Introduction
In the Bible, intercession is the prayer in which you place yourself before God in the place of another, to plead their cause and ask for their protection or forgiveness. It rests on the example of Moses and on that of Jesus, who intercedes without ceasing for his people before the Father.
Everyone prays for themselves at one time or another. Praying for someone else, with the seriousness of someone standing in their place, is a different step. This page explains what the Bible says about intercession, what it looks like in Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and how you can practice it without losing heart.
What Does the Word Intercession Mean in the Bible?
The English word comes from the Latin intercedere, which means to go between. The intercessor is the one who stands between two parties to plead on behalf of one before the other. The Hebrew verb paga can mean to meet, to intervene, and the Greek entugchano evokes an urgent approach to someone.
The Bible speaks of intercession when a person prays for people who do not pray, cannot pray, or lack the strength to do so. It assumes two things: access to God, and a heart that cares about the fate of others.
What the Bible Says About Intercession
The theme runs through both testaments. We see men who plead for a city, for a people, and then a Mediator who prays for all. Here are the most telling passages.
Genesis 18:32
"He said, “Oh don’t let the Lord be angry, and I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the ten’s sake."
Abraham bargains with God to spare Sodom, going from fifty righteous people down to ten. The text shows a frank dialogue, and God accepts that a man pleads insistently for others. Read all of Genesis 18.
Exodus 32:11-14
"Moses begged Yahweh his God, and said, “Yahweh, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, that you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface of the earth?’ Turn from your fierce wrath, and turn away from this evil against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of the sky, and all this land that I have spoken of I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” So Yahweh turned away from the evil which he said he would do to his people."
Moses begs the LORD not to strike his people and reminds him of his promises. The account says that God turned away from the evil he had said he would do. Intercession is presented as a real lever in the relationship between God and people. Read all of Exodus 32.
Ezekiel 22:30
"I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one."
God looks for a man to stand in the gap, that is, at the opening of a broken wall, on behalf of the land. This text speaks of a need, because God is looking for people who will step forward in this way. Read all of Ezekiel 22.
1 Timothy 2:1
"I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks be made for all men:"
Paul asks, first of all, that prayers be made for all people. He lists intercessions among the forms of prayer, which puts them at the heart of church life. Read all of 1 Timothy 2.
Romans 8:34
"Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."
Christ, who died and was raised, is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. This sentence answers the question of condemnation: no one can accuse us before such an advocate. Read all of Romans 8.
Hebrews 7:25
"Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them."
The text specifies that Jesus always lives to make intercession for those who draw near to God through him. Our intercession is therefore never a monologue: it joins his. Read all of Hebrews 7.
Prayer and Intercession: What Is the Difference?
Prayer is the broad term: speaking to God, worshiping him, thanking him, entrusting your needs to him, listening to him. Intercession is a particular form of it, directed toward others. All intercession is prayer, but not all prayer is intercession.
The difference lies in the point of view. When you pray for yourself, you speak in your own name and according to your own needs. When you intercede, you stand in the place of another: you carry their situation as if it were yours. James 5:16 also links praying for one another to healing and to the effectiveness of the prayer of the righteous.
Finally, intercession is often exercised over time, as a quiet service. You do not simply ask God for one thing; you accompany someone before him until the situation changes or God gives peace.
James 5:16
"Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective."
James invites believers to pray for one another. He shows that intercession is not reserved for experts: it is a mutual service between brothers and sisters. Read all of James 5.
Common Misconceptions About Intercession
The first is to believe that you must be a specialized intercessor with a rare gift. The Bible asks everyone to pray for others. Some carry a more marked burden for it, but no one is excused.
The second is to see it as a way to force God's hand or to teach him compassion. He does not need us in order to love. He chooses to involve us in what he does, and Christ remains the only mediator between God and people.
The third is to imagine that intercession guarantees a specific result. Christians do not all read the way God answers in the same way. What is certain is that God listens and that love pleading for another is never lost.
How to Intercede Day to Day
Start small and concrete. Write down three names or three situations, and pray for them at a set time of day: on public transport, while preparing a meal or before going to sleep. This regularity is more useful than a big occasional intention.
Pray what God has said in his Word. Texts like Paul's prayers for the churches provide solid requests: the knowledge of God, inner strength, growing love. This keeps you from going in circles around the same words.
Also plan to tell the person that you are praying for them, when appropriate. This simple message often encourages more than a long speech. And stay humble: the intercessor carries, and does not judge. Leave the timing and the manner of the answer to God.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between prayer and intercession?
Prayer is the general name for any word addressed to God. Intercession is prayer made on behalf of others, in their place. When you intercede, you carry someone's situation before God as if it were yours.
Does Jesus intercede for us?
Yes. Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 say that Christ, raised and seated at the right hand of God, intercedes for believers. His intercession is permanent and makes ours possible: we pray in union with him, never in his place.
How do you practice intercession?
Choose a few people or situations, write them down, then pray for them at a regular time. Lean on texts from the Bible to shape your requests. Stay simple and faithful, and leave the result to God rather than demanding a specific answer.
Can you intercede for someone who does not believe?
Yes, and Paul encourages it in 1 Timothy 2 by asking us to pray for all people. You can ask God to touch them, protect them and open their eyes, without forcing their freedom or judging them.
to take notes and ask questions.