Intercede

Greek Word Pronunciation: en-toong-KHAN-oh
Strong’s Number: 1793
Goodrich/Kohlenberger Number: 1961
Key Verse: “… the Spirit Himself intercedes for the saints …” -- Romans 8:26

The basic meaning of entungchano is to “run up against” something or someone, e.g., a bad situation. The secular usage was in regard to encounters of ships with pirates; stones and missiles flung by the enemy; a crocodile striking the back of the lure; or of lightning striking someone.

In the Old Testament, this verb is used for prayer, stressing intervening, or denoting a meeting or encounter.

The verbal form is used 6 times in the New Testament, and the basic meaning was “to fall in with, meet and talk with in order to converse,” then “petition” by way of pleading either for or against others. It is usually translated in NASB/NIV with “appealed, petitioned, pleaded” whereas in KJV in Acts it is translated “dealt with me.” In Acts 25:24, the Jews appealed against Paul, and in Romans 11:2, Elijah was pleading against Israel. In Romans 8:27, 34, and Hebrews 7:25, it refers to the continual intercessory work of Christ and the Holy Spirit for the saints. Hebrews 7:25 speaks of the present and ongoing intercession of Messiah on behalf of believers, which is based upon and follows His once-for-all offering of Himself as the sacrifice for sin.

In ROMANS 8:26, the preposition huper is added onto the word. This expresses the most intensive degree in which the Holy Spirit exercises His ministry. Robertson wrote: “It is a picturesque word of rescue by one who ‘happens on’ one who is in trouble and in his behalf (huper) pleads with unuttered groanings. This is the work of our Helper, the Spirit Himself.”