What Is Intercession in the Bible — Meaning Explained

Intercession is one of the most powerful and privileged ministries in Scripture — the act of standing in the gap between God and those in need, praying on behalf of others with the authority of heaven and the compassion of Christ. The Hebrew word paga and the Greek enteuxis both convey the idea of meeting, encountering, or pleading on behalf of another. Intercession is not merely mentioning someone's name in prayer; it is bearing their burden before the throne of grace with earnestness and faith. God Himself calls His people to intercede. 'And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.' The 'gap' is the space between God's righteous judgment and the people's desperate need. The intercessor stands in that gap, pleading for mercy, and God responds to intercession. Abraham interceded for Sodom, and God agreed to spare the city if only ten righteous could be found. Moses interceded for Israel after the golden calf, and God relented from destroying them. Samuel interceded for Israel, declaring, 'God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you.' Elijah interceded for the widow's son and raised him from death. Hezekiah interceded for the people, and God delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib. The greatest intercessor in the Bible is Jesus Christ Himself. At the Last Supper, He prayed for His disciples — and not only for them but 'for them also which shall believe on me through their word.' On the cross, He prayed, 'Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.' In heaven, He 'ever liveth to make intercession for them' — a perpetual priesthood of prayer on behalf of His people. The Holy Spirit also intercedes. 'Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.' When believers are too broken, confused, or overwhelmed to pray, the Spirit prays for them according to God's will. Every believer is called to the ministry of intercession. Paul urged 'that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority.' James taught that 'the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,' and he used Elijah as an example of a man like us whose prayers stopped the rain and then brought it back. Intercession has specific objects in Scripture: the lost, that they may be saved; the sick, that they may be healed; the persecuted, that they may be sustained; the leaders, that they may govern wisely; the church, that it may be unified and holy; and the nations, that the gospel may advance to the ends of the earth. The power of intercession lies not in the eloquence of the prayer but in the faithfulness of the One to whom we pray. When we intercede, we are participating in the very ministry of Christ, the Great High Priest who ever lives to pray for His own.