Vain Repetition In Prayer Practices
The concept of "vain repetition" in prayer is primarily drawn from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:7, where he instructs his followers, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking" [1]. This instruction appears within a broader discourse on prayer, contrasting the practices of hypocrites and Gentiles with the sincere and private devotion Jesus advocates [6].
Commentators understand "vain repetitions" not merely as repeating the same words, but as a senseless multiplication of words, or "babbling," driven by the belief that the sheer volume of speech will compel God to listen [5]. John Gill notes that this practice was common among "Heathens," citing the worshippers of Baal who cried out from morning until noon [4]. The Jewish people of Jesus' time were also sometimes guilty of similar practices, using "long prayers" as a pretense [4]. The Tyndale House commentary emphasizes that God cannot be "coaxed by endless repetition" and contrasts this with the simplicity of the Lord's Prayer [11].
Beyond the New Testament, rabbinic tradition also addresses the concept of "vain prayer." The Babylonian Talmud describes a "vain prayer" as one that attempts to change something that has already occurred [7, 8, 10]. Examples include praying for a pregnant wife to have a male child after conception has already determined the sex, or praying that a scream heard from a distance is not from one's own house, when the event has already transpired [7, 8, 10]. This highlights a different aspect of "vanity" in prayer: praying for an outcome that is either already fixed or impossible to alter.
Prayer, in its essence, is described as converse with God, an "intercourse of the soul with God" that can be oral or mental, occasional or constant [2]. It involves "pouring out the soul before the Lord" and "drawing near to God" [2]. The efficacy of prayer is a mystery, often considered in light of general laws and human destiny [3]. Jesus' teaching on vain repetition serves as a model for sincere and simple prayer, in contrast to pagan wordiness [9, 11].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 6:7 (Webster) — But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — The object of this article will be to touch briefly on-- + The doctrine of Scripture as to the nature and efficacy of prayer; + Its directions as to time, place and manner of prayer; + Its types and examples of prayer. + Scripture does not give any theoretical explanation of the mystery which attaches to prayer. The difficulty of understanding real efficacy arises chiefly from two sources: from the belief that man lives under general laws, which in all cases must be fulfilled unalterably; and the opposing belief that he is master of his own destiny, and need ”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 6:7: But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions,.... Saying the same things over and over again, as the Heathens do, as the worshippers of Baal, from morning till noon, Kg1 18:26. This our Lord observes, to dissuade from such practices, because the Gentiles, who were odious to the Jews, used them, and the Jews were guilty of the same; had they not, there would not have been any need of such advice: for they think they shall be heard for their much speaking; as did the Jews, who, under pretence of "long prayers", devoured widows' houses; and with whom it is an axiom, th”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 6:7: But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions--"Babble not" would be a better rendering, both for the form of the word--which in both languages is intended to imitate the sound--and for the sense, which expresses not so much the repetition of the same words as a senseless multiplication of them; as appears from what follows. as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking--This method of heathen devotion is still observed by Hindu and Mohammedan devotees. With the Jews, says LIGHTFOOT, it was a maxim, that "Every one w”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 6:5: In prayer we have more immediately to do with God than in giving alms, and therefore are yet more concerned to be sincere, which is what we are here directed to. When thou prayest (Mat 6:5). It is taken for granted that all the disciples of Christ pray. As soon as ever Paul was converted, behold he prayeth. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. For this shall every one that is godly pray. If prayerless, then graceless. "Now, when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are, nor do as they do," ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128a.107:4: The mishna states: And one who cries out over the past in an attempt to change that which has already occurred, it is a vain prayer. For example, one whose wife was pregnant and he says: May it be God’s will that my wife will give birth to a male child, it is a vain prayer. Or one who was walking on the path home and he heard the sound of a scream in the city, and he says: May it be God’s will that this scream will not be from my house, it is a vain prayer. In both cases, the event already occurred.”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 128b.107:4: The mishna states: And one who cries out over the past in an attempt to change that which has already occurred, it is a vain prayer. For example, one whose wife was pregnant and he says: May it be God’s will that my wife will give birth to a male child, it is a vain prayer. Or one who was walking on the path home and he heard the sound of a scream in the city, and he says: May it be God’s will that this scream will not be from my house, it is a vain prayer. In both cases, the event already occurred.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Berakhot 54a.4: The mishna states: And one who cries out over the past in an attempt to change that which has already occurred, it is a vain prayer. For example, one whose wife was pregnant and he says: May it be God’s will that my wife will give birth to a male child, it is a vain prayer. Or one who was walking on the path home and he heard the sound of a scream in the city, and he says: May it be God’s will that this scream will not be from my house, it is a vain prayer. In both cases, the event already occurred.”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:7: 6:7-8 God cannot be coaxed by endless repetition. The Lord’s Prayer (6:9-13) is a model of simplicity in contrast with pagan wordiness.”