This list gives you King James Version verses that show how to pray for other people, whether it is a friend in a hospital bed, a child who has wandered from faith, or a coworker carrying more than they say. It is written for Christians who want to intercede well and need a starting point. These passages share a common conviction: prayer for others is an act of love that God welcomes, and it is never a formality.
Verses for Lifting Up a Friend in Trouble
When someone you love is struggling, it can be hard to find words. The passages below remind you that you do not have to be eloquent to bring someone before God. Scripture pictures intercession as a regular, ordinary part of the life of faith.
James 5:16
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(KJV)
James links prayer for one another with healing and with the power of a righteous life. Try naming one person each morning and asking God to meet them where they are that day, even if you cannot yet see the answer.
Job 42:10
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
(KJV)
Job’s restoration came after he prayed for the friends who had wronged him. When a relationship feels strained, pray for that person’s good before you pray about the conflict itself, and notice how your heart softens.
Philippians 1:3-4
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy…
(KJV)
Paul prayed for the Philippians with joy, not dread. Choose one person to pray for with thanksgiving, listing something you are grateful for about them before you bring their needs forward.
Romans 15:30
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me…
(KJV)
Paul asks the Romans to strive together with him in prayer. You might text a friend the request, “Will you pray for me this week?” and then agree to pray for something they name in return.
Verses for Praying Over Your Family
Home is often where intercession is needed most, and where it is easiest to slip into worry instead. These verses describe prayer for spouses, children and households as a steady practice rather than a crisis response.
Ephesians 1:16-17
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him…
(KJV)
Paul did not stop giving thanks and praying for the churches he loved. Keep a short list of family members on your phone, and let each one become a reason to pray for wisdom and spiritual sight.
Colossians 1:9
For this cause we also, since the day we heard it , do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding…
(KJV)
Paul asks that the Colossians be filled with knowledge of God’s will. When your child faces a decision, pray for understanding in their choices, not only for good outcomes.
1 Samuel 12:23
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way…
(KJV)
Samuel refuses to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for Israel. Make it a habit that you will not let a day pass without praying for the people in your home.
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you…
(KJV)
Jesus includes prayer for those who treat us badly among the hardest commands he gives. When someone has hurt you, begin with a simple request that God bless them, and let the prayer grow from there.
Verses for the Church and the Wider World
Intercession does not stop at the front door. These passages show the early church and its leaders praying for communities, rulers and people they would never meet, which widens the scope of your own prayers.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(KJV)
Paul urges prayers for all people, including those in authority. Pick one leader in your city or nation this week and pray that they would govern with justice and wisdom.
Acts 12:5
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
(KJV)
The church prayed earnestly for Peter while he was in prison. When you hear of a believer in danger or hardship, pause and pray for them specifically, by name if you know it.
Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…
(KJV)
Paul asks believers to pray always and for all the saints. Set a reminder to pray for your pastor and church leaders at a regular time each week.
Jeremiah 29:7
And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
(KJV)
Jeremiah tells the exiles to pray for the peace of the city where they were living. Let the neighborhood you live in become a place you pray for, seeing its shops, schools and streets as places God cares about.
Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
(KJV)
Jesus tells Peter that he has prayed for him. Remember that Christ himself intercedes for his people, which gives your own prayers for others a firm foundation.
Romans 10:1
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
(KJV)
Paul writes that his heart’s desire and prayer to God is for Israel. Let your longing for someone’s salvation or spiritual growth turn into specific, repeated prayer.
How to Use These Verses
Write a few of these verses on a card or in a notebook, and keep them where you will see them, such as beside your bed, on the refrigerator or in your car. Reading them aloud before you pray helps your words stay anchored to Scripture rather than drifting into worry.
Try praying one verse over one person each day, turning the text into your own requests. You might pray Ephesians 1:16-17 over a child in the morning and Acts 12:5 over a suffering believer at night. Over time you will build a rhythm of intercession that is both faithful and sustainable.
A Short Prayer for Praying for Others
Lord, you hear every prayer, and you know the people I carry in my heart better than I do. Teach me to pray for them with the same patience and love you show them. Where they are weary, give them strength, and where they are lost, draw them near to you. Let my intercession be a gift they never have to earn, and make me faithful in lifting them up day after day. Amen.
