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 creature itself also shall be set free from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans together and travails in pain together until now. And not only [that], but even we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, we also ourselves groan in ourselves, awaiting adoption, [that is] the redemption of our body. 24For we have been saved in hope; but hope seen is not hope; for what any one sees, why does he also hope? 25But if what we see not we hope, we expect in 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

• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• groanστενάζωstenazō · to groanG4727
• awaitingἀπεκδέχομαιapekdechomai · to expectG553
• adoptionυἱοθεσίαuihothesia · adoption (as son)G5206
• redemptionἀπολύτρωσιςapolutrōsis · redemptionG629
• bodyσῶμαsōma · bodyG4983

Cross-references for Romans 8:23

• Romans 8:15For ye have not received a spirit of bondage again for fear, but ye have received a spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
• Romans 5:5and hope does not make ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by [the] Holy Spirit which has been given to us:
• 2 Corinthians 5:5Now he that has wrought us for this very thing [is] God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity,
• Ephesians 1:14who is [the] earnest of our inheritance to the redemption of the acquired possession to [the] praise of his glory.
• Ephesians 5:9(for the fruit of the light [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth,)
• Romans 8:26And in like manner the Spirit joins also its help to our weakness; for we do not know what we should pray for as is fitting, but the Spirit itself makes intercession with groanings which cannot be uttered.
• Romans 7:24O wretched man that I [am]! who shall deliver me out of this body of death?
• 2 Corinthians 5:2For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which [is] from heaven;
• 2 Corinthians 7:5For indeed, when we came into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but [we were] afflicted in every way; without combats, within fears.
• Philippians 1:21For for me to live [is] Christ, and to die gain;
• 1 Peter 1:7that the proving of your faith, much more precious than of gold which perishes, though it be proved by fire, be found to praise and glory and honour in [the] revelation of Jesus Christ:
• Romans 8:19For the anxious looking out of the creature expects the revelation of the sons of God:
• Luke 20:36for neither can they die any more, for they are equal to angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
• Philippians 3:20for our commonwealth has its existence in [the] heavens, from which also we await the Lord Jesus Christ [as] Saviour,
• 2 Timothy 4:8Henceforth the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will render to me in that day; but not only to me, but also to all who love 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