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.
Presuming
62-0117 §158
I believe that God sends people to pray for sick. And I'm one of the humblest. I'm one of the little ones that He sent. And I want to give my prayer for you, tonight, to be healed. You believe. And I want these brothers here, and sisters, all over the building, to join with me in prayer, and just let... I believe we'll start right along here. Let somebody walk right up to the pulpit, and then let them walk off, or back the way they did. That'll be fine. Somebody, Billy, some of you help me. Just bring... Right here...
Led by the Spirit
59-0407 §72
Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ, may the woman be healed. Amen. In the name of Jesus Christ, may the woman be healed. Come, sister. In the name of Jesus Christ, may the woman be healed. Come, sister. In the name of Jesus Christ, may the woman be healed. In the name of Jesus Christ, may the woman be healed. Come, sister. God bless you, sister. May she be healed, Lord, in the name of Jesus. Come, believing now, sister, as you approach, not me, but Him now. Approach the High Priest. Dear Father God, I lay hands upon...
It is I, be not afraid
61-0213 §6
Now, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Tommy Osborn, Mr. A. A. Allen, oh, so many of the brethren on the field that has a ministry of laying on hands on the sick and praying for them... And there's where I get the fallback: "You don't pray for enough." Now those Christian brethren, I believe that they have a ministry from God. And now, they pray for hundreds and hundreds a night. Now that's perhaps... Now, I do believe with all my heart that they're doing what God told them to do. That's their ministry. But if you'll just bear with...
There is only One Way provided by God for anything
63-0731 §103
Now have mercy. And may the great Holy Spirit, that's present now, take charge of every believer in here. And now, as your servant, I pray for every sick person here. I ask You, Lord, to charge the hands that will be laid upon the sick. Let the power of the Holy Ghost be upon each one of these men, women, boys, and girls, as we're sitting together, Lord. People sitting here sick, Lord, they don't ... they come out here to be well. Let them come tomorrow night well. Grant it, Lord. Please do. Hear my prayer. I pray...
Perseverance
62-0218 §164
Now, if you are a believer, put your hand on somebody next to you, and they're going to put their hand on you. Don't you pray for yourself, you pray for them because they're going to be praying for you. Now that you might know, and if you will do this, I'll assure you. Well, there's not any stretchers or cots left, they're all gone. But you've been here when the stretchers and cots was laying here, crippled, lame, halt, blind, never one time but what every bit of it. Now, the way you pray in church, if you're Metho...