The Ten Expressions of Prayer

 10 ביטויים של תפלה

D'Varim 3.23

23. ’And I beseeched to Hashem at that time saying-וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל יְהוָה בָּעֵת הַהִוא לֵאמֹר (1982+6 words=26=8).

Rashi comments here that forms the word “beseeching”- חנון in the Torah mean “free gift”-מתנת חנם. Although the righteous can make requests from Hashem because of their merit and good deeds they ask from Hashem only for a gift without payment (as they do not reckon their deeds because of their humility). However great a person may be, his deeds are ultimately not needed by G-d. This is because Hashem told Moses “And I shall show favor to whom I shall show favor”- וְחַנֹּתִי אֶת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן (Shmot 33.19).

And I shall show favor to whom I shall show favor

וְחַנֹּתִי אֶת אֲשֶׁר אָחֹן

1435+4 words=17=8

 2085+4 words=19=10=1 (Nun 700)

Rashi also states that this is one of the ten expressions that express “prayer”- תפלה as stated in Midrash (Sifrei 26):

Rabbi Yochanan said, “There are ten terms which can denote prayer, and they are: שוועה, צעקה, נאקה, רינה, פגיעה, ביצור, קריאה, ניפול, פילול ותחנונים  ...Of all these expressions, Moshe prayed only with the approach of “Tachanunim” תחנונים (an appeal to G-d's grace). Rabbi Yochanan said, “From here you can learn that no creature has any worth to the Creator, for even Moshe only asked G-d with an expression that denotes asking for an act of grace.”

שוועה-צעקה-נאקה-רינה-פגיעה-ביצור-קריאה-ניפול-פילול-תחנונים

2761+10 words=2771=17=8

Prayer-תפלה

515

2761+515=3276=18