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.
Sirs, we would see Jesus
57-1211 §90
Now, Heavenly Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God, I ask for this woman's healing. Thou art God, and a woman You can heal. I pray that You'll grant it to her as I lay my hands upon her, while the Holy Spirit that's anointing, who knows her life, is present; may she be healed. I condemn the enemy that's taking her life. And ask for her life to be extended, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you now. Now, if you believe with all your heart, now, you can have your healing. Now, what about y...
Let us see God
59-1129 §78
Watch, these clergymen here, all of you are pastors. Pastor brothers, the Bible said that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Is that right? And the Bible says that "He's the High Priest, sitting at the right hand of God now, making intercessions on our profession." He's the High Priest that can be touched by the feeling of our infirmities. Is that right? See that? A High Priest. Now, if He's the same yesterday, and forever, the same kind of touch would bring the same results. Is that right? N...
Convinced then concerned
62-0118 §119
Come on up to the altar like these women have. Say, "You mean there's only two women in this bunch?" Remember, it's on your lap, and it's on your hands and you'll never wash it off. Let us bow our heads. Come forward, sister, as we believe now on Him as we pray. You standing for salvation too, Sonny? Bless your heart, son. Stand right there. Now, as we bow our head, they're bringing some other lady that maybe can't walk, or something, coming up to accept salvation for herself. Now we're going to let... that's all r...
The Token
64-0208 §58
Long hair is a Nazarite vow. It showed that you've cut yourself from the world to obey the Word. Amen. Samson let his hair grow out for a Nazarite vow. Now we realize these things of women dressing, and acting, and doing... And men permitting them to do it: big bunch of sissies. It seems like there's not even men anymore. You see men wearing pink shoes---and preachers on the pulpit something like that. That's a disgrace! I'd like to see men again, that's absolutely men. Looks like there's a power that drives them t...
Mary's belief
59-0409 §72
How many now, standing in your seats, wants a deeper walk with God, raise up your hands---that's got the Holy Spirit and wanting a deeper walk with God. God bless your hearts. That's it! Oh, I seen it strike a person right then just as certain as I'm standing here. He's here to do it if you'll just believe Him. Let's raise our hands now, each one now, while we pray for the sick, pray for the afflicted, pray for the Holy Ghost to fall. You pray for somebody next to you to get the Holy Ghost. They'll be praying for y...