In the context of the Bible, the term "pleaded" often refers to the act of earnestly appealing or making a heartfelt request to God or another person. This action is typically characterized by a deep sense of urgency, humility, and sincerity. Throughout the Scriptures, various individuals are depicted as pleading with God or others, often in times of distress, need, or repentance.

Old Testament Instances

1. Abraham's Intercession for Sodom: One of the earliest examples of pleading in the Bible is found in Genesis 18:22-33. Abraham pleads with God to spare the city of Sodom if righteous people can be found there. His persistent intercession demonstrates a deep concern for justice and mercy. Abraham's approach is marked by humility and reverence, as he acknowledges his own unworthiness: "Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord—though I am but dust and ashes" (Genesis 18:27).

2. Moses' Plea for Israel: Moses frequently pleaded with God on behalf of the Israelites. In Exodus 32:11-14, after the Israelites sinned by worshiping the golden calf, Moses interceded for them, appealing to God's promises and reputation. His plea was effective, as the Lord relented from the disaster He had threatened. Moses' intercession highlights the power of earnest prayer and the importance of appealing to God's character and covenant.

3. Hannah's Prayer for a Child: In 1 Samuel 1:9-20, Hannah pleads with God for a son, pouring out her soul in deep anguish. Her fervent prayer is a model of faith and persistence, and God answers her plea by granting her a son, Samuel. Hannah's account illustrates the personal nature of pleading with God and His responsiveness to heartfelt petitions.

New Testament Instances

1. The Canaanite Woman's Faith: In Matthew 15:21-28, a Canaanite woman pleads with Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Despite initial resistance, her persistent faith and humility lead to her request being granted. Jesus commends her great faith, saying, "O woman, your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire" (Matthew 15:28). This account underscores the importance of faith and perseverance in pleading with God.

2. The Parable of the Persistent Widow: Jesus teaches about the necessity of persistent prayer through the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. The widow's relentless pleading with an unjust judge eventually leads to her receiving justice. Jesus uses this parable to encourage His followers to always pray and not lose heart, emphasizing that God, who is just, will respond to His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night.

3. Paul's Plea for the Thorn in the Flesh: In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, the Apostle Paul describes how he pleaded with the Lord three times to remove a "thorn in the flesh." God's response, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9), teaches that sometimes God's answer to our pleas is not the removal of the difficulty but the provision of His grace to endure it.

Theological Significance

Pleading in the Bible is often associated with intercession, repentance, and supplication. It reflects a deep reliance on God's mercy and power, acknowledging human limitations and the need for divine intervention. The act of pleading is not merely about presenting requests but involves a relational aspect, where the petitioner seeks to align with God's will and purposes. Through pleading, believers express their trust in God's character and His ability to act on their behalf.(imp. & p. p.) of Plead.3870. parakaleo -- to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage
... 2), exhorting (3), exhorts (1), given (1), implore (4), implored (9), imploring
(5), invited (2), making an appeal (1), plead (1), pleaded (1), pleading (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3870.htm - 10k2603a. chanan -- to show favor, be gracious
... favor (1), implore the compassion (1), implore the mercy (1), implored (1), made
(1), made supplication (2), make supplication (5), pity (2), pleaded (2), show ...
/hebrew/2603a.htm - 6k

6293. paga -- to meet, encounter, reach
... entreat (2), fall (7), fell (4), happen (1), intercede (2), interceded (1), kill
(1), make supplication (1), meet (3), meets (3), met (2), pleaded (1), reached ...
/hebrew/6293.htm - 6k

7378. rib -- to strive, contend
... dispute (1), ever strive (1), filed (1), find fault (1), have a quarrel (1), judge
(1), plead (9), plead my case (1), plead your case (1), pleaded (2), pleads ...
/hebrew/7378.htm - 6k

Heavenly Contemplation Exemplified, and the Whole Work Concluded.
... heavenly rest; 2. its nearness; 3. dreadful to sinners; 4. and joyful to saints;
5. its dear purchase; 6. its difference from earth.7. The heart pleaded with; 8 ...
/.../the saints everlasting rest/chapter xvi heavenly contemplation exemplified.htm

How Long?
... Tears filled those hard eyes and rolled down her cheeks as we pleaded with her,
in the name of all that was motherly, not to doom her little innocent girl, not ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxviii how long.htm

The Sinner Stripped of his Vain Pleas.
... To have pleaded an unavoidable ignorance would have been their happiest plea that
could have remained for you; nay, an actual, though faulty ignorance, would ...
/.../the rise and progress of religion in the soul/chapter v the sinner stripped.htm

The Ministry.
... up to heaven, the best of books in its hand, the law of truth was written upon its
lips, the world was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxii the ministry.htm

Fall of the Western Empire (Ad 451-476)
... He pleaded with Genseric as he had before pleaded with Attila, and he brought him
to promise that the city should not be burnt, and that the lives of the ...
/.../chapter xxiii fall of the.htm

The Call of Isaiah
... as priests, the king entered the sanctuary "to burn incense upon the altar." Azariah
the high priest and his associates remonstrated, and pleaded with him to ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 25 the call of.htm

Acts xiii. 42
... the more extended the preaching, and (how the Apostles here) gave themselves the
more to the Gentiles, having (by this very thing) pleaded their justification ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxx acts xiii 42.htm

The Arrows of Conviction.
... I had been preaching there several weeks, and the night was my last one,
and I pleaded with them as I had never pleaded there before. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/the arrows of conviction.htm

Divided we Fall.
... She said her son was a good enough boy, and he didn't need to be converted. I
pleaded with that mother, but all my pleading was of no account. ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/divided we fall.htm

Why this Work was Published, and Again of Tertullian and Cyprian.
... And since I was not able to reply to these separately, I thought that this cause
was to be so pleaded by me that I might overthrow former writers, together ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap iv why this work was.htm

Pleaded (21 Occurrences)
...Pleaded (21 Occurrences). ... (See NAS). Luke 13:8 "But the gardener pleaded, "'Leave
it, Sir, this year also, till I have dug round it and manured it. (WEY). ...
/p/pleaded.htm - 12k

Plead (64 Occurrences)
... 7. (vt) To allege or adduce in proof, support, or vindication; to offer in excuse;
as, the law of nations may be pleaded in favor of the rights of ambassadors. ...
/p/plead.htm - 31k

Persecution (22 Occurrences)
... And when Paul had pleaded in his own defense before King Herod Agrippa and the Roman
governor Festus, these two judges were agreed in the opinion, "This man ...
/p/persecution.htm - 47k

Zelophehad (9 Occurrences)
... His daughters came to Moses and Eleazar and successfully pleaded for a possession
for themselves (Numbers 27:1). This became the occasion for a law providing ...
/z/zelophehad.htm - 11k

Upheld (15 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed is Yahweh,
who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept ...
/u/upheld.htm - 10k

Officer (70 Occurrences)
... son was ill at Capernaum. (WEY). John 4:49 "Sir," pleaded the officer,
"come down before my child dies." (WEY). John 18:12 So the ...
/o/officer.htm - 30k

Gardener (4 Occurrences)
... WEY BBE). Luke 13:8 "But the gardener pleaded, "'Leave it, Sir, this year
also, till I have dug round it and manured it. (WEY). John ...
/g/gardener.htm - 8k

Wooed (1 Occurrence)
... 1 Samuel 25:39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed is Yahweh,
who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept ...
/w/wooed.htm - 6k

Insult (25 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed is Yahweh,
who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept ...
/i/insult.htm - 13k

Ignorant (32 Occurrences)
... beforehand. Or are you ignorant of what Scripture says in speaking of
Elijah--how he pleaded with God against Israel, saying, (WEY). ...
/i/ignorant.htm - 16k

What should I do when God says no? | GotQuestions.org

How many people were raised from the dead in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Are apparitions of Mary, such as Lady Fatima, true messages from God? | GotQuestions.org

Pleaded: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus