Biblical Vocabulary In the Old Testament the common Hebrew noun for “prayer” is תְּפִלָּה, tep̱illåh. Its related verb is הִתְפַּלֵל, hiṯpallēl, the Hithpael of פּלל, pll, meaning “to pray.” The noun תְּהִלָּה, tehillåh, meaning “praise,” and its corresponding verb הִלֵּל, hillēl, the Piel of הלל, hll, meaning “to praise,” are also commonly used to denote prayer and the act of praying. The noun תְּחִנָּה, teḥinnåh, meaning “supplication,” is also found. Verbs of asking (שָׁאַל, s̊ā˒al),