I Want Men to Lift Uip Holy Hands to Pray, Does This Mean That Women Can't Pray for Men?
1) Direct Answer
No. “I want men to lift up holy hands” does not mean women can’t pray for men. Women can and should pray for men. That verse sets order for public leadership in prayer, not a ban on women’s intercession.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- 1 Timothy 2:8 says, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands,” and in the same passage (2:11–12) the Bible sets the order that women are not to teach or usurp authority over a man. So the leadership of public worship is laid on men.
- But the call to prayer is for the whole church: “Supplications, prayers, intercessions… be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1). That includes women praying for men.
- The Bible shows women in prayer with the brethren: “These all continued with one accord in prayer… with the women” (Acts 1:14). Anna “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2:37).
- The Scripture acknowledges women praying under proper headship order (1 Corinthians 11:5).
- For official church ministry to the sick, the Bible appoints the elders to anoint (James 5:14). But the promise to pray for the sick is to believers generally (Mark 16:17–18).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- If women could not pray for men, Scripture would not command “prayers… for all men” to the whole church or show women praying with the brethren.
- The verse about men lifting holy hands establishes headship and public order, not a prohibition against women’s intercession.
- Therefore, women may pray for men anywhere—home, private, or in the congregation—so long as it does not put them in a role of teaching or exercising authority over men in the assembly.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, God calls the whole Body to pray. Men lead in public order, but women’s prayers are needed and welcomed. “Pray without ceasing” applies to daughters and sons alike.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Go wake Jesus
63-1103 §86
Now with our heads bowed, if the pianist will come to the piano, or whatever it is... We ask for reverence. And now, let's be as reverent as we know how to be for a moment. "Only Believe," if you will, sister, slowly. Now each one of you pray. Now pray yourselves. I want to know how many in here that does not have a prayer card and you're sick, and you want God to touch you, will you raise your hands. All right. Now, how many has prayer cards, raise your hands. Well, there's about twice as many that doesn't have pr...
Revelation, Chapter 4b Twenty-Four Elders
61-0101 §95
...entered in. The congregation could come there; the priests could stand here; but just the high priest could go in there, once a year, taking the blood with him. And he had to be dressed a certain way, a certain garment; had to have a bell and a pomegranate, one to one another. And when he walked, he had to walk a certain way. As he walked, he played, "Holy, holy, holy, unto the Lord. Holy, holy, holy, unto the Lord," those bells and pomegranates ringing together. "Holy, holy, holy!" Why? He was approaching God, ha...
From the beginning it wasn't so
59-1125 §70
Have faith in God. Do you believe Him? With all your heart? Then let me show you the glory of God. Lay your hands on one another right now while the whole building's filled with the power of God. Lay your hands on one another. Didn't the great Holy Christ say this? The One who knows the secret of the heart? "These signs shall follow them that believe." God bless you, sister. "These signs shall follow them that believe; If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." Pray for the people sitting next to you...
What is the Holy Ghost?
59-1216 §80
How many wants it, now raise your hand, say, "Pray for me." Now, while you remain with your hands up: Heavenly Father, we've taught a long time, but Your Spirit is here. There are hands that's up in the air now, and they know what it is. They know what the Holy Spirit means. I pray, God, that before this meeting shall end, that every hand in here will be raised that they have received it. Grant it, Lord. We pray for them; we ask You to bless them and to give them the desire of their heart. Look at their hands, Lord...
God's Eye
58-0225 §36
Do you believe with all your hearts? The Scripture says, "These signs shall follow them that believe." How many is believers? Now, will you do something? Lay your hands over on someone there by you---someone around you there. You all lay your hands on each other. Now, if you're a Methodist, pray the way you do in a Methodist church. If you're Pentecost, pray the way you do in a Pentecostal church. If you're Baptist, pray the way you do in a Baptist. Whatever church you belong to, pray for the person you got your ha...