📖 Biblical Definition
The Christian discipline of praying on behalf of others — the deliberate, sustained labor of bringing the needs of others before the LORD. Intercession is one of the central labors of biblical prayer-life. The OT pattern is established in Abraham's intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33), Moses's repeated intercessions for Israel (Exodus 32:11-14, 30-32; Numbers 14:13-19; Deuteronomy 9:18-29), Job's offering for his children (Job 1:5) and for his friends (Job 42:8-10), Samuel's intercession (1 Samuel 12:23, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you), and the prophets' intercessions for the people. The NT continues and intensifies: Paul's frequent reminders of his intercession for the churches (Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11); the apostolic command to make intercessions for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2); James's command to confess sins one to another and pray one for another (James 5:16). The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the great Intercessor (Romans 8:34, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us; Hebrews 7:25, he ever liveth to make intercession for them) and the Holy Spirit is the indwelling Intercessor in the believer (Romans 8:26-27). The patriarchal-Reformed reader holds intercession as substantive labor: maintained prayer-lists, deliberate prayer-times for named persons and concerns, persistence over years, sober expectation of the LORD's hearing and answering, willingness to weep over the unconverted as Paul did over Israel (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1).
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Christian discipline of praying on behalf of others; OT patterns (Abraham, Moses, Samuel) and NT commands (1 Timothy 2:1-2); Christ the great Intercessor; substantive sustained labor.
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INTERCESSION, n. (Christian discipline) Praying on behalf of others; deliberate, sustained labor of bringing others' needs before the LORD. OT patterns: Abraham for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33); Moses for Israel (Exodus 32; Numbers 14; Deuteronomy 9); Job for his children and friends (Job 1:5; 42:8); Samuel (1 Samuel 12:23). NT: Paul's frequent intercession for the churches (Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:9); apostolic command for kings and all in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2); James 5:16. Christ the great Intercessor (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25); Spirit as indwelling Intercessor (Romans 8:26-27).
📖 Key Scripture
1 Timothy 2:1-2 — "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
1 Samuel 12:23 — "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way."
Hebrews 7:25 — "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
James 5:16 — "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
No major postmodern redefinition. The principal contemporary mishandling is the casual modern reduction of intercession to brief mental prayer-thoughts rather than substantive sustained labor.
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Intercession as a practice does not undergo lexical corruption. The principal contemporary mishandling is the casual modern reduction to brief mental prayer-thoughts in passing. Biblical intercession is substantive sustained labor: Abraham's six-fold descending bargaining for Sodom (Genesis 18); Moses's forty days on Sinai for Israel; Paul's never-ceasing remembrance of the churches in his prayers; the Lord Jesus's high-priestly prayer at John 17. The patriarchal-Reformed recovery is the substantive practice: maintained prayer-lists; deliberate intercession-times; persistence over years; sober expectation of the LORD's hearing; integrated household and congregational intercession-cultures.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew palal; Greek enteuxis; OT patterns; NT command; Christ the great Intercessor.
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['Hebrew', 'H6419', 'palal', 'to pray, intercede, judge (verbal root)']
['Greek', 'G1783', 'enteuxis', 'intercession, supplication']
['Greek', 'G1793', 'entugchano', 'to intercede, fall in with (Romans 8:26-27)']
Usage
"Intercession: sustained labor of praying on behalf of others."
"OT patterns: Abraham for Sodom; Moses for Israel; Samuel."
"Christ the great Intercessor (Hebrews 7:25); Spirit indwelling Intercessor (Romans 8:26-27)."