In the context of the Bible, the term "pleads" often refers to the act of making a case or interceding, whether before God or in human affairs. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where pleading is seen as an expression of earnest supplication, advocacy, or intercession.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the act of pleading is frequently associated with the role of prophets, leaders, and individuals who stand before God or others to make a case or seek justice. For instance, in Isaiah 1:18 , God invites His people to reason together with Him: "Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Here, the invitation to "reason together" can be seen as a form of divine pleading, where God calls His people to repentance and reconciliation.

The role of a pleader is also evident in the actions of Moses, who often interceded on behalf of the Israelites. In Exodus 32:11-14, Moses pleads with God to spare the Israelites after they sinned by worshiping the golden calf. His intercession is a powerful example of pleading for mercy and forgiveness.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the concept of pleading is closely associated with the advocacy of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is depicted as the ultimate intercessor who pleads on behalf of humanity. In 1 John 2:1 , it is written, "My little children, I write these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." Here, Jesus is described as an advocate, one who pleads for believers before the Father.

The Holy Spirit also plays a role in pleading, as seen in Romans 8:26-27 : "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." The Spirit's intercession is a form of pleading that aligns the prayers of believers with God's will.

Pleading in Prayer

Pleading is a significant aspect of prayer in the Bible. It involves earnest and heartfelt supplication, often accompanied by a deep sense of humility and dependence on God. In the Psalms, we find numerous examples of pleading in prayer. Psalm 143:1 states, "O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me." The psalmist's plea is a cry for God's attention and intervention.

Pleading for Justice

The Bible also addresses the theme of pleading for justice, particularly in the context of defending the rights of the oppressed and marginalized. Proverbs 31:8-9 exhorts, "Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the justice of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy." This call to plead for justice reflects the biblical mandate to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Conclusion

The act of pleading in the Bible encompasses a range of expressions, from intercession and advocacy to earnest prayer and the pursuit of justice. It is a demonstration of faith, compassion, and a deep commitment to aligning with God's will and purposes.1793. entugchano -- to chance upon, by impl. confer with, by ext. ...
... confer with, by ext. entreat NASB Word Usage appealed (1), intercedes (2), make
intercession (1), pleads (1). plead with, make intercession. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1793.htm - 8k7378. rib -- to strive, contend
... 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 (1), quarrel ...
/hebrew/7378.htm - 6k

8199. shaphat -- to judge, govern
... 1), Judge (5), judge (93), judged (22), judges (36), judges decide (1), judges governed
(1), judges...judged (1), judging (5), plead (1), pleads (1), pronounce ...
/hebrew/8199.htm - 6k

Christ Pleads his Will
... CHAPTER 14 CHRIST PLEADS HIS WILL. CHRIST PLEADS HIS WILL "Father, I will that they
also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am . . ." " John 17:24. ...
/.../anderson/prayer availeth much/chapter 14 christ pleads his.htm

Virtues of the Mantle. It Pleads in Its Own Defence.
... Chapter V."Virtues of the Mantle. It Pleads in Its Own Defence. "Still,"
say you, "must we thus change from gown [61] to Mantle ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter v virtues of the mantle.htm

The Divine Pleader.
... the names of His spiritual Israel on His breastplate"carrying the burden of their
hourly needs to the foot of the mercy-seat;"yet still, He pleads, as if ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xv the divine pleader.htm

The Entreaties of God
... doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise; and that Jesus Christ is the Representative
of the whole Deity for mankind, so as that when He pleads God pleads, and ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the entreaties of god.htm

He is Lovely in his Relations.
... 1 John 2:1, "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous, and he is the Propitiation." It is he that pleads the cause of ...
/.../flavel/christ altogether lovely/he is lovely in his 3.htm

"We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. ...
... Yea, he is so fully qualified for this that he is called Jesus the Saviour,
he is such an Advocate that he saves all he pleads for. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxvi we have an.htm

The Lord's Prayer.
... He therefore pleads for his disciples; 1. Because they are the Father's; 2. To them
is entrusted the work of manifesting the glory of the Son's redeeming love. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the lords prayer.htm

Psalm 2:1. SM Translated According to the Divine Pattern, Acts iv. ...
... PAUSE. 6 Now he's ascended high, And asks to rule the earth; The merit
of his blood be pleads, And pleads his heavenly birth. 7 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 2 1 s m translated.htm

"Now the End of the Commandment," &C.
... The law condemned, and the conscience subscribed itself sinful, and concluded itself
lost in sin; but faith in Christ pleads before mercy's throne, where ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xii now the end.htm

Psalm 2 Translated According to the Divine Pattern, Acts 4:24, Etc ...
... Now he's ascended high,. And asks to rule the earth. The merit of his blood he pleads,.
And pleads his heav'nly birth. He asks, and God bestows. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 2 translated according to.htm

Pleads (9 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Pleads (9 Occurrences). ... But the Spirit Himself
pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words, (WEY). ...
/p/pleads.htm - 9k

Advocate (7 Occurrences)
... (Gr. parakletos), one who pleads another's cause, who helps another by defending
or comforting him. ... 1. (n.) One who pleads the cause of another. ...
/a/advocate.htm - 11k

Philemon (2 Occurrences)
... in his bonds' (Philemon 1:10), Onesimus, who though he is Philemon's runaway slave
is now "a brother." It is on this ground that the apostle pleads, urging his ...
/p/philemon.htm - 17k

Plead (64 Occurrences)
... Or don't you know what the Scripture says about Elijah? How he pleads with
God against Israel: (Root in WEB WEY ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV). ...
/p/plead.htm - 31k

Ascension (1 Occurrence)
... Mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5 Hebrews 8:6); our Advocate with the
Father (1 John 2:1). His very presence at God's right hand pleads on behalf of ...
/a/ascension.htm - 34k

Yearnings (1 Occurrence)
... prayers to offer nor in what way to offer them. But the Spirit Himself
pleads for us in yearnings that can find no words, (WEY). ...
/y/yearnings.htm - 6k

Jehoiarib (2 Occurrences)
... je-hoi'-a-rib (yehoyaribh, "Yahweh pleads" or "contends"): A priest in Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 9:10); the name occurs again in 1 Chronicles 24:7 as the name of ...
/j/jehoiarib.htm - 8k

Joiarib (5 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JOIARIB. joi'-a-rib (yoyaribh, "Yahweh pleads"
or "contends"; compare JEHOIARIB): (1) A "teacher" of Ezra's time (Ezra 8:16). ...
/j/joiarib.htm - 8k

Jeroboam (96 Occurrences)
... am (yarobh`am; Septuagint Hieroboam, usually assumed to have been derived from riyb
and `am, and signifying "the people contend," or, "he pleads the people's ...
/j/jeroboam.htm - 62k

Life (6001 Occurrences)
... To be blotted out of the Book of Life is to be cut off from God's favor, to suffer
an untimely death, as when Moses pleads that he be blotted out of God's book ...
/l/life.htm - 51k

What does it mean that Jesus is our Advocate? | GotQuestions.org

Is pleading the blood of Jesus biblical? | GotQuestions.org

Does Jesus pray for us? | GotQuestions.org

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