Romans 8:23

Romans 8:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
• New International Version (NIV)Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Context of Romans 8:23

21that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. Not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits — we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24Now in this hope we were saved, but hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25Now if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:23 word by word

οὐ μόνον δέ, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὶ τὴν ἀπαρχὴν τοῦ πνεύματος ἔχοντες ἡμεῖς καὶ αὐτοὶ ἐν ἑαυτοῖς στενάζομεν υἱοθεσίαν ἀπεκδεχόμενοι, τὴν ἀπολύτρωσιν τοῦ σώματος ἡμῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• ourselvesαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• which haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• the firstfruitsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the firstfruitsἀπαρχήaparchē · firstfruitsG536
• of the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• groanστενάζωstenazō · to groanG4727
• withinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ourselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• waiting forἀπεκδέχομαιapekdechomai · to expectG553
• the adoptionυἱοθεσίαuihothesia · adoption (as son)G5206
• the redemptionἀπολύτρωσιςapolutrōsis · redemptionG629
• ofσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983

Cross-references for Romans 8:23

• Romans 8:15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear. Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!”
• Romans 5:5This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
• 2 Corinthians 5:5Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Ephesians 1:14The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
• Ephesians 5:9for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth —
• Romans 8:26In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.
• Romans 7:24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
• 2 Corinthians 5:2Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling,
• 2 Corinthians 7:5In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within.
• Philippians 1:21For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
• 1 Peter 1:7so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
• Romans 8:19For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed.
• Luke 20:36For they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are children of God, since they are children of the resurrection.
• Philippians 3:20Our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Timothy 4:8There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.

Commentaries on Romans 8:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23And not only they, but ourselves also - Neither the Gentiles only, but we Jews also, (however we belong to a nation envious of the heathen), to whom God hath granted the first fruits of the Spirit; we sigh among ourselves for their sakes, waiting for the adoption; that is, the redemption of our mystical body, whereof the Gentiles make a very great part. Lightfoot's works. vol. ii. p. 359 and 707. The scope and design of St. Paul in these verses may be…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And not only they - Not only the creation in general. “But ourselves also.” Christians. Which have the first-fruits of the Spirit - The word used ̓̀ aparchēdenotes properly the first-fruits of the harvest, the portion that was first collected and consecrated to God as an offering of gratitude, Deuteronomy 26:2; Exodus 23:19; Numbers 18:13. Hence, the word means what is first in order of time. Here it means, as I suppose, that the Christians of whom Paul…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 The sufferings of the saints strike no deeper than the things of time, last no longer than the present time, are light afflictions, and but for a moment. How vastly different are the sentence of the word and the sentiment of the world, concerning the sufferings of this present time! Indeed the whole creation seems to wait with earnest expectation for the period when the children of God shall be manifested in the glory prepared for them. There…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23we ourselves … groan: The word groan describes a deep and frustrated longing for God to rescue us from the suffering and oppression of this life (see Exodus 3:7; Lamentations 1:22; Ezekiel 24:17; 2 Corinthians 5:2). who have the firstfruits of the Spirit: In the Old Testament, first harvest or firstfruits refers to offering the first and best part of a crop to God (see Exodus 23:19; Leviticus 2:12; 23:10; compare 1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). In the same way…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. And not only they, but ourselves also--or "not only [so], but even we ourselves"--that is, besides the inanimate creation. which have the first-fruits of the Spirit--or, "the Spirit as the first-fruits" of our full redemption (compare 2Co 1:22), moulding the heart to a heavenly frame and attempering it to its future element. even we ourselves--though we have so much of heaven already within us. groan within ourselves--under this "body of sin and…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 8:23

• First Fruits
• Holy Spirit
• Resurrection
• Suffering

In the dictionaries

• Adoption
• Allow
• Bondage
• Carnal
• Enmity
• Fear
• Flesh
• Foreknow
• Glorify
• Indeed

Commentaries on Romans 8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings