Six Prayers in Genesis:
2. Abraham for Ishmael to be his heir (7 words;
Gen 17:18). Unanswered because it was not in harmony with God’s word and plan.
3. Abraham for Sodom to be spared if 10 persons were righteous (176 words;
Gen 18:23-32). Unanswered because 10 righteous persons weren’t found (
Gen 19:24).
Four Prayers in Exodus:
7. Moses for Aaron to go with him (16 words;
Ex 4:13). Answered because God wanted to please Moses (
Ex 4:14-17).
8. Moses in complaint to God for not delivering Israel (42 words;
Ex 5:22-23). Answered because of God’s word (
Ex 3:8,
12,
17-22).
Nine Prayers in Numbers:
11. Aaron for the blessing of God upon the people (32 words in the form of benediction;
Num 6:24-26). Answered because of God’s promise (
Num 6:27).
12. Moses for God to bless on the journey (27 words;
Num 10:35-36). Answered when Israel lived free from sin, but unanswered when they sinned, which was according to God’s word (
Ex 32:32-33).
13. Moses in complaining to God because the burden was too heavy (136 words;
Num 11:10-15). Answered because of God’s words (
Num 11:16-20,
25-30).
14. Moses for God to show him what to do to give the people flesh (56 words;
Num 11:21-22). Answered because of God’s word (
Num 11:21) and to show His power (
Num 11:23).
15. Moses for the healing of Miriam (8 words;
Num 12:13). Answered because of God’s love for Moses (
Num 12:14-16).
16. Moses for God to spare Israel and uphold His own honor (208 words;
Num 14:13-19). Answered because of Moses’ prayer (
Num 14:20).
18. Israel for forgiveness of sin (25 words;
Num 21:7). Answered because of Moses’ prayer and by type of Christ on the cross (
Num 21:7-9;
3:14-16).
19. Moses for a new leader of Israel (56 words;
Num 27:16-17). Answered because of God’s plan for Israel (
Num 27:18-23).
Two Prayers in Deuteronomy:
21. Moses for Israel to be spared (114 words;
Deut 9:26-29). Answered because of intercession of Moses (
Ex 32:11-14).
References to prayer (Deut 9:20,26), also what to pray for elders at murder trials (Deut 21:6-9) and what all Israel should pray after obedience to the law (Deut 26:5-15).
Two Prayers in Joshua:
22. Joshua in complaint because God had not given victory (90 words;
Josh 7:7-9). Answered so sin could be put away (
Josh 7:10-15).
23. Joshua in the form of a command for the sun and moon to stand still (14 words;
Josh 10:12). Answered because of necessity for time to finish God’s work (
Josh 10:13).
Nine Prayers in Judges:
24. Israel for guidance (14 words;
Judges 1:1). Answered because it was in harmony with the will of God for the nation (
Judges 1:2).
30. Israel for guidance (14 words;
Judges 20:23). Answered because of judgment on sin.
31. Israel for guidance (19 words;
Judges 20:28). Answered because of judgment on sin.
32. Israel for revelation (24 words;
Judges 21:3). No answer recorded.
Six Prayers in 1 Samuel:
34. Hannah to express gratitude for answered prayer (264 words;
1 Sam 2:1-10). No request to answer.
37. David for revelation (72 words;
1 Sam 23:10-12). Answered because of God’s plan.
38. David for revelation (10 words;
1 Sam 30:8). Answered because of God’s plan.
Four Prayers in 2 Samuel:
39. David for revelation (16 words;
2 Sam 2:1). Answered because of God’s plan.
Five Prayers in 1 Kings:
44. Solomon, prayer of dedication (1,050 words;
1 Kings 8:23-53). Answered according to obedience of Israel.
47. Elijah for death (18 words;
1 Kings 19:4). Unanswered because it was contrary to God’s plan which was to translate him and permit him to live bodily in heaven until time to come back to earth as one of the two witnesses (
2 Kings 2:9;
Zech 4:11-14;
Mal 4:5-6;
Rev 11:3-11).
Three Prayers in 2 Kings:
48. Elisha for his servant’s eyes to be opened (11 words;
2 Kings 6:17). Answered by faith.
Two Prayers in 1 Chronicles:
52. David for Solomon and Israel (326 words;
1 Chron 29:10-19). Answered partially, in the temporary obedience to God of Solomon and Israel.
Two Prayers in 2 Chronicles:
Two Prayers in Ezra:
Nine Prayers in Nehemiah:
57. Nehemiah for confession of sins and help (256 words;
Neh 1:5-11).
58. Nehemiah for judgment (53 words;
Neh 4:1-6).
59. Nehemiah for help (7 words;
Neh 6:9).
60. Nehemiah for help (31 words;
Neh 6:14).
61. Israel-confession of sins (1,205 words-the longest prayer;
Neh 9:5-38).
62. Nehemiah for blessing (29 words;
Neh 13:14).
63. Nehemiah for blessing (18 words;
Neh 13:22).
64. Nehemiah for judgment (21 words;
Neh 13:29).
65. Nehemiah for blessing (7 words).
Seven Prayers in Job:
66. Job-prayer of thanksgiving and resignation (30 words;
Job 1:20-22).
70. Job for a fair trial (48 words;
Job 23:3-5). Answered (Job 38-42).
71. Job, prayer of confession (34 words;
Job 40:3-5)
Seventy-two Prayers in Psalms:
73-123. David. In 50 prayer-psalms he made requests for various blessings, most of them being answered because of faith in God’s promises (Psalms 3-7; 9; 12:1-13:6; 16:1-17:15; 19:1-20:9; 22; 25:1-31:24; 35:1-36:12; 38:1-41:13; 51; 54:1-61:8; 64; 69:1-70:5; 86; 108:1-109:31; 119; 124; 132; 139:1-144:15). The ones unanswered will be answered in due time for David even prayed about future events.
124-138. An unknown psalmist (perhaps David) prayed for many kinds of blessings, which were granted or will be granted (Psalms 10; 33; 43:1-44:26; 71; 85; 88; 102; 106; 118; 120; 123; 125; 129; 137).
139-143. Asaph made many requests to God (in 5 prayers) for various kinds of blessing which were granted or will yet be granted (Psalms 74; 79:1-80:19; 82:1-83:18).
144. Moses makes requests to God (Psalms 90).
145. Ethan made requests for God to remember the reproach of His servants (Psalms 89).
Thus, in 72 of the 150 psalms there are personal requests to God, making them definitely prayer-psalms. A few of the other 78 may also be considered such because of the general nature of the subject matter. Even in the listed prayer-psalms many subjects are more outstanding than the prayers. See notes on these psalms.
Three Prayers in Isaiah:
148. Hezekiah for healing and length of days (30 words;
Isa 38:3). Answered (
Isa 38:5).
References to prayer (Isa 1:15; 7:11; 16:12; 26:16; 55:6-7). There are also prayers that Israel will make in the time of their restoration as a nation (Isa 12; 64).
Eleven Prayers in Jeremiah:
149. Jeremiah, confession of inability to obey God (12 words;
Jer 1:6).
150. Jeremiah, accusing God (24 words;
Jer 4:10).
151. Jeremiah for judgment (80 words;
Jer 10:23-25). Answered (Dan 5).
152. Jeremiah, questioning God (133 words;
Jer 12:1-4).
153. Jeremiah for help for Judah (95 words;
Jer 14:7-9).
159. Jeremiah, concerning captivity of Judah (209 words;
Jer 32:17-25).
Four Prayers in Lamentations:
161. Jeremiah for consideration (113 words;
Lam 2:20-22).
163. Jeremiah for the oppressed people of Judah (300 words; Lam 5).
Jeremiah could be called the praying prophet as well as the weeping prophet. He has 15 recorded prayers.
Three Prayers in Ezekiel:
164. Ezekiel protesting what God wanted him to do (41 words;
Ezek 4:14).
165. Ezekiel for the remnant (20 words;
Ezek 9:8).
166. Ezekiel for the remnant (14 words;
Ezek 11:13).
Two Prayers in Daniel:
167. Daniel for forgiveness of sins and fulfillment of prophecy (550 words;
Dan 9:1-19).
168. Daniel for revelation (11 words;
Dan 12:8).
Two Prayers in Amos:
169. Amos for forgiveness s (16 words;
Amos 7:2).
170. Amos for help (16 words;
Amos 7:5).
Three Prayers in Jonah:
172. Jonah for deliverance from hell (198 words;
Jonah 2:1-9).
Three Prayers in Habakkuk:
174. Habakkuk for God to act (75 words;
Hab 1:1-5).
176. Habakkuk for revival (474 words;
Hab 3:2-19).
Seventeen Prayers in Matthew:
185. Jesus giving thanks to God (38 words;
Matt 11:25).
190. A mother for exaltation of her 2 sons, James and John (23 words;
Matt 20:21). Unanswered because of wrong motive and not in harmony with God’s plan (
Matt 20:23).
192. Jesus to be saved from death in the garden before He could die on the cross (62 words;
Matt 26:39-44). Answered (
Heb 5:7).
Two Prayers in Mark:
194. A demon for temporary freedom (31 words;
Mark 1:23-24).
195. Jesus in healing a deaf mute (2 words-the shortest prayer;
Mark 7:34). Answered (
Mark 7:35).
Seven Prayers in Luke:
Five Prayers in John:
204. People for living bread (6 words;
John 6:34).
207. Jesus for disciples (638 words; John 17).
Six Prayers in Acts:
One Prayer in 3 John:
214. That we the readers would prosper and be in health as our soul prospers (18 words; 3 John :2)
Eight Prayers in Revelation:
215. Elders in worship (27 words;
Rev 4:11).
216. Angels in worship (22 words;
Rev 5:12).
217. All creatures in worship (22 words;
Rev 5:13).
218. Martyrs for vengeance (22 words;
Rev 6:10).
219. Great multitude in worship (13 words;
Rev 7:10).
220. Angels in worship (23 words;
Rev 7:12).
221. Glorified saints in worship (56 words;
Rev 19:1-6).
222. John for the coming of Jesus Christ a second time, 5 words (
Rev 22:20).
Besides the actual worded prayers in these 31 books of the Bible, there are many passages in them, as well as in some of the 35 books containing no prayers, that give much instruction on the subject of prayer. It is thought by some that there are a number of prayers in the epistles, but in reality, these books contain only statements to Christians regarding the apostles praying for them that God would bless them, or they give instructions for Christians to pray and tell them what to pray for. These are not actual prayers addressed to God, however (Rom 1:8-10; 16:20; Eph 1:15-20; 3:13-21; Phil 1:2-7; Col 1:3-14; 1 Thess 1:2-3; 3:9-13; 1 Tim 1:3-7; 2 Tim 4:14-18; James 5:13-18).