The Meaning of Matthew 6:9 Explained

Matthew 6:9

KJV: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

YLT: thus therefore pray ye: 'Our Father who art in the heavens! hallowed be Thy name.

Darby: Thus therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in the heavens, let thy name be sanctified,

ASV: After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

After this manner  therefore  pray  ye:  Our  Father  which  art in  heaven,  Hallowed be  thy  name. 

What does Matthew 6:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 6:9-18 - How To Pray And How To Fast
This might more fitly be termed the "disciples' prayer." As we tread its stately aisles, we cannot but think of the myriads who have stood on the same pavement, and have found, in every age, that these seven brief petitions express sufficiently their deepest and holiest longings. Old men and little children, Roman Catholics and Protestants, the servant and his master, east and west, stand together in this noble temple not made with hands.
Prayer should be direct, simple and earnest. It must be reverent, hallowing the Name; and unselfish, employing, we, us, and our,-not "I," "me," "mine." It must breathe the filial spirit which cries, "Abba, Father." It must be conceived in love and breathe forgiveness and trust for the supply of all the hunger of our nature. When God forgives, He forth-gives; that is, He casts out of His hand and mind and memory every trace of our sin. We may claim that God should repair as well as forgive; but we must be willing to deal with all others as God has dealt with us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 6

1  Giving to the Needy
5  The Lord's Prayer
16  Proper Fasting
19  Store up Treasures in Heaven
25  Do Not Worry
33  but seek God's kingdom

Greek Commentary for Matthew 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye [ουτως ουν προσευχεστε υμεις]
“You” expressed in contrast with “the Gentiles.” It should be called “The Model Prayer” rather than “The Lord‘s Prayer.” “Thus” pray as he gives them a model. He himself did not use it as a liturgy (cf. John 17). There is no evidence that Jesus meant it for liturgical use by others. In Luke 11:2-4 practically the same prayer though briefer is given at a later time by Jesus to the apostles in response to a request that he teach them how to pray. McNeile argues that the form in Luke is the original to which Matthew has made additions: “The tendency of liturgical formulas is towards enrichment rather than abbreviation.” But there is no evidence whatever that Jesus designed it as a set formula. There is no real harm in a liturgical formula if one likes it, but no one sticks to just one formula in prayer. There is good and not harm in children learning and saying this noble prayer. Some people are disturbed over the words “Our Father” and say that no one has a right to call God Father who has not been “born again.” But that is to say that an unconverted sinner cannot pray until he is converted, an absurd contradiction. God is the Father of all men in one sense; the recognition of Him as the Father in the full sense is the first step in coming back to him in regeneration and conversion. [source]
Hallowed be thy name [αγιαστητω το ονομα σου]
In the Greek the verb comes first as in the petitions in Matthew 6:10. They are all aorist imperatives, punctiliar action expressing urgency. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 6:9

John 12:28 Father, glorify thy name [πατερ δοχασον σου το ονομα]
First aorist (note of urgency) active imperative of πνευμα — doxazō and in the sense of his death already in John 12:16, John 12:23 and again in John 13:31; John 17:5. This is the prayer of the πσυχη — pneuma (or σαρχ — psuchē) as opposed to that of the ονομα — sarx (flesh) in John 12:27. The “name” (πωνη εκ του ουρανου — onoma) of God expresses the character of God (John 1:12; John 5:43; John 17:11). Cf. Matthew 6:9. A voice out of heaven (και εδοχασα και παλιν δοχασω — phōnē ek tou ouranou). This was the Father‘s answer to the prayer of Jesus for help. See note on the Father‘s voice at the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:11) and on the Father‘s voice at the transfiguration (Mark 9:7). The rabbis called the audible voice of God εδοχασα — bath -δοχασω — qol (the daughter of a voice). I have both glorified it and will glorify it again (kai edoxasa kai palin doxasō). This definite assurance from the Father will nerve the soul of Jesus for the coming ordeal. Cf. John 11:40 for edoxasa and John 13:31; John 17:5 for doxasō f0). [source]
John 17:1 Lifting up [επαρας]
First aorist active participle of επαιρω — epairō old and common verb with οπταλμους — ophthalmous (eyes) as in John 4:35; John 6:5; John 11:41. Father Vocative form as in John 16:5, John 16:11; John 11:41, Christ‘s usual way of beginning his prayers. It is inconceivable that this real Lord‘s Prayer is the free composition of a disciple put into the mouth of Jesus. It is rather “the tenacious memory of an old man recalling the greatest days of his life” (Bernard), aided by the Holy Spirit promised for this very purpose (John 14:26; John 16:13.). Jesus had the habit of prayer (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Matthew 11:25.; Luke 3:21; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28; Luke 11:22, Luke 11:42; Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46; John 11:41; John 12:27). He prayed here for himself (John 17:1-5), for the disciples (John 17:6-19), for all believers (John 17:20-26). The prayer is similar in spirit to the Model Prayer for us in Matthew 6:9-13. The hour for his glorification has come as he had already told the disciples (John 13:31.; John 12:23). Glorify thy Son First aorist active imperative of δοχαζω — doxazō the only personal petition in this prayer. Jesus had already used this word δοχαζω — doxazō for his death (John 13:31.). Here it carries us into the very depths of Christ‘s own consciousness. It is not merely for strength to meet the Cross, but for the power to glorify the Father by his death and resurrection and ascension, “that the Son may glorify thee” Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 6:9 mean?

Thus therefore pray you Father of us who [is] in the heavens hallowed be the name of You
Οὕτως οὖν προσεύχεσθε ὑμεῖς Πάτερ ἡμῶν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς Ἁγιασθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου

Οὕτως  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὕτως  
Sense: in this manner, thus, so.
προσεύχεσθε  pray 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: προσεύχομαι  
Sense: to offer prayers, to pray.
Πάτερ  Father 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
  who  [is] 
Parse: Article, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανοῖς  heavens 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.
Ἁγιασθήτω  hallowed  be 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἁγιάζω 
Sense: to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow.
ὄνομά  name 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
σου  of  You 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.