Intercession is prayer offered on behalf of another, standing in the gap between God's holiness and human need. It is fundamentally a priestly act — the intercessor identifies with both parties and pleads with God for the one who cannot or will not pray for themselves. The supreme intercessor is Christ Jesus, who "always lives to make intercession" for His people at the right hand of the Father (Heb 7:25; Rom 8:34). The Holy Spirit also intercedes within the believer "with groanings too deep for words" when we do not know how to pray (Rom 8:26). Human intercession is therefore a participation in the ongoing intercessory ministry of Christ. Abraham interceded for Sodom (Gen 18), Moses interceded for Israel after the golden calf (Exod 32:11–14), and Ezekiel describes God seeking someone to "stand in the gap" for the land (Ezek 22:30).
INTERCES'SION, n. [L. intercessio.] The act of interceding; mediation; interposition between parties with a view to reconcile those who differ or contend; solicitation of divine favor in behalf of another; prayer in behalf of others. The intercession of Christ for sinners is the ground of their salvation. — Noah Webster, 1828
• Hebrews 7:25 — "He always lives to make intercession for them."
• Romans 8:26–27 — "The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
• 1 Timothy 2:1 — "I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people."
• Ezekiel 22:30 — "I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land."
• Exodus 32:11–14 — Moses interceded: "Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people." And the LORD relented.
G1793 — entynchanō (ἐντυγχάνω): to confer with, to make petition for; used of Christ's intercession (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25) and the Spirit's (Rom 8:27).
G1783 — enteuxis (ἔντευξις): intercession, petition; from en + tynchano (to happen upon, to meet); used in 1 Tim 2:1; 4:5.
H6293 — paga' (פָּגַע): to meet, strike, reach, intercede; used in Isa 53:12 of Christ — "he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors."
Much of contemporary Christianity has reduced intercession to a vague spiritual nicety — "I'll be praying for you" said without actual intention, or prayer meetings reduced to social gathering with minimal petition. On the other end, certain charismatic movements have distorted intercession into spiritual warfare theater: binding and loosing entities, "taking dominion" over cities through ritualized formulas without biblical grounding. True biblical intercession is neither passive nor theatrical — it is earnest, specific, persistent prayer offered through Christ the great High Priest, in faith, aligned with the revealed will of God. "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" (Jas 5:16).