide Your face from me in my day of distress. Incline Your ear to me; answer me quickly when I call. Psalm 102:2
Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit. Psalm 143:7

Grouped blank scrolls and parchment sheets arranged around a central lamp on a scholar's table — A gathered record: the complete list below keeps each request beside what the text says came of it.

Every request

All 197 requests, in Bible order, with what the text says came of each. The filters find a book, an outcome, or words.

All 197 requests

Every request on this page in Bible order: who asks, what, what the text says came of it, whether the text ties the outcome to the asking, and any wait the text gives
Where	Who	What was asked	What came of it	Tied?	Wait
Genesis 15:2–3	Abraham	An heir of his own what can You give me, since I remain childless … You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir Genesis 15:2–3	Given as asked Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age Genesis 21:2	Tied	up to twenty-five years
Genesis 15:8	Abraham	To know that he would possess the land how can I know that I will possess it? Genesis 15:8	Given as asked On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram Genesis 15:18	Tied	the same day
Genesis 17:18	Abraham	That Ishmael live under God's blessing O that Ishmael might live under Your blessing! Genesis 17:18	Given as asked twelve princes of their tribes Genesis 25:16	Tied
Genesis 18:23–24	Abraham	That Sodom be spared for the sake of the righteous in it Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? … Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? Genesis 18:23–24	Given another way He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that destroyed the cities where he had lived Genesis 19:29	Tied	by the next morning
Genesis 20:4	Abimelech, king of Gerar	That God not destroy an innocent nation Lord, would You destroy a nation even though it is innocent? Genesis 20:4	Given as asked he will pray for you and you will live Genesis 20:7	Tied
Genesis 20:17	Abraham	For Abimelech and his household (implied) Then Abraham prayed to God Genesis 20:17	Given as asked God healed Abimelech and his wife and his maidservants, so that they could again bear children Genesis 20:17	Tied
Genesis 24:12	Abraham's servant	Success in finding a wife for Isaac, and a sign to know her by please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham Genesis 24:12	Given as asked Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah came out Genesis 24:15	Follows	before he had finished praying
Genesis 25:21	Isaac	A child, as his wife was barren Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren Genesis 25:21	Given as asked his wife Rebekah conceived Genesis 25:21	Tied	up to twenty years
Genesis 25:22	Rebekah	Why the children struggled within her So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD Genesis 25:22	Given as asked Two nations are in your womb Genesis 25:23	Tied
Genesis 28:20–21	Jacob	God's care on his journey, and a safe return home If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey … so that I may return safely to my father’s house Genesis 28:20–21	Given as asked Jacob returned to his father Isaac at Mamre Genesis 35:27	Tied	more than twenty years
Genesis 30:6	Rachel	A son (implied) He has heard my plea Genesis 30:6	Given as asked Bilhah conceived and bore him a son Genesis 30:5	Tied
Genesis 30:17	Leah	Another son (implied) God listened to Leah Genesis 30:17	Given as asked she conceived and bore a fifth son to Jacob Genesis 30:17	Tied
Genesis 30:22	Rachel	A child of her own (implied) He listened to her Genesis 30:22	Given as asked she conceived and gave birth to a son Genesis 30:23	Tied	up to about seven years
Genesis 32:11	Jacob	To be saved from his brother Esau Please deliver me from the hand of my brother Esau Genesis 32:11	Given as asked Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him Genesis 33:4	Follows	the next morning
Genesis 32:26	Jacob, to the man who wrestled with him	A blessing I will not let you go unless you bless me. Genesis 32:26	Given as asked Then he blessed Jacob there. Genesis 32:29	Tied
Genesis 32:29	Jacob, to the man who wrestled with him	His name Please tell me your name. Genesis 32:29	Not given Why do you ask my name? Genesis 32:29	Tied
Exodus 2:23	The Israelites in Egypt	Deliverance from slavery their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God Exodus 2:23	Given as asked on that very day the LORD brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt Exodus 12:51	Tied
Exodus 3:13	Moses	What name to give when the Israelites ask who sent him What is His name? What should I tell them? Exodus 3:13	Given as asked I AM WHO I AM. Exodus 3:14	Tied
Exodus 4:13	Moses	That God send someone else Please, Lord, send someone else. Exodus 4:13	Given another way He will speak to the people for you. Exodus 4:16	Tied
Exodus 8:12	Moses	That the frogs be taken away Moses cried out to the LORD for help with the frogs Exodus 8:12	Given as asked the frogs in the houses, the courtyards, and the fields died Exodus 8:13	Tied	the next day, the time Pharaoh chose
Exodus 8:30	Moses	That the swarms of flies depart Then Moses left Pharaoh and prayed to the LORD Exodus 8:30	Given as asked He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not one fly remained Exodus 8:31	Tied	the next day
Exodus 9:33	Moses	That the thunder and hail stop spread out his hands to the LORD Exodus 9:33	Given as asked The thunder and hail ceased Exodus 9:33	Follows
Exodus 10:18	Moses	That the locusts be taken away appealed to the LORD Exodus 10:18	Given as asked the LORD changed the wind to a very strong west wind that carried off the locusts Exodus 10:19	Follows
Exodus 14:10	The Israelites at the sea	Rescue from Pharaoh's army they were terrified and cried out to the LORD Exodus 14:10	Given as asked That day the LORD saved Israel from the hand of the Egyptians Exodus 14:30	Tied	that night and the next morning
Exodus 15:25	Moses	Water the people could drink Moses cried out to the LORD Exodus 15:25	Given as asked the LORD showed him a log. And when he cast it into the waters, they were sweetened Exodus 15:25	Follows
Exodus 17:4	Moses	What to do with the people, who were ready to stone him What should I do with these people? Exodus 17:4	Given as asked when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink Exodus 17:6	Tied
Exodus 32:12	Moses	That God turn from His anger and not destroy the people Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. Exodus 32:12	Given as asked So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people. Exodus 32:14	Tied
Exodus 32:32	Moses	Forgiveness for the people, or else to be blotted out of God's book if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written Exodus 32:32	Not given Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book … on the day I settle accounts, I will punish them for their sin Exodus 32:33–34	Tied
Exodus 33:13–15	Moses	To know God's ways, and that His presence go with the people please let me know Your ways … If Your Presence does not go with us Exodus 33:13–15	Given as asked My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14	Tied
Exodus 33:18	Moses	To see God's glory Please show me Your glory. Exodus 33:18	Given another way Then the LORD passed in front of Moses Exodus 34:6	Tied
Exodus 34:9	Moses	That God go with the people, forgive them and take them as His own please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance Exodus 34:9	Given as asked Behold, I am making a covenant. Exodus 34:10	Tied
Numbers 9:8	Moses	Whether men unclean from a dead body could keep the Passover Wait here until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you Numbers 9:8	Given as asked he may still observe the Passover to the LORD Numbers 9:10	Tied
Numbers 11:2	Moses	That the fire from the LORD die down he prayed to the LORD Numbers 11:2	Given as asked the fire died down Numbers 11:2	Follows
Numbers 11:4	The Israelites in the wilderness	Meat Who will feed us meat? Numbers 11:4	Given as asked a wind sent by the LORD came up, drove in quail from the sea Numbers 11:31	Tied
Numbers 11:14–15	Moses	Relief from the burden of the people, or else death I cannot carry all these people by myself; it is too burdensome for me. If this is how You are going to treat me, please kill me right now Numbers 11:14–15	Given as asked They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself. Numbers 11:17	Tied
Numbers 12:13	Moses	Healing for his sister Miriam O God, please heal her! Numbers 12:13	Given as asked So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until she was brought in again. Numbers 12:15	Tied	seven days
Numbers 14:19	Moses	Pardon for the people Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people Numbers 14:19	Given as asked I have pardoned them as you requested Numbers 14:20	Tied
Numbers 16:15	Moses	That God not accept the rebels' offering Do not regard their offering. Numbers 16:15	Given as asked fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense Numbers 16:35	Follows	the next day
Numbers 16:22	Moses and Aaron	That God not be angry with the whole congregation for one man's sin when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation? Numbers 16:22	Given as asked Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Numbers 16:24	Tied
Numbers 21:2	The Israelites	Victory over the king of Arad If You will deliver this people into our hands Numbers 21:2	Given as asked delivered up the Canaanites Numbers 21:3	Tied
Numbers 21:7	Moses	That the snakes be taken away Intercede with the LORD so He will take the snakes away from us … So Moses interceded for the people Numbers 21:7	Given another way If anyone who was bitten looked at the bronze snake, he would live. Numbers 21:9	Tied
Numbers 27:5	Moses, for the daughters of Zelophehad	A ruling on their claim to their father's land So Moses brought their case before the LORD Numbers 27:5	Given as asked The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. Numbers 27:7	Tied
Numbers 27:16	Moses	A leader for the people after him appoint a man over the congregation Numbers 27:16	Given as asked Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him Numbers 27:18	Tied
Deuteronomy 1:45	The Israelites	Not given in the text you returned and wept before the LORD Deuteronomy 1:45	Not given He would not listen to your voice or give ear to you Deuteronomy 1:45	Tied
Deuteronomy 3:25	Moses	To cross the Jordan and see the good land Please let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan Deuteronomy 3:25	Not given Do not speak to Me again about this matter. Deuteronomy 3:26	Tied
Deuteronomy 9:20	Moses	That Aaron not be destroyed The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron. Deuteronomy 9:20	Not told	–
Deuteronomy 18:16	The Israelites at Horeb	Not to hear God's voice from the fire any longer, but to hear Him through Moses Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God or see this great fire anymore, so that we will not die! Deuteronomy 18:16	Given as asked I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. Deuteronomy 18:18	Tied
Joshua 5:14	Joshua	What the commander of the LORD's army had to say to him What does my Lord have to say to His servant? Joshua 5:14	Given as asked Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy. Joshua 5:15	Tied
Joshua 10:12	Joshua	That the sun and moon stand still O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon. Joshua 10:12	Given as asked So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Joshua 10:13	Tied
Judges 1:1	The Israelites	Who should go up first against the Canaanites Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites? Judges 1:1	Given as asked Judah shall go up Judges 1:2	Tied
Judges 3:9	The Israelites	Deliverance from Cushan-rishathaim when the Israelites cried out to the LORD Judges 3:9	Given as asked the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel Judges 3:10	Tied
Judges 3:15	The Israelites	Deliverance from Eglon king of Moab And again they cried out to the LORD Judges 3:15	Given as asked He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer Judges 3:15	Tied
Judges 4:3	The Israelites	Deliverance from Jabin and his chariots Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD Judges 4:3	Given as asked the LORD routed with the sword Sisera, all his charioteers, and all his army Judges 4:15	Tied
Judges 6:6	The Israelites	Deliverance from Midian the Israelites cried out to the LORD Judges 6:6	Given as asked In this way Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. Judges 8:28	Tied
Judges 6:17	Gideon	A sign that it was the LORD speaking with him give me a sign that it is You speaking with me Judges 6:17	Given as asked fire flared from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread Judges 6:21	Follows
Judges 6:18	Gideon	That the LORD wait while he brings an offering Please do not depart from this place until I return to You. Judges 6:18	Given as asked I will stay until you return. Judges 6:18	Tied
Judges 6:37	Gideon	Dew on the fleece alone, as a sign If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand Judges 6:37	Given as asked And that is what happened. Judges 6:38	Follows	the next morning
Judges 6:39	Gideon	The fleece dry and the ground wet, as a second sign This time let it be dry, and the ground covered with dew. Judges 6:39	Given as asked Only the fleece was dry, and dew covered the ground. Judges 6:40	Tied	that night
Judges 10:15	The Israelites	Deliverance from the Ammonites Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today! Judges 10:15	Given as asked So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites. Judges 11:33	Tied
Judges 11:30	Jephthah	Victory over the Ammonites, with a vow If indeed You will deliver the Ammonites into my hand Judges 11:30	Given as asked the LORD delivered them into his hand Judges 11:32	Follows
Judges 13:8	Manoah	That the man of God come again to teach them how to raise the boy let the man of God You sent us come to us again to teach us how to raise the boy who is to be born Judges 13:8	Given as asked the angel of God returned to the woman as she was sitting in the field Judges 13:9	Tied
Judges 13:17	Manoah	The name of the angel of the LORD What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes to pass? Judges 13:17	Not given Why do you ask my name … since it is beyond comprehension? Judges 13:18	Tied
Judges 15:18	Samson	Water, as he was dying of thirst Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised? Judges 15:18	Given as asked So God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. Judges 15:19	Follows
Judges 16:28	Samson	Strength once more, to repay the Philistines O Lord GOD, please remember me. Strengthen me, O God, just once more Judges 16:28	Given as asked he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people in it Judges 16:30	Follows
Judges 20:18	The Israelites	Which tribe should go up first against Benjamin Who of us shall go up first to fight against the Benjamites? Judges 20:18	Given as asked Judah will be first Judges 20:18	Tied
Judges 20:23	The Israelites	Whether to fight Benjamin again Should we again draw near for battle against our brothers the Benjamites? Judges 20:23	Given as asked Go up against them. Judges 20:23	Tied
Judges 20:28	The Israelites	Whether to fight again, or stop Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop? Judges 20:28	Given as asked The LORD defeated Benjamin in the presence of Israel Judges 20:35	Tied	the next day
1 Samuel 1:11	Hannah	A son if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son 1 Samuel 1:11	Given as asked Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son 1 Samuel 1:20	Tied
1 Samuel 7:9	Samuel	That God save Israel from the Philistines He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel 1 Samuel 7:9	Given as asked that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines 1 Samuel 7:10	Tied	the same day
1 Samuel 8:6	The people of Israel, through Samuel	A king to judge them, like the other nations Give us a king to judge us 1 Samuel 8:6	Given as asked Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you. 1 Samuel 12:13	Tied
1 Samuel 10:22	The Israelites	Whether Saul had come Has the man come here yet? 1 Samuel 10:22	Given as asked Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage. 1 Samuel 10:22	Tied
1 Samuel 12:18	Samuel	Thunder and rain at the wheat harvest, as a sign to the people So Samuel called to the LORD 1 Samuel 12:18	Given as asked on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain 1 Samuel 12:18	Follows	that day
1 Samuel 12:19	The people of Israel, through Samuel	That Samuel pray for them, so that they would not die Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! 1 Samuel 12:19	Not told	–
1 Samuel 14:37	Saul	Whether to go after the Philistines Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel? 1 Samuel 14:37	Not given But God did not answer him that day. 1 Samuel 14:37	Tied
1 Samuel 14:41	Saul	That the lot show where the fault lay If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim. 1 Samuel 14:41	Given as asked And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge. 1 Samuel 14:41	Follows
1 Samuel 23:2	David	Whether to attack the Philistines at Keilah Should I go and attack these Philistines? 1 Samuel 23:2	Given as asked Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah. 1 Samuel 23:2	Tied
1 Samuel 23:4	David	Again whether to go to Keilah, as his men were afraid Once again, David inquired of the LORD 1 Samuel 23:4	Given as asked So David saved the people of Keilah. 1 Samuel 23:5	Tied
1 Samuel 23:11	David	Whether Saul would come and the people of Keilah hand him over Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? 1 Samuel 23:11	Given as asked Then David and his men, about six hundred strong, set out and departed from Keilah 1 Samuel 23:13	Tied
1 Samuel 28:6	Saul	Guidance, afraid of the Philistine army He inquired of the LORD 1 Samuel 28:6	Not given the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets 1 Samuel 28:6	Tied
1 Samuel 30:8	David	Whether to pursue the raiders who had taken the families Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them? 1 Samuel 30:8	Given as asked So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken 1 Samuel 30:18	Tied
2 Samuel 2:1	David	Whether, and where, to go up into Judah Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah? 2 Samuel 2:1	Given as asked To Hebron 2 Samuel 2:1	Tied
2 Samuel 5:19	David	Whether to go up against the Philistines Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand? 2 Samuel 5:19	Given as asked So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines 2 Samuel 5:20	Tied
2 Samuel 5:23	David	How to meet the Philistines when they came again So David inquired of the LORD 2 Samuel 5:23	Given as asked he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer 2 Samuel 5:25	Tied
2 Samuel 7:25	David	That God keep His promise to establish David's house forever confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised 2 Samuel 7:25	Not told	–
2 Samuel 12:16	David	That his child live David pleaded with God for the boy 2 Samuel 12:16	Not given On the seventh day the child died. 2 Samuel 12:18	Follows	seven days
2 Samuel 15:31	David	That Ahithophel's counsel be turned to foolishness O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness! 2 Samuel 15:31	Given as asked For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. 2 Samuel 17:14	Follows
2 Samuel 21:1	David	The reason for a three-year famine David sought the face of the LORD 2 Samuel 21:1	Given as asked God answered their prayers for the land 2 Samuel 21:14	Tied
2 Samuel 24:10	David	That God take away his guilt for numbering the troops I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant 2 Samuel 24:10	Not told	–
2 Samuel 24:17	David	That the plague fall on him and his family rather than the people Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house. 2 Samuel 24:17	Given another way the plague upon Israel was halted 2 Samuel 24:25	Tied
1 Kings 3:9	Solomon	An understanding heart to judge the people give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil 1 Kings 3:9	Given as asked God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure 1 Kings 4:29	Tied
1 Kings 8:30	Solomon	That God hear the prayers made toward the new temple, and forgive Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive. 1 Kings 8:30	Given as asked I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting My Name there forever 1 Kings 9:3	Tied
1 Kings 13:6	A man of God from Judah	That King Jeroboam's withered hand be restored So the man of God interceded with the LORD 1 Kings 13:6	Given as asked the king’s hand was restored to him as it was before 1 Kings 13:6	Follows
1 Kings 14:3	Jeroboam, through his wife, through Ahijah	What would become of their sick son He will tell you what will become of the boy. 1 Kings 14:3	Given as asked When your feet enter the city, the child will die. 1 Kings 14:12	Tied
1 Kings 17:21	Elijah	That the widow's son live again O LORD my God, please let this boy’s life return to him! 1 Kings 17:21	Given as asked the child’s life returned to him, and he lived 1 Kings 17:22	Tied
1 Kings 18:37	Elijah	That God answer on Mount Carmel, so the people would know He is God Answer me, O LORD! Answer me, so that this people will know that You, the LORD, are God 1 Kings 18:37	Given as asked Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the sacrifice 1 Kings 18:38	Tied
1 Kings 19:4	Elijah	To die Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers. 1 Kings 19:4	Not given Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 1 Kings 19:5	Follows
1 Kings 22:5	Jehoshaphat, through Micaiah	A word from the LORD before the battle at Ramoth-gilead Please inquire first for the word of the LORD. 1 Kings 22:5	Given as asked I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. 1 Kings 22:17	Tied
2 Kings 3:11	Jehoshaphat, through Elisha	A word from the LORD for three armies without water Let us inquire of the LORD through him. 2 Kings 3:11	Given as asked water suddenly flowed from the direction of Edom and filled the land 2 Kings 3:20	Tied	the next morning
2 Kings 4:33	Elisha	That the Shunammite woman's son live (implied) he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD 2 Kings 4:33	Given as asked the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes 2 Kings 4:35	Follows
2 Kings 6:17	Elisha	That his servant's eyes be opened O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see. 2 Kings 6:17	Given as asked the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire 2 Kings 6:17	Follows
2 Kings 6:18	Elisha	That the Aramean soldiers be struck with blindness Please strike these people with blindness. 2 Kings 6:18	Given as asked So He struck them with blindness 2 Kings 6:18	Tied
2 Kings 6:20	Elisha	That the soldiers' eyes be opened again O LORD, open the eyes of these men that they may see. 2 Kings 6:20	Given as asked Then the LORD opened their eyes 2 Kings 6:20	Follows
2 Kings 8:8	Ben-hadad king of Aram, through Elisha	Whether he would recover from his illness inquire of the LORD through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’ 2 Kings 8:8	Given as asked Go and tell him, ‘You will surely recover.’ But the LORD has shown me that in fact he will die. 2 Kings 8:10	Tied
2 Kings 13:4	Jehoahaz king of Israel	Relief from the oppression of Aram Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD 2 Kings 13:4	Given as asked So the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped the power of the Arameans. 2 Kings 13:5	Tied
2 Kings 19:4	Hezekiah, through Isaiah	That Isaiah pray for the remnant, under the Assyrian threat Therefore lift up a prayer for the remnant that still survives. 2 Kings 19:4	Given as asked So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. 2 Kings 19:36	Tied
2 Kings 19:19	Hezekiah	To be saved from Sennacherib king of Assyria please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God 2 Kings 19:19	Given as asked that very night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians 2 Kings 19:35	Tied
2 Kings 20:3	Hezekiah	To live, when told he would die Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion 2 Kings 20:3	Given as asked Hezekiah recovered 2 Kings 20:7	Tied	before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard
2 Kings 20:11	Isaiah	That the shadow go back ten steps, as a sign for Hezekiah Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD 2 Kings 20:11	Given as asked He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz 2 Kings 20:11	Follows
2 Kings 22:13	Josiah, through Huldah	What the LORD would say about the words of the book that had been found Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. 2 Kings 22:13	Given as asked Your eyes will not see all the calamity that I will bring on this place. 2 Kings 22:20	Tied
1 Chronicles 4:10	Jabez	Blessing, more land, and protection from harm If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain. 1 Chronicles 4:10	Given as asked And God granted the request of Jabez. 1 Chronicles 4:10	Tied
1 Chronicles 5:20	The tribes east of the Jordan	Help in battle against the Hagrites they cried out to God in battle 1 Chronicles 5:20	Given as asked the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands 1 Chronicles 5:20	Tied
1 Chronicles 29:19	David	A whole heart for Solomon to keep God's commandments and build the temple give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace 1 Chronicles 29:19	Not told	–
2 Chronicles 13:14	The army of Judah	Help, surrounded in battle they cried out to the LORD 2 Chronicles 13:14	Given as asked God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah 2 Chronicles 13:15	Follows
2 Chronicles 14:11	Asa	Help against the Cushite army Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You 2 Chronicles 14:11	Given as asked So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled. 2 Chronicles 14:12	Follows
2 Chronicles 20:12	Jehoshaphat	That God judge the army invading Judah Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. 2 Chronicles 20:12	Given as asked the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated 2 Chronicles 20:22	Tied	the next day
2 Chronicles 30:18	Hezekiah	Atonement for those who had eaten the Passover unclean May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone 2 Chronicles 30:18	Given as asked healed the people 2 Chronicles 30:20	Tied
2 Chronicles 33:12	Manasseh	Mercy, as a captive in Babylon in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself 2 Chronicles 33:12	Given as asked So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. 2 Chronicles 33:13	Tied
Ezra 8:21	Ezra and the returning exiles	A safe journey to Jerusalem ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions Ezra 8:21	Given as asked So we arrived at Jerusalem Ezra 8:32	Tied	about three and a half months
Nehemiah 1:11	Nehemiah	Success, and mercy from the king Give Your servant success this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. Nehemiah 1:11	Given as asked because the gracious hand of my God was upon me, the king granted my requests Nehemiah 2:8	Follows	about four months
Nehemiah 4:4	Nehemiah	That his enemies' scorn fall on their own heads Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. Nehemiah 4:4	Not told	–
Nehemiah 4:9	Nehemiah and the builders	Protection from the plot to attack Jerusalem So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night. Nehemiah 4:9	Given as asked God had frustrated it Nehemiah 4:15	Follows
Nehemiah 5:19	Nehemiah	To be remembered favorably for what he had done for the people Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people. Nehemiah 5:19	Not told	–
Nehemiah 6:9	Nehemiah	Strength to finish the work But now, my God, strengthen my hands. Nehemiah 6:9	Given as asked So the wall was completed in fifty-two days … this task had been accomplished by our God Nehemiah 6:15–16	Follows
Nehemiah 6:14	Nehemiah	That God remember Tobiah, Sanballat and those who tried to frighten him O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done Nehemiah 6:14	Not told	–
Nehemiah 9:32	The Levites	That God not view lightly the people's hardship do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us Nehemiah 9:32	Not told	–
Nehemiah 13:14	Nehemiah	To be remembered for his care of the house of God Remember me for this, O my God Nehemiah 13:14	Not told	–
Nehemiah 13:22	Nehemiah	To be remembered and shown mercy Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion. Nehemiah 13:22	Not told	–
Nehemiah 13:29	Nehemiah	That God remember those who had defiled the priesthood Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood Nehemiah 13:29	Not told	–
Nehemiah 13:31	Nehemiah	To be remembered with favor Remember me, O my God, with favor. Nehemiah 13:31	Not told	–
Job 13:21–23	Job	That God withdraw His hand, answer him, and show him his sin Withdraw Your hand from me … Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply. How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin. Job 13:21–23	Given another way Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind Job 38:1	Tied
Job 42:10	Job	That God not deal with his three friends according to their folly After Job had prayed for his friends Job 42:10	Given as asked the LORD accepted Job’s prayer Job 42:9	Tied
Proverbs 30:7–8	Agur	To be kept from lies, and given neither poverty nor riches Two things I ask of You … Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches Proverbs 30:7–8	Not told	–
Isaiah 6:11	Isaiah	How long the people would hear without understanding How long, O Lord? Isaiah 6:11	Given as asked Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant Isaiah 6:11	Tied
Isaiah 33:2	Isaiah	Grace, strength and salvation in time of trouble O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble. Isaiah 33:2	Not told	–
Isaiah 51:9	Isaiah	That the arm of the LORD awake, as in days past Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past Isaiah 51:9	Not told	–
Isaiah 64:9	Isaiah	That God look down, return for the sake of His servants, and not be angry beyond measure Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people! Isaiah 64:9	Not told	–
Jeremiah 10:24	Jeremiah	To be corrected with justice, not in anger Correct me, O LORD, but only with justice— not in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing. Jeremiah 10:24	Not told	–
Jeremiah 10:25	Jeremiah	Wrath on the nations that devoured Jacob Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You Jeremiah 10:25	Not told	–
Jeremiah 11:20	Jeremiah	To see God's vengeance on those plotting against him let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause Jeremiah 11:20	Promised, or told to wait I will punish them … I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment Jeremiah 11:22–23	Tied
Jeremiah 14:9	Jeremiah, for the people	That God not forsake His people Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us! Jeremiah 14:9	Not given Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Jeremiah 14:11	Tied
Jeremiah 14:21	Jeremiah, for the people	That God not despise His people, and remember His covenant For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it. Jeremiah 14:21	Not given Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Jeremiah 15:1	Tied
Jeremiah 15:15	Jeremiah	To be remembered, avenged, and kept alive remember me and attend to me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Jeremiah 15:15	Promised, or told to wait I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless. Jeremiah 15:21	Tied
Jeremiah 17:14	Jeremiah	Healing and salvation, and shame on his persecutors Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved Jeremiah 17:14	Not told	–
Jeremiah 18:21	Jeremiah	Judgment on those who plotted against him Therefore, hand their children over to famine; pour out the power of the sword upon them. Jeremiah 18:21	Not told	–
Jeremiah 20:12	Jeremiah	To see God's vengeance on his persecutors let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause Jeremiah 20:12	Not told	–
Jeremiah 21:2	Zedekiah king of Judah, through Jeremiah	A wonder, so that Nebuchadnezzar would withdraw Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders Jeremiah 21:2	Not given And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm Jeremiah 21:5	Tied
Jeremiah 37:3	Zedekiah king of Judah, through Jeremiah	That Jeremiah pray for them Please pray to the LORD our God for us! Jeremiah 37:3	Not given Then the Chaldeans will return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it down. Jeremiah 37:8	Tied
Jeremiah 42:3	Johanan and the remnant of Judah, through Jeremiah	That the LORD tell them where to go and what to do Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do. Jeremiah 42:3	Given as asked If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will build you up and not tear you down Jeremiah 42:10	Tied	ten days
Lamentations 1:9	Jerusalem, as the daughter of Zion	That the LORD look on her affliction Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed! Lamentations 1:9	Not told	–
Lamentations 1:22	Jerusalem, as the daughter of Zion	That God deal with her enemies as He has dealt with her Let all their wickedness come before You, and deal with them as You have dealt with me Lamentations 1:22	Not told	–
Lamentations 2:20	Jerusalem, as the daughter of Zion	That the LORD look and consider what has been done Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Lamentations 2:20	Not told	–
Lamentations 3:56	The poet of Lamentations	Relief, calling from the depths of the Pit Do not ignore my cry for relief. Lamentations 3:56	Given as asked You drew near when I called on You; You said, “Do not be afraid.” You defend my cause, O Lord; You redeem my life. Lamentations 3:57–58	Tied
Lamentations 3:59	The poet of Lamentations	Vindication, and that his enemies be repaid You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me; vindicate my cause! Lamentations 3:59	Not told	–
Lamentations 5:21	The poet of Lamentations	That the LORD restore His people Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old Lamentations 5:21	Not told	–
Ezekiel 9:8	Ezekiel	That God not destroy the whole remnant of Israel Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel? Ezekiel 9:8	Not given But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Ezekiel 9:10	Tied
Ezekiel 11:13	Ezekiel	That God not bring the remnant of Israel to an end Oh, Lord GOD, will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end? Ezekiel 11:13	Promised, or told to wait I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel. Ezekiel 11:17	Tied
Ezekiel 20:1	The elders of Israel, through Ezekiel	To inquire of the LORD some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD Ezekiel 20:1	Not given As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you Ezekiel 20:3	Tied
Daniel 2:18	Daniel and his friends	Mercy concerning the king's dream, so that they would not be killed plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed Daniel 2:18	Given as asked During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision Daniel 2:19	Tied	that night
Daniel 9:19	Daniel	Forgiveness, and that God's anger turn from Jerusalem O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For Your sake, O my God, do not delay Daniel 9:19	Promised, or told to wait Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and your holy city Daniel 9:24	Tied	an answer came while he was still praying
Daniel 10:12	Daniel	To understand a vision (implied) from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God Daniel 10:12	Given as asked Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the latter days Daniel 10:14	Tied	three weeks
Hosea 9:14	Hosea	Barren wombs for Ephraim Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up! Hosea 9:14	Not told	–
Joel 2:17	The priests, in the words Joel gives them	That God spare His people Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach Joel 2:17	Given as asked Then the LORD became jealous for His land, and He spared His people. Joel 2:18	Tied
Joel 3:11	Joel	That the LORD bring down His mighty ones against the nations Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD. Joel 3:11	Not told	–
Amos 7:2	Amos	Forgiveness for Israel, when he saw the locusts Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small? Amos 7:2	Given as asked “It will not happen,” He said. Amos 7:3	Tied
Amos 7:5	Amos	That God stop the judgment by fire Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small? Amos 7:5	Given as asked It will not happen either Amos 7:6	Tied
Jonah 1:14	The sailors	Not to perish for Jonah's life, nor be charged with innocent blood Please, O LORD, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life! Do not charge us with innocent blood! Jonah 1:14	Given as asked the raging sea grew calm Jonah 1:15	Follows
Jonah 2:2	Jonah	Help, from the depths of the sea From the belly of Sheol I called for help Jonah 2:2	Given as asked But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God! Jonah 2:6	Tied
Jonah 3:8–9	The king and people of Nineveh	That God turn from His anger, so that they would not perish (implied) have everyone call out earnestly to God … Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish. Jonah 3:8–9	Given as asked He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them Jonah 3:10	Tied
Jonah 4:3	Jonah	To die please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live Jonah 4:3	Not given Have you any right to be angry? Jonah 4:4	Tied
Micah 7:14	Micah	That God shepherd His people as in days of old Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock of Your inheritance. Micah 7:14	Not told	–
Habakkuk 1:2	Habakkuk	That God act against violence and injustice How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save? Habakkuk 1:2	Promised, or told to wait Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay. Habakkuk 2:3	Tied
Habakkuk 3:2	Habakkuk	That God renew His works, and in wrath remember mercy Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy! Habakkuk 3:2	Not told	–
Zechariah 7:3	The people of Bethel, through the priests and prophets	Whether to keep weeping and fasting in the fifth month Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years? Zechariah 7:3	Given as asked The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness Zechariah 8:19	Tied
Matthew 26:39	Jesus	That the cup pass from him, yet as the Father wills My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will. Matthew 26:39	In its own terms My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done. Matthew 26:42	–
Luke 1:13	Zechariah	Not given in the text your prayer has been heard Luke 1:13	Given as asked When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Luke 1:57	Tied
Luke 22:32	Jesus	That Simon Peter's faith not fail But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. Luke 22:32	Not told	–
Luke 23:34	Jesus	Forgiveness for those crucifying him Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34	Not told	–
John 11:41	Jesus	Not given in the text Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. John 11:41	Given as asked The man who had been dead came out John 11:44	Tied
John 12:28	Jesus	That the Father glorify His name Father, glorify Your name! John 12:28	Given as asked I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. John 12:28	Tied
John 17:1	Jesus	That the Father glorify the Son, and keep and unite those who believe Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. John 17:1	Not told	–
Acts 1:24	The believers	To be shown which of two men God had chosen Show us which of these two You have chosen Acts 1:24	Given as asked Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. Acts 1:26	Follows
Acts 4:29–30	The church in Jerusalem	Boldness to speak, with healing and signs enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders Acts 4:29–30	Given as asked their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly Acts 4:31	Follows	as soon as they had prayed
Acts 7:59	Stephen	That the Lord Jesus receive his spirit Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Acts 7:59	Not told	–
Acts 7:60	Stephen	That the Lord not hold this sin against those stoning him Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Acts 7:60	Not told	–
Acts 8:15	Peter and John	That the believers in Samaria receive the Holy Spirit they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit Acts 8:15	Given as asked Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17	Follows
Acts 8:24	Simon the sorcerer, through Peter	That nothing Peter had said would happen to him Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me. Acts 8:24	Not told	–
Acts 9:5	Saul (Paul)	Who was speaking to him Who are You, Lord? Acts 9:5	Given as asked I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting Acts 9:5	Tied
Acts 9:40	Peter	That Tabitha live (implied) He knelt down and prayed Acts 9:40	Given as asked She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. Acts 9:40	Follows
Acts 12:5	The church in Jerusalem	For Peter in prison the church was fervently praying to God for him Acts 12:5	Given as asked the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp Acts 12:11	Follows	before Herod could bring him out
Acts 22:10	Paul, as he tells it	What he should do What should I do, Lord? Acts 22:10	Given as asked Get up and go into Damascus Acts 22:10	Tied
Acts 28:8	Paul	Healing for the father of Publius (implied) after praying and placing his hands on him Acts 28:8	Given as asked he healed the man Acts 28:8	Follows
1 Corinthians 16:22	Paul	That the Lord come Come, O Lord! 1 Corinthians 16:22	Not told	–
2 Corinthians 12:8	Paul	That his thorn in the flesh be taken away Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 2 Corinthians 12:8	Given another way My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9	Tied
James 5:17	Elijah, as James tells it	That it not rain He prayed earnestly that it would not rain James 5:17	Given as asked it did not rain on the land for three and a half years James 5:17	Follows
James 5:18	Elijah, as James tells it	Rain Again he prayed James 5:18	Given as asked the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops James 5:18	Follows	after his servant looked toward the sea seven times
Revelation 6:10	The souls of the martyrs	That God judge and avenge their blood How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood? Revelation 6:10	Given as asked He has avenged the blood of His servants Revelation 19:2	Tied
Revelation 22:20	John	That the Lord Jesus come Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20	Not told	–

The 39 requests whose outcome is not told

Moses asks that Aaron not be destroyed: The LORD was angry enough with Aaron to destroy him, but at that time I also prayed for Aaron. Deuteronomy 9:20Aaron lives on to serve as priest; his death is told later (10:6).
The people of Israel asks that Samuel pray for them, so that they would not die: Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! 1 Samuel 12:19 through SamuelSamuel answers, “Do not be afraid” (12:20), and says he will not stop praying for them (12:23).
David asks that God keep His promise to establish David's house forever: confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised 2 Samuel 7:25
David asks that God take away his guilt for numbering the troops: I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant 2 Samuel 24:10The next morning the prophet Gad brings him a choice of three punishments (24:11–13).
David asks for a whole heart for Solomon to keep God's commandments and build the temple: give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace 1 Chronicles 29:19Solomon completes the temple (2 Chronicles 5:1). In 1 Kings he at first “walked in the statutes of his father David” (1 Kings 3:3), but in old age “he was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God” (1 Kings 11:4).
Nehemiah asks that his enemies' scorn fall on their own heads: Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity. Nehemiah 4:4
Nehemiah asks to be remembered favorably for what he had done for the people: Remember me favorably, O my God, for all that I have done for this people. Nehemiah 5:19
Nehemiah asks that God remember Tobiah, Sanballat and those who tried to frighten him: O my God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done Nehemiah 6:14
The Levites asks that God not view lightly the people's hardship: do not view lightly all the hardship that has come upon us Nehemiah 9:32The prayer ends with a binding agreement, sealed by the leaders (9:38).
Nehemiah asks to be remembered for his care of the house of God: Remember me for this, O my God Nehemiah 13:14
Nehemiah asks to be remembered and shown mercy: Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion. Nehemiah 13:22
Nehemiah asks that God remember those who had defiled the priesthood: Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood Nehemiah 13:29
Nehemiah asks to be remembered with favor: Remember me, O my God, with favor. Nehemiah 13:31These are the last words of the book of Nehemiah.
Agur asks to be kept from lies, and given neither poverty nor riches: Two things I ask of You … Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches Proverbs 30:7–8
Isaiah asks for grace, strength and salvation in time of trouble: O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble. Isaiah 33:2Later in the chapter the LORD says, “Now I will arise” (33:10).
Isaiah asks that the arm of the LORD awake, as in days past: Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past Isaiah 51:9The words that follow are God's: “I, even I, am He who comforts you.” (51:12).
Isaiah asks that God look down, return for the sake of His servants, and not be angry beyond measure: Do not be angry, O LORD, beyond measure; do not remember our iniquity forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray; we are all Your people! Isaiah 64:9The prayer ends, “Will You keep silent and afflict us beyond measure?” (64:12). The words that follow are God's, “I will not keep silent, but I will repay” (65:6), with a promise to spare His servants (65:8–9).
Jeremiah asks to be corrected with justice, not in anger: Correct me, O LORD, but only with justice— not in Your anger, or You will bring me to nothing. Jeremiah 10:24
Jeremiah asks for wrath on the nations that devoured Jacob: Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You Jeremiah 10:25
Jeremiah asks for healing and salvation, and shame on his persecutors: Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved Jeremiah 17:14
Jeremiah asks for judgment on those who plotted against him: Therefore, hand their children over to famine; pour out the power of the sword upon them. Jeremiah 18:21
Jeremiah asks to see God's vengeance on his persecutors: let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause Jeremiah 20:12
Jerusalem, as the daughter of Zion asks that the LORD look on her affliction: Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed! Lamentations 1:9
Jerusalem, as the daughter of Zion asks that God deal with her enemies as He has dealt with her: Let all their wickedness come before You, and deal with them as You have dealt with me Lamentations 1:22
Jerusalem, as the daughter of Zion asks that the LORD look and consider what has been done: Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Lamentations 2:20
The poet of Lamentations asks for vindication, and that his enemies be repaid: You have seen, O LORD, the wrong done to me; vindicate my cause! Lamentations 3:59
The poet of Lamentations asks that the LORD restore His people: Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old Lamentations 5:21The book ends, “unless You have utterly rejected us and remain angry with us beyond measure.” (5:22).
Hosea asks for barren wombs for Ephraim: Give them wombs that miscarry and breasts that dry up! Hosea 9:14The words that follow are God's: “Even if they bear children, I will slay the darlings of their wombs.” (9:16).
Joel asks that the LORD bring down His mighty ones against the nations: Bring down Your mighty ones, O LORD. Joel 3:11The words that follow are God's: “for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side” (3:12).
Micah asks that God shepherd His people as in days of old: Shepherd with Your staff Your people, the flock of Your inheritance. Micah 7:14The words that follow are God's: “As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show My wonders.” (7:15).
Habakkuk asks that God renew His works, and in wrath remember mercy: Revive them in these years; make them known in these years. In Your wrath, remember mercy! Habakkuk 3:2He ends resolved to wait: “Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.” (3:16).
Jesus asks that Simon Peter's faith not fail: But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. Luke 22:32He adds, “And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (22:32). That night Peter denies him three times, then goes outside and weeps bitterly (22:54–62). After the resurrection the Lord appears to Simon (24:34), and in Acts Peter stands up among the believers (Acts 1:15).
Jesus asks for forgiveness for those crucifying him: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34Some early manuscripts do not have this prayer.
Jesus asks that the Father glorify the Son, and keep and unite those who believe: Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. John 17:1He also asks the Father to protect his disciples (17:11, 15) and that all who believe “may be one” (17:21).
Stephen asks that the Lord Jesus receive his spirit: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Acts 7:59He dies: “he fell asleep” (7:60).
Stephen asks that the Lord not hold this sin against those stoning him: Lord, do not hold this sin against them. Acts 7:60Saul, who approved of his death (8:1), later becomes a follower of Jesus (9:1–19); the text does not connect the two.
Simon the sorcerer asks that nothing Peter had said would happen to him: Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me. Acts 8:24 through Peter
Paul asks that the Lord come: Come, O Lord! 1 Corinthians 16:22
John asks that the Lord Jesus come: Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20It answers the words just before it: “Yes, I am coming soon.” (22:20).

The 120 prayers and mentions with no request counted here

Prayers and prayers mentioned on Prayers in the Bible that yield no request on this page, with the reason for each
Where	Who	Why not
Genesis 3:10	Adam	Adam answers God's questions; he asks for nothing.
Genesis 4:14	Cain	Cain complains that his punishment is greater than he can bear, but asks for nothing. God answers with a mark to protect him (4:15).
Genesis 12:8	Abraham	He calls on the name of the LORD, in worship; nothing asked is given.
Genesis 13:4	Abraham	He calls on the name of the LORD, in worship; nothing asked is given.
Genesis 21:33	Abraham	He calls on the name of the LORD, in worship; nothing asked is given.
Genesis 26:25	Isaac	He calls on the name of the LORD, in worship; nothing asked is given.
Genesis 49:18	Jacob	A word of hope in Jacob's blessing of his sons, not a request.
Exodus 5:22	Moses	A complaint that asks why, without a request. God answers, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh” (6:1).
Exodus 6:12	Moses	An objection, not a request.
Exodus 6:30	Moses	An objection, not a request.
Exodus 15:6	Moses and the Israelites	The song at the sea; it asks for nothing.
Exodus 19:23	Moses	Moses reminds God of His own warning; he asks for nothing.
Numbers 10:35	Moses	Words Moses said each time the ark set out and came to rest, not a request made on one occasion.
Deuteronomy 21:8	The elders of a town	Words given for others to say, not a request made in the story.
Deuteronomy 26:10	Every Israelite	Words given for others to say, not a request made in the story.
Deuteronomy 26:13	Every Israelite	Words given for others to say, not a request made in the story.
Deuteronomy 33:3	Moses	Blessings on the tribes of Israel before Moses dies, not requests made for an occasion.
Joshua 7:7	Joshua	A complaint after the defeat at Ai. It asks why, and what God will do for His great name, but asks for nothing in particular. God answers that Israel has sinned (7:10–11).
Judges 5:4	Deborah and Barak	The song of Deborah. Its closing wish, that God's enemies perish, is not a request for an occasion.
Judges 21:3	The Israelites	A lament over the tribe of Benjamin, without a request.
1 Samuel 2:1	Hannah	Hannah's song after she gives Samuel to the LORD; it asks for nothing.
1 Samuel 3:10	Samuel	An answer to God's call, not a request.
1 Samuel 15:11	Samuel	Samuel cries out to the LORD all night about Saul; what he asks is not said.
1 Samuel 16:2	Samuel	An objection, not a request: he fears that Saul will kill him. God answers with instructions (16:2–3).
2 Samuel 22:3	David	David's song of thanks for his deliverance. Its “From His temple He heard my voice” (22:7) is the same line as Psalm 18:6, which is counted with the Psalms.
2 Samuel 23:17	David	David refuses to drink the water his men risked their lives to bring; he asks for nothing.
1 Kings 8:13	Solomon	Words at the dedication of the temple. The requests come in Solomon's prayer, counted at 1 Kings 8:30.
1 Kings 19:10	Elijah	Elijah's complaint that he alone is left, without a request. God answers that He has kept seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed to Baal (19:18).
1 Chronicles 11:19	David	David refuses to drink the water his men risked their lives to bring; he asks for nothing.
1 Chronicles 16:35	The people of Israel	Words David's psalm of thanks gives the people to say, not a request made in the story.
2 Chronicles 6:2	Solomon	Words at the dedication of the temple. The requests come in Solomon's prayer, counted at 1 Kings 8:30.
2 Chronicles 7:3	The Israelites	Worship and thanks at the dedication of the temple.
Ezra 9:6	Ezra	A confession of the people's guilt; it asks for nothing.
Job 9:28	Job	Words to God within Job's reply to Bildad; they ask for nothing.
Job 16:7	Job	A complaint, without a request.
Job 40:4	Job	Job says he has nothing to add; he asks for nothing.
Job 42:2	Job	Job's repentance; he asks for nothing.
Proverbs 30:1	Agur	A complaint of weariness, without a request.
Isaiah 2:6	Isaiah	A word to God about the people, not a request.
Isaiah 9:3	Isaiah	Praise; it asks for nothing.
Isaiah 12:1	The people, on that day	A song Isaiah gives for a day to come, not a request made in the story.
Isaiah 25:1	Isaiah	Praise; it asks for nothing.
Isaiah 26:3	Judah, on that day	A song Isaiah gives for a day to come, not a request made in the story.
Isaiah 27:8	Isaiah	A word to God about the people, not a request.
Isaiah 38:12	Hezekiah	Hezekiah's writing after his recovery. The request it recalls is counted at 2 Kings 20:3.
Isaiah 59:12	Isaiah	A confession, without a request.
Isaiah 63:2	Isaiah	A question to the warrior coming from Edom, not a request.
Jeremiah 1:6	Jeremiah	An objection at his call. God answers, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’” (1:7).
Jeremiah 3:22	The people of Israel	Words God gives the people to say, not a request made in the story.
Jeremiah 4:10	Jeremiah	A complaint that the people have been deceived, without a request.
Jeremiah 5:3	Jeremiah	A word to God about the people, not a request.
Jeremiah 10:6	Jeremiah	Praise; it asks for nothing.
Jeremiah 14:13	Jeremiah	A complaint about the prophets who promise peace, without a request. God answers that they prophesy lies (14:14).
Jeremiah 16:19	Jeremiah	Trust, and a word about the nations; it asks for nothing.
Jeremiah 31:7	The people of Israel	Words God gives the people to proclaim, not a request made in the story.
Jeremiah 32:17	Jeremiah	Jeremiah wonders why he was told to buy a field, but asks for nothing; the word of the LORD answers him (32:26).
Jeremiah 51:62	Seraiah	Words Jeremiah gives Seraiah to say in Babylon, not a request.
Lamentations 3:23	The poet of Lamentations	Praise; it asks for nothing.
Lamentations 3:42	The poet of Lamentations	A lament, without a request: “You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through.” (3:44).
Ezekiel 4:14	Ezekiel	An objection. God lets him bake his bread over cow dung instead (4:15).
Ezekiel 20:49	Ezekiel	A complaint that the people say he only tells parables, without a request.
Daniel 6:10	Daniel	Daniel prays three times a day, as he had done before; what he asks is not said, beyond “petitioning and imploring his God” (6:11).
Hosea 14:3	The people of Israel	Words Hosea gives the people to say, not a request made in the story.
Joel 1:19	Joel	A cry about the drought, without a request.
Matthew 6:9	Jesus	The prayer Jesus teaches his disciples, not a request made in the story.
Matthew 11:25	Jesus	Thanks and praise; it asks for nothing.
Matthew 14:19	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Matthew 14:23	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Matthew 15:36	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Matthew 26:26	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Matthew 26:27	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Matthew 27:46	Jesus	A question from the cross, not a request.
Mark 1:35	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Mark 6:41	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Mark 6:46	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Mark 8:6	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Mark 14:22	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Mark 14:23	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Mark 15:34	Jesus	A question from the cross, not a request.
Luke 1:10	The people at the temple	The people pray outside at the hour of incense; what they ask is not said.
Luke 1:46	Mary, mother of Jesus	Mary's song of praise; it asks for nothing.
Luke 1:68	Zechariah	Zechariah's song of praise; it asks for nothing.
Luke 2:29	Simeon	Simeon's words of release and praise; he asks for nothing.
Luke 2:37	Anna	Anna worships with fasting and prayer night and day; what she asks is not said.
Luke 2:38	Anna	Thanks to God.
Luke 3:21	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Luke 5:16	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Luke 6:12	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Luke 9:16	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Luke 9:18	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Luke 9:28	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Luke 10:21	Jesus	Thanks and praise; it asks for nothing.
Luke 11:1	Jesus	Jesus prays, but what he asks is not said.
Luke 11:2	Jesus	The prayer Jesus teaches his disciples, not a request made in the story.
Luke 22:17	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Luke 22:19	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Luke 23:46	Jesus	Jesus commits his spirit to the Father: a statement, not a request.
Luke 24:30	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
John 6:11	Jesus	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Acts 1:14	The disciples, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus	The believers continue in prayer; what they ask is not said.
Acts 2:42	The first believers	The first believers devote themselves to prayer; what they ask is not said.
Acts 6:6	The apostles	The apostles pray as they lay hands on the seven; what they ask is not said.
Acts 9:10	Ananias	Ananias answers the Lord's call and objects to it; he asks for nothing.
Acts 10:2	Cornelius	Cornelius prays to God regularly; what he asks is not said, though an angel later tells him, “your prayer has been heard” (10:31).
Acts 10:9	Peter	Peter goes up on the roof to pray; what he asks is not said.
Acts 10:14	Peter	Peter refuses what he is told in a vision; he asks for nothing.
Acts 11:8	Peter	Peter refuses what he is told in a vision; he asks for nothing.
Acts 13:3	The church at Antioch	The church prays as it sends out Barnabas and Saul; what it asks is not said.
Acts 16:25	Paul and Silas	Paul and Silas pray and sing hymns at midnight in prison; what they ask is not said. An earthquake opens the doors (16:26).
Acts 20:36	Paul	Paul prays with the Ephesian elders as they part; what he asks is not said.
Acts 21:5	Paul and the disciples at Tyre	The disciples at Tyre kneel on the beach to pray as Paul leaves; what they ask is not said.
Acts 22:19	Paul	Paul objects when the Lord tells him to leave Jerusalem; he asks for nothing.
Acts 27:29	The sailors	The sailors pray for daybreak; the text does not say to whom.
Acts 27:35	Paul	Thanks, or a blessing, over bread or the cup.
Acts 28:15	Paul	Thanks to God.
Philippians 1:19	The Philippians	Paul trusts that the Philippians' prayers will bring his deliverance. The prayers in the letters are listed on Prayers in the Bible and not counted here, except where a letter tells what came of a request (2 Corinthians 12:8; James 5:17–18).
Revelation 4:11	The twenty-four elders	Praise; it asks for nothing.
Revelation 5:9	The twenty-four elders and the living creatures	Praise; it asks for nothing.
Revelation 11:17	The twenty-four elders	Thanks; it asks for nothing.
Revelation 15:3	Those who had conquered the beast	Praise; it asks for nothing.

How this was made

Which requests. The starting point is every prayer whose words the Bible gives outside the Psalms, and every verse that tells of someone praying without giving the words, as gathered on Prayers in the Bible: 188 prayers and 87 such verses. Each was read for what it asks of God. 111 of the prayers and 36 of the verses hold a request, and a few more are other tellings of a request counted once; the rest are praise, thanks, confession, complaint, or prayers whose request is not given, and each is listed above with its reason. A reading of the whole Bible for words of asking and answering added 36 requests, among them requests taken to God through a prophet, such as Josiah's through Huldah (2 Kings 22:13).

What counts as a request. A request asks God to do, give, show or tell something, in so many words or by a question, as when Samson asks, “Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” (Judges 15:18). Complaints that only ask why, and objections, do not count. Words given for others to pray are not counted, except the priests' words in Joel 2:17, whose answer the text tells. Requests to the angel of the LORD, and to the man who wrestles with Jacob, count, since the text has them speak for God. The prayers in the letters are listed on Prayers in the Bible and not counted here, except where a letter tells what came of a request (2 Corinthians 12:8; James 5:17–18). Where the text says only that God heard or listened, the request is taken from what follows, and the page marks it as implied.

What came of it. The outcome is what the text records after the request, in the same book or where another book tells the same story. It is tied to the asking only when the text says God heard, answered, listened, granted, relented, remembered or did as asked, when it gives His reply, or a prophet's word from Him, to the one asking, or when His word links the two, as when God tells Abimelech that Abraham “will pray for you and you will live” (Genesis 20:7). A later book can tie it, as Nehemiah does for the cries in the time of the judges: “From heaven You heard them” (Nehemiah 9:27). In the books of the prophets, God's words that follow a prayer count as a reply only when the text presents them as said to the one praying. A wait is given only where the text gives a time, counted from the asking.

The words shown. Each quotation is the Berean Standard Bible's² own wording, with three dots where words are left out, and every quotation and reference on the page has been checked against its verse. Who speaks in each verse of a conversation comes from Faith Comes By Hearing's list of speakers¹.

The data. Every request, with its verses and the reason for each decision, is in answered-prayers.json.

This page was made with AI assistance and human review.

Corrections are welcome through the contact page.

Sources

Glyssen character data (CharacterVerse.txt), SIL and Faith Comes By Hearing, MIT licence, copyright 2014 to 2020 SIL LSDev and Faith Comes By Hearing. Used through Prayers in the Bible, which it helps assemble, and for who speaks in each conversation.
The Berean Standard Bible, released into the public domain, read on this site at /bible/bsb/.

Questions people ask

What are some answered prayers in the Bible?

Jabez asks to be blessed, and the text says “God granted the request of Jabez” (1 Chronicles 4:10). Hannah asks for a son and later says “the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him” (1 Samuel 1:27). Isaac prays for his wife, who was barren, and “the LORD heard his prayer” (Genesis 25:21). Elijah asks that a widow's son live again, and “the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah” (1 Kings 17:22). God answers Hezekiah, “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you.” (2 Kings 20:5). On this page's reading, the text ties the outcome to the asking in 121 of 197 requests.

Are there unanswered prayers in the Bible?

Yes, if unanswered means not given: the text records 16 requests that were not given. In some, God refuses. Moses asks to cross the Jordan and is told, “Do not speak to Me again about this matter.” (Deuteronomy 3:26). Twice Saul asks and gets no answer at all (1 Samuel 14:37; 1 Samuel 28:6). David pleads for his child, who dies on the seventh day (2 Samuel 12:18). For 39 more requests the text does not say what came of them, which is not the same as a refusal.

What did God say when Paul asked three times?

Paul pleaded three times for his thorn in the flesh to be taken away. The answer he reports is, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Who in the Bible asked God to die?

Three people ask God outright to take their lives: Moses (Numbers 11:15), Elijah (1 Kings 19:4) and Jonah (Jonah 4:3). None of them is taken: Moses is given elders to share his burden, an angel feeds Elijah, and God asks Jonah, “Have you any right to be angry?” (Jonah 4:4). Job wishes that God would crush him (Job 6:8–9), speaking of God rather than to Him, and Samson's last words are “Let me die with the Philistines” (Judges 16:30).

How long did people wait for answers to prayer in the Bible?

Where the text says, from “Before the servant had finished praying” (Genesis 24:15) to many years. Isaac prays at some point in the twenty years between his marriage at forty and the birth of his twins when he is sixty (Genesis 25:20, 26). Daniel waits three weeks (Daniel 10:2, 12–13), Jeremiah ten days for an answer to bring to the people (Jeremiah 42:7), and Ezra's company about three and a half months for the safe journey God granted, from the twelfth day of the first month to the first day of the fifth (Ezra 8:31; 7:9). Most of the time the text does not say.