A: Supplication is one of several
words in the Bible referring to prayer. The word is
found 60 times in the Bible: 39 times in the singular
and21times in the plural; or, 53 times in the Old
Testament and seven (7)times in the New Testament. It is
a synonym of "prayer" and of the58verses where
supplication is used, 31 of these verses also have some
form of the word pray or prayer.
However, although supplication is prayer, it must have a
specific meaning to itself. According to the word
history of supplication, it refers to a bending down and
indicates a bowing or kneeling in submission. 1Kings
8:34 states, "And it was so, that when Solomon had made
an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto
the LORD, he arose from before thealtar of the LORD,
from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to
heaven." By extension of this picture, to supplicate is
to ask for humbly and earnestly. It refers most to the
attitude of our prayer.
As a study aid to help understand the meaning of a Bible
word, I often look at other words often found with the
word I am studying. The word, supplication, is found
seven (7) times in connection with crying out to God
(1Kings 8:28; 2Chronicles 6:19; Psalm 28:2; 30:8; 31:22;
142:1; Hebrews 5:7). Consider especially Psalm 142:1,
which states, "I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with
my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication." The
word is also used with the idea of weeping in three (3)
passages (Jeremiah 3:21; 31:9; Hosea 12:4).
Supplication, therefore, is the attitude or spirit of
prayer. We bend down to God and cry out to Him for an
answer. We submit to His will and to His authority. We
earnestly seek His help. In this way, we make
supplication to God in our prayers. May follow our
example, the Lord Jesus, who "offered up prayers and
supplications with strong crying and tears" (Hebrews
5:7).
Till He comes,
David F. Reagan