Philippians 4:6

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Paul writes to the Philippians, placing this command between the reminder that the Lord is near (v.5) and the promise that God's peace will guard their hearts and minds (v.7).

The words — μεριμνᾶτε (merimnate) is an imperative: "do worry about," a direct prohibition rather than a gentle suggestion.

The thread — The same move from anxiety to trust appears in Matthew 6:25, 1 Peter 5:7, and Proverbs 3:5.

Why it lands — It asks the reader to stop carrying the weight of worry and hand it over through prayer with thanksgiving, as a practical substitution rather than a mood.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

μηδὲνmēdenNothing μεριμνᾶτε,merimnatedo worry about,ἀλλ᾽all᾽but ἐνenin παντὶpantieverything τῇtēa<the>προσευχῇproseuchēaby prayer καὶkaiand τῇtēa<the>δεήσειdeēseiby supplication μετὰmetawith εὐχαριστίαςeucharistiasthanksgiving τὰtathe αἰτήματαaitēmatarequests ὑμῶνhumōnof you γνωριζέσθωgnōrizesthōshould be made known πρὸςprosto τὸνton<the>θεόν·theonGod;

King James Version

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Cross-references

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Psalms 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
Psalms 34:5 Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed.
Matthew 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
Psalms 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah