If you've spent much time in certain church circles lately, you've probably wondered what does decree and declare mean in the bible and why so many people use this specific phrasing during their prayer time. It's one of those "churchy" expressions that sounds incredibly powerful—almost like a legal proclamation—but if you're just hearing it for the first time, it can feel a bit confusing or even a little intense.
At its core, the practice of decreeing and declaring is about the power of spoken words. People who use these terms believe that they aren't just asking God for things, but rather speaking God's promises into existence over their lives. But like anything in the spiritual world, it's worth peeling back the layers to see where these ideas come from and how they actually fit into a biblical framework.
Breaking down the definitions
To get a handle on this, we have to look at the words individually. In a legal or historical sense, a decree is an official order issued by a person in authority. Think of a king or a high-ranking government official. When a king issues a decree, it's not a request or a suggestion; it's the law of the land. It's settled.
On the other hand, a declaration is more of an announcement. It's a formal statement where you're making something known. If you declare your intentions to start a business, you're putting it out there for everyone to hear. In a biblical context, when someone says they "decree and declare," they're essentially trying to exercise spiritual authority to announce that something is true or is about to happen.
Where does this show up in the Bible?
When people talk about this practice, they almost always point to Job 22:28. In the King James Version, it says, "Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee." On the surface, that looks like a clear-cut "green light" to start decreeing whatever we want.
However, there's a bit of a catch that often gets missed. If you look at the context of that chapter, those words weren't spoken by God, nor were they spoken by Job. They were actually spoken by Eliphaz, one of Job's friends. If you keep reading to the end of the book, God actually ends up rebuking Job's friends because they didn't speak what was right about Him. So, while the verse is in the Bible, it's a good reminder that we have to look at the "who" and "why" behind the words.
That being said, the Bible is full of instances where God's decrees changed the course of history. In the Psalms, we see references to God's decrees as his statutes and laws. The idea is that God's word is the ultimate authority. When He speaks, things move. The question for us today is how much of that authority has been passed down to us as believers.
The power of the tongue and our words
Another reason people get so passionate about what does decree and declare mean in the bible is because of the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." Most of us have experienced this on a natural level—a kind word can make someone's day, while a harsh word can stay with them for years.
In many modern charismatic movements, this verse is taken a step further. The belief is that our words have a sort of "spiritual creative power." If we're constantly "declaring" defeat and sickness, we might be inviting those things in. Conversely, by "decreeing" health and prosperity, people believe they are aligning themselves with God's will and pulling those blessings from the spiritual realm into the physical one.
Is it a prayer or a command?
One of the main differences between traditional prayer and the "decree and declare" method is the posture of the person speaking. Traditional prayer is often petitionary—meaning we're asking God, "Lord, if it be Your will, please heal my friend." It's a humble request from a child to a Father.
Decreeing and declaring feels much more like a command. Instead of asking, a person might say, "I decree healing over this body in Jesus' name!" The idea here isn't that the person is bossing God around, but rather that they are using the authority God gave them to command a situation to align with the Bible. It's a shift from "God, please do this" to "God said this is true, so I am announcing it over my life."
The influence of the "Word of Faith" movement
It's hard to talk about this topic without mentioning its roots in the modern era. The popularity of these phrases really took off with the "Word of Faith" movement and leaders like Kenneth Hagin or, more recently, various TV evangelists. They emphasized "positive confession"—the idea that you get what you say.
While some people find this incredibly empowering and faith-building, others worry it can lean toward a "magic wand" mentality. We have to be careful not to treat God like a vending machine where the "decree" is the coin we drop in to get what we want. The heart behind the declaration matters more than the specific formula of the words.
The difference between God's decrees and ours
We have to remember that God is the ultimate Sovereign. His decrees are absolute because He is the Creator. When God said, "Let there be light," there was light. Our "decrees" are a bit different because we are the ones being created.
When we declare things, we are at our best when we are echoing what God has already said. For example, declaring "I am the righteousness of God in Christ" is powerful because it's a direct quote from the New Testament. It's a fact. Decreeing "I will win the lottery this Friday," however, isn't based on a scriptural promise, so it's more of a personal wish than a biblical declaration.
Why people find it helpful
Despite the theological debates, many people find that "decreeing and declaring" helps their mental and spiritual state. It shifts the focus from the problem to the solution. If you're struggling with anxiety, instead of saying "I'm so worried," saying "I declare that God has not given me a spirit of fear" can actually change your perspective.
It's about faith. It's about standing on the promises of God and refusing to be moved by circumstances. In that sense, it's a way of "putting on the armor of God" and using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
Finding the balance
So, where do we land on all of this? Like most things in faith, balance is key.
On one hand, we shouldn't be afraid of the power of our words. We should absolutely speak God's truth over our families, our health, and our futures. There is something deeply biblical about confessing the Word of God out loud. It builds our own faith and sets an atmosphere of expectation.
On the other hand, we have to stay humble. We aren't the ones in control; God is. If we think our "decrees" can force God's hand or bypass His wisdom, we've probably stepped outside of biblical bounds. The goal of any declaration should be to align our hearts with His, not to try and get Him to align with ours.
Final thoughts on using these terms
If you decide to start using this language in your prayer life, just keep your focus on the "Source." Don't get caught up in the mechanics or the "legalism" of saying the right words in the right order. God isn't looking for a perfect legal proclamation; He's looking for a heart that trusts Him.
The next time you hear someone ask what does decree and declare mean in the bible, you can tell them it's really about agreement. It's about agreeing with what God says is true, even when our eyes see something different. Whether you call it a prayer, a confession, or a decree, the power isn't in the person speaking—it's in the God who promised to listen.
At the end of the day, speaking life is always better than speaking death. So go ahead and declare the goodness of God over your life. Just remember that He's the one who establishes the steps, and His plans are always better than anything we could dream up on our own.