The term "intreat" is an archaic form of the word "entreat," which means to earnestly ask or plead for something. In the context of the Bible, it often refers to the act of making a sincere and humble request, either to God or to another person. The concept of intreating is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, reflecting the human need for divine intervention, guidance, and mercy.

Biblical Usage

1. Intreating God: The act of intreating God is a common theme throughout the Scriptures, where individuals and communities seek God's favor, guidance, or intervention. In the Old Testament, Moses frequently intreated the Lord on behalf of the Israelites. For example, in Exodus 32:11, Moses pleads with God to spare the Israelites after they sinned by worshiping the golden calf: "But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, 'O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?'"

2. Interpersonal Intreaty: Intreating is also seen in interpersonal relationships within the Bible. It involves making requests or seeking reconciliation. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul often uses the language of intreaty in his letters to the early churches. For instance, in Philippians 4:2, Paul writes, "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord." Here, Paul is intreating these two women to reconcile and maintain unity within the church.

3. Intreating for Mercy: The Bible also records instances where individuals intreat for mercy or forgiveness. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, Jesus illustrates the importance of mercy and forgiveness. The servant, who owed a great debt, intreated his master for patience and was initially shown mercy (Matthew 18:26-27).

Theological Significance

Intreating is an expression of humility and dependence on God. It acknowledges human limitations and the need for divine assistance. The act of intreating God is an act of faith, recognizing His sovereignty and willingness to respond to the prayers of His people. It is a demonstration of trust in God's character and His promises.

In interpersonal relationships, intreating reflects the biblical principles of love, reconciliation, and unity. It encourages believers to seek peace and harmony, following the example of Christ, who intreated on behalf of humanity through His sacrificial love.

Practical Application

Believers are encouraged to intreat God in prayer, bringing their requests, concerns, and praises before Him with sincerity and faith. The practice of intreating fosters a deeper relationship with God and aligns the believer's heart with His will.

In relationships with others, Christians are called to intreat with kindness and humility, seeking to resolve conflicts and promote unity within the body of Christ. This reflects the biblical mandate to love one another and to live in peace, as emphasized in Romans 12:18: "If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone."

In summary, the concept of intreating in the Bible encompasses both divine and human interactions, emphasizing the importance of earnest requests, humility, and the pursuit of peace and reconciliation.(v. t.) See Entreat.INTREAT; INTREATY; (ENTREAT)

in-tret', in-tret'-i: The two forms are derived from the same verb. In 1611 the spelling was indifferently "intreat" or "entreat." In editions of the King James Version since 1760 "intreat" is used in the sense of "to beg"; "entreat" in the sense of "deal with." As examples of "intreat" see Exodus 8:8, "Intreat the Lord" (tsa`aq); Ruth 1:16, "Intreat me not to leave thee" (pagha`); 2 Corinthians 8:4, "praying us with much entreaty" paraklesis). In Genesis 25:21 "intreat" is used to indicate the success of a petition. For entreat see Genesis 12:16, "He entreated Abraham well"; Acts 27:3, "And Julius courteously entreated Paul" (philanthropos chresamenos, literally, "to use in a philanthropic way"); compare also James 3:17, where eupeithes, literally, "easily persuaded," is translated "easy to be entreated."

The Revised Version changes all passages of the King James Version where "intreat" is found to "entreat," with the exception of those mentioned below. The meaning of "entreat" is "to ask," "to beseech," "to supplicate": Job 19:17 reads "and my supplication to the children" (hannothi, the King James Version "though I entreated for the children," the Revised Version, margin "I make supplication"). Jeremiah 15:11 reads, "I will cause the enemy to make supplication" (hiphga'ti), instead, the King James Version "I will cause the enemy to entreat" (the Revised Version margin "I will intercede for thee with the enemy"). 1 Timothy 5:1 changes the King James Version "intreat" to "exhort." Philippians 4:3 renders the King James Version "entreat" by "beseech."

Russell Benjamin Miller

3868. paraiteomai -- to beg from, to beg off
... refuse, reject. From para and the middle voice of aiteo; to beg off, ie Deprecate,
decline, shun -- avoid, (make) excuse, intreat, refuse, reject. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3868.htm - 7k

3870. parakaleo -- to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage
... call near, ie Invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation) -- beseech,
call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3870.htm - 10k

2065. erotao -- to ask, question
... ask, beseech, desire, pray. Apparently from ereo (compare ereunao); to interrogate;
by implication, to request -- ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2065.htm - 9k

2896. krazo -- to scream, cry out
... cry out. A primary verb; properly, to "croak" (as a raven) or scream, ie (genitive
case) to call aloud (shriek, exclaim, intreat) -- cry (out). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2896.htm - 8k

2603. chanan -- to show favor, be gracious
... to implore (ie Move to favor by petition) -- beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew)
favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful ...
/hebrew/2603.htm - 6k

6293. paga -- to meet, encounter, reach
... by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity -- come (betwixt), cause
to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light ...
/hebrew/6293.htm - 6k

6279. athar -- to pray, supplicate
... A primitive root (rather denominative from Ether); to burn incense in worship, ie
Intercede (reciprocally, listen to prayer) -- intreat, (make) pray(-er). ...
/hebrew/6279.htm - 6k

2470. chalah -- to be weak or sick
... to grieve, make sick; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat -- beseech, (be) diseased,
(put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity, intreat, lay to ...
/hebrew/2470.htm - 6k

6419. palal -- to intervene, interpose
... A primitive root; to judge (officially or mentally); by extension, to intercede,
pray -- intreat, judge(-ment), (make) pray(-er, -ing), make supplication. ...
/hebrew/6419.htm - 6k

2 Cor. vi. 1, 2
... And working together with Him we intreat also that ye receive not the grace of God
in vain. ... Wherefore also he said; "And working together we intreat also. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xii 2 cor vi.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... But Ruth replied, Intreat me not to leave thee, or return: For where thou
goest, I'll go, where thou sojourn, I'll sojourn also. ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Preface.
... On my own Experience, therefore, I would recommend them to others, in the like
Condition, And let me intreat my Friends and Fellow-Sufferers to remember, that ...
/.../submission to divine providence in the death of children/the preface.htm

That we Ought to Give Ourselves to God with Regard to Things Both ...
... for him. "Intreat the Lord for me," was his pathetic appeal four times
repeated when the plagues were scourging Egypt. Four times ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ii that we ought.htm

Pious Parents, under Such a Dispensation, May Conclude it is Well ...
... than we are now bearing, and, if not retracted, may perhaps still have it."Did not
one or another of us rather say, "Lord, I would humbly intreat, with all ...
/.../ii pious parents under such.htm

Ruth
... And Ruth said, 'Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after
thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon x ruth.htm

As his Fellow-Workers
... And working together with Him we intreat that ye receive not the grace of God in
vain.'"2:Cor.6:1. We have listened to Paul's teaching on good works (chaps. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/working for god/xxiv as his fellow-workers.htm

B. The Second Stages. Chs. 13:22 to 17:10
... narrow, and many who are invited refuse to pass in thereby; after a time this door
is shut, and then those who before have refused to enter, intreat the Master ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/b the second stages chs.htm

Preface.
... Pray and intreat that your choice may not be discredited by my clumsiness; and that,
supposing we do not answer the expectations which you have formed of us ...
//christianbookshelf.org/cassian/the seven books of john cassian /preface.htm

section 4
... And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted,
we suffer it, being defamed, we intreat; we are made as the filth of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the christ-life/section 4.htm

Intreat (13 Occurrences)
... (vt) See Entreat. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INTREAT; INTREATY; (ENTREAT).
in-tret', in-tret'-i: The two forms are derived from the same verb. ...
/i/intreat.htm - 12k

Entreat (55 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) Entreaty. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. INTREAT; INTREATY; (ENTREAT).
in-tret', in-tret'-i: The two forms are derived from the same verb. ...
/e/entreat.htm - 25k

Intreaty (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia INTREAT; INTREATY; (ENTREAT). in-tret',
in-tret'-i: The two forms are derived from the same verb. ...
/i/intreaty.htm - 8k

Intreated (17 Occurrences)
... (KJV). 1 Kings 13:6 And the king answered and said to the man of God, Intreat now
Jehovah thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me again. ...
/i/intreated.htm - 11k

Offscouring (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the
world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. ...
/o/offscouring.htm - 8k

Labourers (11 Occurrences)
... (KJV). Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women
which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my ...
/l/labourers.htm - 9k

Laboured (34 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY). Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those
women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my ...
/l/laboured.htm - 16k

Intoxication (1 Occurrence)

/i/intoxication.htm - 7k

Fellowlabourers (2 Occurrences)
... Philippians 4:3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which
laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my ...
/f/fellowlabourers.htm - 7k

Treat (53 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and
the younger men as brethren; (Root in KJV WEY WBS YLT RSV NIV). ...
/t/treat.htm - 23k

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