Prayer vs Supplication
There should be a difference between prayer and supplication as even the Bible mentions the two words, prayer and supplication. Therefore, understand that there is a marked difference between the two words prayer and supplication. One of the primary differences between prayer and supplication is that supplication is a kind of prayer that is qualified as a request as well. In supplication you make a request or ask for something. A prayer, on the other hand, involves praises showered on the God or it could be a request for help. There are other aspect with regard to prayer and supplication too which will be discussed in this article.
What is a Prayer?
According to the Oxford English dictionary, a prayer means ‘a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or another deity.’ So you can see that a prayer can be a request or praise for the Lord or any other deity. A prayer is characterized by the usage of epithets of God. Prayer consists of extolling the qualities and the power of the Almighty. During a prayer, you tend to thank the Almighty for all the favor bestowed upon you and for all the love shown towards you. Another important difference between a prayer and a supplication is that a prayer is focused on the personal forms of God.
Prayer can also be used in the sense of an earnest hope or wish. For example,
It is our prayer that current acts taken to protect gender equality will be strengthened in the future.
In this context, using the word prayer does not mean that the speaker is speaking to the God or any other deity. It is used in the sense earnest wish. Therefore, the sentence would mean ‘It is our earnest wish that current acts taken to protect gender equality will be strengthened in the future.’
What is a Supplication?
According to the Oxford English dictionary, a supplication means ‘the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.’ As you can see, a supplication is a mere request for something. Unlike a prayer, supplication is not characterized by the usage of epithets of God. Supplication is a mere humble request placed before the God. While prayer extolls the qualities and the power of the Almighty, supplication does not consist of extolling the innate qualities and the power of the God. On the other hand, you would not thank the Almighty for the love bestowed upon you, but instead ask for something that is beneficial to you or your life.
It is interesting to note that supplication is made not only for the benefit of oneself but also for the well-being and the benefit of mankind in general. Hence, you would find passages in a supplication that contain statements requesting the general welfare of the entire mankind. Supplication need not be focused on the personal forms of God. It can be in the form of a request made to the Almighty without form too.
What is the difference between Prayer and Supplication?
• In supplication, you make a request or ask for something.
• A prayer, on the other hand, involves praises showered on the God or it could be a request for help.
• A prayer is characterized by the usage of epithets of God, whereas supplication is not characterized by the usage of epithets of God.
• Prayer consists in extolling the qualities and the power of the Almighty whereas supplication does not consist in extolling the innate qualities and the power of the God.
• Supplication is made not only for the benefit of oneself but also for the well-being and the benefit of mankind in general.
• Another important difference between a prayer and a supplication is that a prayer is focused on the personal forms of God.
• Supplication need not be focused on the personal forms of God. It can be in the form of a request made to the Almighty without form too.
• Prayer can also be used in the sense of an earnest hope or wish.
Images Courtesy: Prayer via Wikicommons (Public Domain)
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