'Ask' in the Bible

Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

Ask me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give according as you say to me; but give me the girl in marriage.”

But every woman shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her house, articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; and you will put them on your sons and daughters. Thus you will plunder the Egyptians.”

Speak now in the hearing of the people that each man ask from his neighbor and each woman from her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold.”

“Indeed, ask now concerning the former days which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and inquire from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything been done like this great thing, or has anything been heard like it?

“Remember the days of old,Consider the years of all generations.Ask your father, and he will inform you,Your elders, and they will tell you.

Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’

He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’

So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord.

It came about that when she came to him, she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. So she alighted from the donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

Then it came about when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask her father for a field. Then she alighted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?”

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. And I did not ask him where he came from, nor did he tell me his name.

But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”

Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.

Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day. Please give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”

Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has departed from you and has become your adversary?

Then the king answered and said to the woman, “Please do not hide anything from me that I am about to ask you.” And the woman said, “Let my lord the king please speak.”

Then she spoke, saying, “Formerly they used to say, ‘They will surely ask advice at Abel,’ and thus they ended the dispute.

Then she said, “I am making one small request of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Ask, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”

King Solomon answered and said to his mother, “And why are you asking Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him also the kingdom—for he is my older brother—even for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah!”

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night; and God said, “Ask what you wish Me to give you.”

When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”

In that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

God said to Solomon, “Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king,

Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made.

“But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.

“Now gird up your loins like a man,And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!

“Now gird up your loins like a man;I will ask you, and you instruct Me.

‘Hear, now, and I will speak;I will ask You, and You instruct me.’

‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

Malicious witnesses rise up;They ask me of things that I do not know.

Do not say, “Why is it that the former days were better than these?”For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

“Ask a sign for yourself from the Lord your God; make it deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”

But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the Lord!”

“But when I look, there is no one,And there is no counselor among themWho, if I ask, can give an answer.

Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker:“Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons,And you shall commit to Me the work of My hands.

“Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways,As a nation that has done righteousnessAnd has not forsaken the ordinance of their God.They ask Me for just decisions,They delight in the nearness of God.

“I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me;I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me.I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’To a nation which did not call on My name.

Thus says the Lord,“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,Where the good way is, and walk in it;And you will find rest for your souls.But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

“Indeed, who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem,Or who will mourn for you,Or who will turn aside to ask about your welfare?

“Therefore thus says the Lord,‘Ask now among the nations,Who ever heard the like of this?The virgin of IsraelHas done a most appalling thing.

‘Ask now, and seeIf a male can give birth.Why do I see every manWith his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth?And why have all faces turned pale?

Then King Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah the prophet brought to him at the third entrance that is in the house of the Lord; and the king said to Jeremiah, “I am going to ask you something; do not hide anything from me.”

“Stand by the road and keep watch,O inhabitant of Aroer;Ask him who flees and her who escapesAnd say, ‘What has happened?’

They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.

The tongue of the infant cleavesTo the roof of its mouth because of thirst;The little ones ask for bread,But no one breaks it for them.

‘Thus says the Lord God, “This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Ask now the priests for a ruling:

Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the spring rain—The Lord who makes the storm clouds;And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man.

So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.

And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.

No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.

and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”

And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”

But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, *came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.”

Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.

And Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

When Jesus saw that he had answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that, no one would venture to ask Him any more questions.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead.

And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?”

But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me:

and if I ask a question, you will not answer.

This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

but how he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him; he is of age, he will speak for himself.”

For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.

Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.

In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf;

I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours;

I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;

That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him.

And Isaiah is very bold and says,“I was found by those who did not seek Me,I became manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;

If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

I ask that when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I propose to be courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.