αἴτημα

a petition, request

Definition

αἴτημα (aitēma) is a noun meaning a specific petition, request, or thing asked for. It refers to a concrete, definite request made to someone in a position of authority or power. In the New Testament, it consistently carries the sense of a direct, personal petition. In Luke 23:24, it describes the specific 'demand' of the crowd for Jesus's crucifixion. In the epistles, the term is used for the requests believers bring to God in prayer, as seen in Philippians 4:6 and 1 John 5:15, where it denotes the specific content of what is asked.

Biblical Usage

This word is used three times in the New Testament, appearing in a Gospel, a Pauline epistle, and a Johannine epistle. In Luke 23:24, it is used in a secular, judicial context for the crowd's demand made to Pilate. In Philippians 4:6 and 1 John 5:15, it is used in a spiritual context for the specific petitions believers bring to God in prayer. The pattern shows it can apply to requests made to both human authorities and to God, always indicating a definite, articulated ask.

Etymology

Derived from the verb αἰτέω (aiteō), meaning 'to ask, request, or demand.' The noun suffix -μα (-ma) indicates the concrete result of the action, hence 'that which is asked for' or 'the petition itself.' It is a cognate with other request-related words like αἰτία (aitia, 'cause, reason') and shares its root with the more common verb for asking.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it specifies the content of prayer. In Philippians 4:6, believers are told to present their 'requests' (αἰτήματα) to God, highlighting prayer as bringing specific needs before Him. In 1 John 5:15, the assurance that God hears our αἰτήματα is tied to confidence in prayer according to His will. Understanding this term enriches prayer by emphasizing that God invites and attends to our specific, personal petitions, not just general worship.

In the Greco-Roman world, an αἴτημα was a formal petition or request, often made to a superior like a king, official, or deity. It implied a degree of expectation that the request, if reasonable and from a rightful petitioner, would be granted. This cultural understanding of a direct appeal to authority informs its biblical usage, especially when applied to prayer, framing the believer's relationship with God as one where specific, confident requests are appropriately made.

δέησις (deēsis, G1162) — a more general term for prayer, supplication, or entreaty, often with a sense of need. προσευχή (proseuchē, G4335) — the most general word for prayer, communication with God. εὐχή (euchē, G2171) — a vow or prayer, sometimes with a dedicatory sense.

Word Details

Scripture References