For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Parallel translations
- WEB Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
- BSB Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
- NKJV Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
- NASB Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.
- NLT Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to take the thorn away. It matters because it shows that earnest, repeated prayer for relief is right, even when the answer is no.
Overview
Paul does not stoically ignore his pain; he brings it honestly and persistently to Christ. The threefold appeal recalls Jesus' own threefold prayer in Gethsemane. Like his Lord, Paul learns to submit to a Father whose answer differs from his request yet serves a higher good.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Heb 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
- Matt 26:39–44And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
- 1 Sam 15:11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
- Ps 77:2–11In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
- 2 Sam 12:16–18David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
- Matt 20:21–22And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
- Deut 3:23–27And I besought the LORD at that time, saying,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 12:8 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.