to pray
a.tar denotes petitioning God and, in passive forms, God being responsive to such petitions.
The verb most often marks a person’s direct appeal to God, whether as a request, plea, or petition. In Niphal forms, the cited clauses instead portray God as being entreated or responding favorably to such an appeal.
Senses in use
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Making a direct appeal to God · dominant
Qal and Hiphil forms occur in requests directed to God: in Exodus 10:17 the APB renders Pharaoh's appeal, “pray to the LORD your God,” and in Exodus 10:18 it renders Moses' action, “prayed to the LORD.” In Judges 13:8 Manoah asks that the man of God return and instruct them concerning the child, while Job 22:27 and Job 33:26 place the petition alongside God's hearing or acceptance.
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Being entreated or responding to appeal · common
Niphal forms occur where the clause centers on God's favorable response: in 1 Chronicles 5:20 the APB renders that “he was entreated for them,” and in Ezra 8:23 it says that God “granted our request.” In 2 Samuel 24:25 the response to David's offerings is followed by the plague being stayed, while Isaiah 19:22 joins hearing their prayer with healing.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously presents the active clauses with “prayed,” “pray,” “Entreat,” and “petitioned,” while Niphal clauses are presented as God being “entreated,” responding to prayer, or granting a request. These are verse-level renderings rather than fixed English equivalents.