Intercessory prayer is a powerful and deeply biblical practice in which one person prays on behalf of others, standing in the gap with faith and compassion. Throughout Scripture, we see godly men and women pleading with God for mercy, deliverance, healing, and guidance—not just for themselves, but for their families, communities, and even nations.
These moments reveal God’s heart and His willingness to respond to sincere, faith-filled petitions. In this article, we will explore some of the most striking examples of intercessory prayers in the Bible, uncovering their context, passion, and the divine outcomes they helped bring about.
Examples of Intercessory Prayers in the Bible
#1. Abraham praying for Sodom (Genesis 18:16–33)
Abraham’s intercession for Sodom reveals both courage and compassion. When God tells Abraham of His plan to judge Sodom, Abraham immediately responds, “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23). He challenges the idea of collective punishment and appeals to God’s justice. Abraham goes further, asking, “What if there are fifty righteous people in the city?” and eventually negotiates down to ten. Each time, God agrees, showing His mercy. Abraham’s prayer is persistent, respectful, and specific. His advocacy demonstrates that intercessory prayer can involve bold requests based on God’s character. Abraham doesn’t plead based on Sodom’s worthiness but on God’s fairness: “Far be it from you to do such a thing… Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (v. 25). This teaches that intercession can respectfully engage God’s righteousness while still asking for mercy.
#2. Moses interceding for Israel after the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:9–14)
When Israel worshiped the golden calf, God told Moses, “Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them” (Exodus 32:10). Moses refuses to abandon the people. Instead, he urgently intercedes: “Why should your anger burn against your people…?” (v. 11). He reminds God of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and appeals to God’s reputation before Egypt, saying, “Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out’?” (v. 12). Moses prays with strategic wisdom and a burdened heart. He stands in the gap and is even willing to be blotted out of God’s book if necessary (Exodus 32:32, not part of the same prayer but reinforcing his sacrificial spirit). His intercession changes God’s course: “Then the Lord relented” (v. 14). This account highlights that effective intercession involves self-sacrifice, historical awareness of God’s promises, and alignment with His glory.
#3. Samuel praying for Israel during a time of repentance (1 Samuel 7:5–11)
Samuel instructs the people, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the Lord for you” (1 Samuel 7:5). The context is national crisis and spiritual renewal. The people confess their sins and fast, and Samuel offers a burnt offering while crying out to the Lord. The prayer is not recorded word-for-word, but its effect is immediate: “The Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines… and they were routed before Israel” (v. 10). Samuel’s actions—offering a sacrifice, gathering the people, and praying aloud—show that intercession can be public, priestly, and powerful. His leadership is spiritual, not just political. He takes personal responsibility to lead the people into God’s presence, and God responds with supernatural deliverance. This teaches that in times of national or community crisis, true leaders prioritize intercessory prayer as a means of invoking divine intervention and restoring right relationship with God.
#4. Hannah praying for a child (1 Samuel 1:9–20)
Hannah’s intercession is deeply personal yet divinely significant. In her grief, she “prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10). She makes a vow: “Lord Almighty, if you will… give your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life” (v. 11). Her prayer is not selfish—it’s marked by surrender. She desires a son to dedicate him to God’s service, not simply to satisfy personal longing. Eli the priest initially misunderstands her silent prayer, but once he blesses her, Hannah’s demeanor changes. The Lord remembers her, and Samuel is born—who will later become a prophet and judge. This example illustrates that even our most personal prayers can become intercessory when they align with God’s greater purpose. Hannah’s faith, vulnerability, and commitment offer a powerful model of trusting God in pain and releasing the outcome entirely into His hands.
#5. Daniel praying for the restoration of Israel (Daniel 9:3–19)
Daniel’s intercession is one of the most comprehensive and theologically rich prayers in the Bible. After reading Jeremiah’s prophecy that the exile would last seventy years, Daniel turns “to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes” (Daniel 9:3). He begins with confession: “We have sinned and done wrong… we have turned away from your commands and laws” (v. 5). Notably, though Daniel was righteous, he includes himself in the nation’s guilt. He appeals to God’s mercy: “The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him” (v. 9). Toward the end, he prays, “For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary” (v. 17), and finally, “We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy” (v. 18). This prayer is rooted in humility, Scripture, and covenant understanding. It’s a model of how to intercede for a people by standing in their place, confessing sin, and appealing to God’s character and promises.
#6. Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer for His disciples and future believers (John 17)
In John 17, Jesus lifts up an extraordinary prayer shortly before His arrest. He begins by praying for Himself, then for His disciples, and finally for all future believers. “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name” (v. 11) reveals His concern for the disciples’ spiritual safety. He prays, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (v. 17), asking for their continual growth and purification. Jesus expands His prayer beyond the present: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message” (v. 20). His goal? Unity: “that all of them may be one… so that the world may believe” (v. 21). Jesus’ prayer shows the breadth of true intercession—it’s prophetic, loving, purposeful, and mission-driven. He asks not just for protection or blessing but for spiritual unity and missional fruit. This prayer remains a living intercession, revealing Jesus’ ongoing heart for the Church.
#7. Paul’s prayers for the early churches (Ephesians 1:15–23, Philippians 1:3–11)
Paul’s intercessory prayers are dense with spiritual insight. In Ephesians 1:17, he prays, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ… may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” He desires spiritual understanding, not just emotional comfort. He continues, asking that they grasp “the hope to which he has called you” and “his incomparably great power for us who believe” (vv. 18–19). In Philippians 1, Paul says, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (v. 3), and prays “that your love may abound more and more… so that you may be able to discern what is best” (vv. 9–10). These prayers show intercession that is consistent, thoughtful, and forward-looking. Paul doesn’t just pray for external circumstances to change; he prays for believers’ hearts, minds, and identities to align with the gospel. His prayers challenge us to go beyond surface-level intercession and seek God’s deeper work in the lives of others.
#8. Mordecai praying and fasting for the Jewish people’s deliverance (Esther 4:15–17)
Although the Book of Esther doesn’t explicitly mention the word “prayer,” the actions taken by Mordecai and Esther clearly imply intense intercessory activity. Mordecai urges Esther to go before the king despite the risk, and she responds, “Go, gather together all the Jews… and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days” (v. 16). Fasting in Scripture is regularly associated with prayer and mourning. Mordecai’s mourning with sackcloth at the king’s gate (v. 1) is an act of intercession. His actions stir the community into unified spiritual action. This intercession involves both humility and corporate involvement—it’s not passive waiting but active spiritual engagement. Their fasting and pleading result in divine favor, and the Jewish people are delivered. Mordecai’s story teaches that intercessory prayer may require mobilizing others, taking bold risks, and trusting God to move even when He seems silent.
#9. Nehemiah praying for the people and the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:4–11)
Nehemiah’s prayer begins with emotional burden: “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept… For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed” (Nehemiah 1:4). His prayer is a blend of worship, confession, and petition. He acknowledges God as “great and awesome, who keeps his covenant of love” (v. 5), and confesses, “we Israelites, including myself… have acted very wickedly” (v. 6–7). He recalls God’s promises to restore His people and pleads, “Give your servant success today by granting him favor” (v. 11). Nehemiah’s intercession is strategic—he is not only praying but preparing for action. His model shows how intercessors align their prayers with both divine purposes and practical obedience. His concern isn’t just about rebuilding walls, but restoring worship and identity. His prayer ultimately leads to a major move of restoration for God’s people, driven first by spiritual brokenness and a desire for God’s name to be honored.
Closing Thoughts
The Bible offers a powerful collection of intercessory prayers that continue to inspire and guide believers today. From Abraham’s bold pleas to Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, each example reflects the heart of someone willing to stand before God on behalf of others.
These prayers reveal key principles: humility, alignment with God’s will, persistence, and a deep love for those being lifted up in prayer. Intercessory prayer is not just a spiritual duty—it is a divine invitation to partner with God in His redemptive work. May these biblical examples stir us to pray boldly, faithfully, and with compassionate urgency for others.