The Lord’s Prayer (also called the “Our Father”) in the King James Version

The Lord’s Prayer (also called the “Our Father”) in the King James Version appears in Matthew 6:9–13 as a model prayer Jesus taught His disciples. It is not merely a script to recite mechanically but a profound template that reveals the priorities of Christian prayer, the nature of God, and the shape of life in God’s kingdom.

Here is the full KJV text:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The deeper meaning lies in its structure and theological priorities. The prayer divides into two main halves:

• The first half (three petitions) centers entirely on God — His glory, reign, and purposes. This teaches that true prayer begins by aligning our hearts with God’s priorities rather than jumping straight to our own needs.
• The second half (three petitions) turns to human needs — provision, forgiveness, and protection — but always in dependence on God.

This pattern subverts self-centered religion (as Jesus critiques showy, repetitive prayers earlier in Matthew 6) and forms the pray-er into someone who treasures God above all.

Line-by-Line Deeper Interpretation

Our Father which art in heaven

This opening is revolutionary. Jesus invites believers to address God as “Father” — intimate, relational, and familial — yet “in heaven” reminds us of His transcendence, sovereignty, and holiness. It balances closeness with reverence.

The word “Our” emphasizes community: we pray not just as isolated individuals but as part of God’s family.

Hallowed be thy name

“Hallowed” means “set apart as holy,” “revered,” or “treated as sacred.” The deepest thrust here is a plea that God’s name (representing His character, reputation, and being) would be honored, glorified, and treasured above everything else — first in our own hearts, then throughout the world. Many theologians see this as the central petition: all other requests serve the ultimate goal of God being supremely valued and worshipped.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven

These two petitions are closely linked. They express longing for God’s reign (“kingdom”) to break into the world fully — ending injustice, evil, and rebellion — and for perfect obedience to His will, just as it already exists perfectly among the angels in heaven. It is both a forward-looking hope (the future consummation of the kingdom) and a present commitment to live out God’s purposes now.

Give us this day our daily bread

This asks for God’s provision of basic necessities (“daily bread” echoes the manna in Exodus, given fresh each day). Deeper still, it cultivates daily dependence on God, rejecting anxiety, hoarding, or self-reliance (themes Jesus addresses right before and after the prayer in Matthew 6). It reminds us to trust God moment by moment rather than living in fear of scarcity.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

“Debts” here means moral/spiritual debts — sins or trespasses. This petition acknowledges our constant need for forgiveness and links God’s forgiveness of us to our willingness to forgive others. The deeper spiritual reality is that experiencing God’s mercy transforms us into merciful people; unforgiveness blocks our own reception of grace.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

This is a plea for protection from trials that test our faith and from falling into sin. “Evil” (or “the evil one” in many interpretations) refers to Satan and the forces of evil. The deeper meaning is reliance on God to guard our hearts, guide us away from paths of destruction, and rescue us from evil’s power and effects.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen

(This doxology appears in many KJV manuscripts and traditions, though not in the earliest ones.) It closes by reaffirming God’s absolute ownership of the kingdom, unlimited power, and eternal worthiness of glory — returning full circle to worship and grounding every request in God’s unchanging reality.

Overall Deeper Significance

The Lord’s Prayer is a kingdom-centered prayer that reorients the human heart: God first (His glory, reign, and will), then our needs in humble dependence. It forms disciples who:

• Approach God with childlike trust and adult reverence.
• Prioritize God’s honor and mission over personal comfort.
• Live in daily dependence, relational forgiveness, and spiritual vigilance.
• Align their desires with the coming of God’s kingdom on earth.

Over time, praying it thoughtfully reshapes character, combats self-centeredness, and draws the pray-er into deeper communion with the Father. It is both profoundly simple and inexhaustibly rich — a lifelong school of prayer.

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