Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:Intercession refers to the act of intervening or mediating on behalf of another person, particularly through prayer. In the biblical context, it involves pleading with God for the needs and concerns of others. The term is derived from the Latin "intercedere," meaning "to go between" or "to intervene."
Biblical Examples of Intercession:1.
Abraham's Intercession for Sodom: One of the earliest examples of intercession in the Bible is found in
Genesis 18:22-33. Abraham pleads with God to spare the city of Sodom if righteous people can be found there. Abraham's persistent intercession highlights the power of prayer and God's willingness to listen to His faithful servants.
Genesis 18:32 states, "Then he said, 'May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?' And He answered, 'On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.'"
2.
Moses' Intercession for Israel: Moses frequently interceded for the Israelites, especially when they sinned against God. In
Exodus 32:11-14, after the Israelites worship the golden calf, Moses pleads with God to spare them from His wrath.
Exodus 32:14 records, "So the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people."
3.
Samuel's Intercession for Israel: Samuel, the prophet, is another key figure known for his intercessory prayers. In
1 Samuel 7:5, Samuel calls the Israelites to Mizpah and prays for them as they repent and seek God's favor.
1 Samuel 7:9 says, "Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him."
4.
Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Intercessor: Jesus Christ is the ultimate intercessor, mediating between God and humanity. His sacrificial death and resurrection provide the basis for His intercessory role.
Romans 8:34 affirms, "Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us." Additionally,
Hebrews 7:25 states, "Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them."
5.
The Holy Spirit's Role in Intercession: The Holy Spirit also plays a vital role in intercession, especially when believers are unsure how to pray.
Romans 8:26-27 explains, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."
Theological Significance:Intercession is a profound expression of love and concern for others, reflecting the heart of God who desires to bless and redeem His people. It is an essential aspect of the Christian life, encouraging believers to stand in the gap for others, just as Christ intercedes for us. Through intercession, believers participate in God's redemptive work, aligning their prayers with His will and purposes.
Practical Application:Christians are encouraged to engage in intercessory prayer as a vital part of their spiritual discipline. This involves praying for the needs of others, including family, friends, leaders, and even enemies. Intercession is a powerful tool for spiritual warfare, community building, and personal growth in faith. As believers intercede, they are reminded of their dependence on God and their role as His ambassadors in the world.
Topical Bible Verses
Hebrews 7:25Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
Topicalbible.orgHebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
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Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
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Acts 1:9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To mediate; to intervene.
2. (v. i.) To act between parties with a view to reconcile differences; to make intercession; to beg or plead in behalf of another; to mediate; -- usually followed by with and for; as, I will intercede with him for you.
3. (v. t.) To be, to come, or to pass, between; to separate.
Greek
5241. huperentugchano -- tointercede, to make petition for... to
intercede, to make petition for. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration:
huperentugchano Phonetic Spelling: (hoop-er-en-toong-khan'-o) Short Definition:
...Strong's Hebrew
6419. palal -- to intervene, interpose... root Definition to intervene, interpose NASB Word Usage expected (1),
intercede (2), interceded (1), interposed (1), made judgment favorable (1), make
...3887. luts -- ambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a...
... properly, to make mouths at, ie To scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a
foreign language) to interpret, or (generally)intercede -- ambassador, have in...
6293. paga -- to meet, encounter, reach
... NASB Word Usage approach (1), attack (2), attacked (1), came (1), cut him down
(1), entreat (2), fall (7), fell (4), happen (1),intercede (2), interceded (1...
6279. athar -- to pray, supplicate
... A primitive root (rather denominative from Ether); to burn incense in worship, ie
Intercede (reciprocally, listen to prayer) -- intreat, (make) pray(-er)....
Library
Twenty-Third Day for the Holy Spirit in Your Own Work
...Intercede much for those among whom you work, till God gives you life for
them. Let... Him.Intercede for the souls you are working among....
In Endeavouring to Prove that Such Intercession Derives Some...
... Therefore, if they persist in the paltry quibble, that the deadintercede for the
living, because the Lord said, "If they stood before me," (intercesserint), I...
What Manner of Man Ought to Come to Rule.
... of experience, While thou art yet speaking, I will say, Here am I((Isaiah 58:9).
For if perchance any one should come to us asking us tointercede for him with...
Faith of Sinners in Prayer
... Recognizing the value of prayer as a divine agency to save men, they made
application to the men who prayed, tointercede with God for them....
From the Supplement to the Summa --Question Lxxii of the Prayers...
... Prayers? II. Ought we to appeal to the Saints tointercede for us? III.... II.
Ought we to appeal to the Saints tointercede for us? In...
A Daily Constant Exercise.
... 4. Address to the Blessed Virgin, &c. O Mary, the most sweet Virgin Mother of our
Lord, the most glorious Queen of Heaven,intercede for me to thy Son....
Tu Gloria Jerusalem
... Maria Dominare nostri tu et Filius tuusIntercede ad Dominum Deum nostrum,intercede
ad Dominum Deum nostrum, ad Deum nostrum, ad Dominum Deum nostrum....
Epistle xxv. To John, Bishop of Constantinople, and the Other...
... ask me to become his intercessor with a great man who was incensed against him,
and to myself unknown, I should at once reply, I cannot go tointercede for you...
Whether we Ought to Call Upon the Saints to Pray for Us?
... saint. Therefore it would seem unnecessary to make the saints mediators between
us and God, that they mayintercede for us. Objection...
Chapter xx
... her. Now therefore, restore the wife of the man, for he is a prophet, that
he mayintercede in thy behalf that thou mayest live....
Thesaurus
Intercede (12 Occurrences)... differences; to make intercession; to beg or plead in behalf of another; to mediate; --
usually followed by with and for; as, I will
intercede with him for you
...Intercession (12 Occurrences)
... to strike upon," or "against"; then in a good sense, "to assail anyone with petitions,"
"to urge," and when on behalf of another, "tointercede" (Ruth 1:16...
Onias
... then slandered Onias, and the jealousy having caused bloodshed between their followers,
Onias decided to repair in person to the king tointercede for his...
Intreaty (1 Occurrence)
... to make supplication" (hiphga'ti), instead, the King James Version "I will cause
the enemy to entreat" (the Revised Version margin "I willintercede for thee...
Intreat (13 Occurrences)
... to make supplication" (hiphga'ti), instead, the King James Version "I will cause
the enemy to entreat" (the Revised Version margin "I willintercede for thee...
Intents (3 Occurrences)
Interceded (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofIntercede. Multi-Version Concordance
Interceded (4 Occurrences). Numbers 21:7 The people...
Entreat (55 Occurrences)
... to make supplication" (hiphga'ti), instead, the King James Version "I will cause
the enemy to entreat" (the Revised Version margin "I willintercede for thee...
Condemning (6 Occurrences)
... Christ 'is' He that died, yea, rather also, was raised up; who is also on the
right hand of God -- who also dothintercede for us. (YLT)....
Accordance (118 Occurrences)
... Romans 8:27 and He who is searching the hearts hath known what 'is' the mind of
the Spirit, because according to God he dothintercede for saints. (See NIV)....
Resources
What is intercessory prayer? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is beatification and canonization and are they biblical? | GotQuestions.orgIntercede: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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