Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.
Parallel translations
- WEB Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
- KJV For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, 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.
- 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 5:7He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear,
- Matt 26:39–44He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
- 1 Sam 15:11“It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.
- Ps 77:2–11In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.
- 2 Sam 12:16–18David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground.
- Matt 20:21–22He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”
- Deut 3:23–27I begged Yahweh 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.