We beg (1189) (deomai from deo = to bind) means to ask for something with the sense of pleading, beseeching or begging. To request, to ask for with a sense of urgency and a presumed need. When used in the context of prayer deomai means to make petition, to plead, to ask in prayer, to implore (pray for earnestly) and emphasizes the existence of a need. Deomai is a strong way to ask for something - a leper imploring Jesus to heal him (Lk 5:12), a father's desperate plea to Jesus to cast a demon out of his son (Lk 9:38). To beg in English means to ask for earnestly, urgently or insistently. It implies more urgency than simply asking. The related word deesis, means prayer for a particular need (supplication). The aorist imperative pictures this as an urgent command calling for immediate response! Paul is begging unbelievers because they are but a single heart beat away from an eternal separation from God if they refuse God's gracious offer of reconciliation. Murray comments on the passive voice... While it is possible that this passive is permissive, “let yourselves be reconciled (to God),” it is more probably a true passive, “be reconciled,” or, to bring out the ingressive sense of this aorist, “get reconciled,” with God as the implied agent. Proseuchomai, to pray, is always used of requests addressed to God, whereas deomai, when used in the context of prayer, may be used of requests addressed to man as well. Proseuchomai carries with it a notion of worship which is not present in the word deomai. Deomai emphasizes the intensity of the request. Paul uses deomai to express the heart's desire of the saints at Corinth regarding financial giving, for they were begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints (2Corinthians 8:4) NIDNTT... In the NT deomai occurs only with the meaning to ask request, beseech, beg. 1. It is used in a general sense as a courtesy formula, without any particular object or object clause (cf. the English phrase “I beg you”), followed by direct speech (Acts 8:24; 21:39) or by an infinitive (Acts 26:3). 2. In some passages deomai is used in its full sense of making earnest entreaty, even imploring. There is a warmth, an attractiveness, a winsomeness about it, as in 2Co 5:20 (cf. Acts 2:40); 8:4; 10:2; Gal. 4:12. 3. In all other cases deomai has the religious sense of beseeching Jesus or God. The requests made are quite specific, arising out of real need and expecting definite help of an external or a spiritual nature. Help in a situation of external need is sought from Jesus in Lk 5:12; 9:38. (Brown, Colin, Editor. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. 1986. Zondervan or Computer version) TDNT... The original meaning of déomai is “to lack,” “to need,” and of déēsis, “lack.” But there are few traces of this in the LXX and none in the NT. Richards.... This verb (deomai) and its cognate noun, deesis, emphasize the existence of a need. The individual speaking is deeply aware of a personal need, and out of the need comes a cry for specific help. The cry for help may be addressed to Jesus or to the Father and is often uttered in intercession for others Deomai - 22x in 22v - 38" class="scriptRef">Matt 9:38; Luke 5:12; 8:28, 38; 9:38, 40; 10:2; 21:36; 22:32; Acts 4:31; 8:22, 24, 34; 10:2; 21:39; 26:3; Ro 1:10; 2 Cor 5:20; 8:4; 10:2; Gal 4:12; 1Th 3:10 NAS = ask(1), beg(6), begged(1), begging(2), beseech(2), implored(1), making request(1), please(1), pray(2), prayed(3), praying(2). Matthew 9:38 "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Luke 5:12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Luke 8:28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me." Luke 8:38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying, Luke 9:38 And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, "Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only boy...40 "I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not." Luke 10:2 And He was saying to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Luke 21:36 "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 22:32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. Acts 8:22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. Acts 8:24 But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me." Acts 8:34 The eunuch answered Philip and said, "Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?" Acts 10:2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. Acts 21:39 But Paul said, "I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no insignificant city; and I beg you, allow me to speak to the people." Acts 26:3 especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. Romans 1:10-note always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 8:4 begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 2 Corinthians 10:2 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. Galatians 4:12 I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; 1 Thessalonians 3:10-note as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? Deomai - 55x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - 8" class="scriptRef">Ge 118" class="scriptRef">9:18; 25.21" class="scriptRef">25:21; 20" class="scriptRef">43:20; 44:18; Ex 4:10, 13" class="scriptRef">13" class="scriptRef">13; 32:11, 31; Num 12:11, 13; Dt 3:23; 9:18, 25; Josh 7:7; 1 Sam 13:12; 1Kgs 8:33, 47, 59; 9:3; 13:6; 2Kgs 1:13; 13:4; 2Chr 6:24, 37; Esther 4:17; Job 5:8; 8:5; 9:15; 11:19; 17:1; 19:16; 30:24; 34:20; Ps 28:2; 30:8; 64:1; 119:58; 142:1; Pr 26:25; Isa 37:4; Jer 26:19; Da 4:27, 33f; 6:5, 8, 10f, 13; 9:13, 18, 20; Hos 12:4; Zech 8:21; Mal 1:9; Yes, he (Jacob) wrestled with the angel and prevailed (Ge 32:28 - Angel = Angel of the LORD); He wept and sought (Lxx = deomai) His favor. He found Him at Bethel And there He spoke with us (Ho 12:4). Psalm 30:8 To You, O LORD, I called, And to the Lord I made supplication (Lxx = deomai) Psalm 119:58 I sought (Lxx = deomai) Your favor with all my heart. Be gracious to me according to Your word. Psalm 142:1 Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer. I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication (Lxx = deomai) with my voice to the LORD. Da 6:11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication (Lxx = deomai) before his God. In all uses of the verb of reconciliation in 2 Corinthians 5 (2Cor 5:18, 19, 20) the object or goal of the action is God. As Furnish states reconciliation is not ["only"] of God but from and to God. On behalf of - The preposition huper means in behalf of or for the sake of. The idea is that an ambassador works both “on behalf of Christ” and “in the place of Christ.” For His sake. In His stead. In the place of Christ. Acting on Christ’s behalf and in His place. In essence we are now to be doing what Christ did when He was on earth. Murray Harris adds that... Not only in the words he spoke but also in his whole life Paul was acting in Christ’s name and place. His status was not dependent on the Corinthians to whom he had been sent but on Christ who had sent him (cf. 2Co 1:1). This intimate link between agent and principal is encapsulated in the aphorism of Rabbinic Judaism, “the one who is sent is as the one who sent him,” “a man’s agent is as the man himself.” (International Greek Testament) (Logos)