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.
What went ye out to see?
59-1001 §44
What went you out to see? What's He going to see in you when you meet Him at that day? If you have nothing to show Him while everything is present to show Him, think of it while we pray. Let's bow our heads. Would there be one would say, "Pray for me, Brother Branham. As I raise up my hand, I now feel that I want to take these hands of mine and dedicate them to Christ so that He will use me." Raise you hand up and say, "Pray for me," as you raise your hand. Say, "I will dedicate mine. I want to..." Maybe some of yo...
Let us see God
59-1129 §80
Laying hands on. Now, Jesus, He didn't say, "Lay hands on and pray." He said, "These signs shall follow them that believe, if they lay hands on the sick." Never said "pray for them"; just "lay hands on them." The order of praying is, "Call the elders of the church, let them anoint them in oil and pray over them," that's for the church. But the evangelistic gift of healing is just lay hands on the sick. We know that. Not: pray for them; lay hands on them, these signs shall follow. Let's see, who is... Brother Border...
Door to the heart
60-0312 §55
Pray now. May the Lord of heaven help them, just around the building. You just pray. Open your heart, be real quiet, sit still, be reverent. I see a woman, real nervous, she's praying. I can't place where she's at. Just a minute, I'll find Him. Yes, she's sitting right down here. The lady on this side of her, looking at me, has heart trouble. She has nervous trouble. If you believe with all your heart... Both of you lay your hands on one another there and believe with all your heart. Right there, that's right. Uh-h...
Show us the Father and it will satisfy us
59-0419E §78
Now, all of you, just bow your heads and start praying while we lay hands on these people. All right. Dear God, in the name of Jesus, heal the woman. Come now. Just start rejoicing. Lord, in the name of Jesus, heal the woman. In the name of Jesus Christ, heal our sister. God, in the name of Jesus Christ, heal our sister. God, heal this little boy, in the name of Jesus. Amen. Heal this woman, in the name of Jesus. "These signs shall follow them that believe; if they lay hands on the sick, they shall recover." In the...
Presuming
62-0117 §173
Now, if He can make that nice Christian woman's neck smooth like that, He can heal you, can't He? He sure can. Our heavenly Father, with hands laid upon our brother, we ask for his healing in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you. He is just the same for you as He would be for her. Is that right? Our heavenly Father, a simple little prayer with simple faith... Oh, I'm so glad, Lord, You make it simple, so that I can understand it, and just accept You. And Father, I pray that You'll heal him, and make him we...