Romans 8:26

Romans 8:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
• New International Version (NIV)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 through wordless groans.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Context of Romans 8:26

24We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Romans 8:26 word by word

ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα συναντιλαμβάνεται τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ ἡμῶν· τὸ γὰρ τί προσευξώμεθα καθὸ δεῖ οὐκ οἴδαμεν, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα ὑπερεντυγχάνει στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Likewiseὡσαύτωςhōsautōs · likewiseG5615
• the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• helpethσυναντιλαμβάνομαιsunantilambanomai · to helpG4878
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• infirmitiesἀσθένειαastheneia · weakness: weakG769
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• we should pray forπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• asκαθόkatho · insofar asG2526
• we oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• itselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• maketh intercessionὑπερεντυγχάνωhuperentugchanō · to intercedeG5241
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• with groaningsστεναγμόςstenagmos · groanG4726
• which cannot be utteredἀλάλητοςalalētos · inexpressibleG215

Cross-references for Romans 8:26

• Romans 15:1We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.
• 2 Corinthians 12:5That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.
• Hebrews 4:15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
• Hebrews 5:2And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.
• Matthew 20:22But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
• Luke 11:1Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
• James 4:3And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
• Romans 8:15So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
• Psalms 10:17Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
• Zechariah 12:10“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.
• Matthew 10:20For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
• Galatians 4:6And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
• Ephesians 2:18Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
• Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
• Jude 1:20But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
• Romans 7:24Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

Commentaries on Romans 8:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities - The same Spirit, , mentioned before as bearing witness with ours that we are the children of God; and consequently it is not a disposition or frame of mind, for the disposition of our mind surely cannot help the infirmities of our minds. The word is very inadequately expressed by helpeth. It is compounded of , together, , against, and , to support or help, and signifies such assistance as is afforded by any two…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Likewise the Spirit - This introduces a new source of consolation and support, what is derived from the Spirit. It is a continuation of the argument of the apostle, to show the sustaining power of the Christian religion. The “Spirit” here undoubtedly refers to the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, and who strengthens us. Helpeth - This word properly means, to sustain with us; to aid us in supporting. It is applied usually to those who unite in supporting or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-27Verses 26-27 Though the infirmities of Christians are many and great, so that they would be overpowered if left to themselves, yet the Holy Spirit supports them. The Spirit, as an enlightening Spirit, teaches us what to pray for; as a sanctifying Spirit, works and stirs up praying graces; as a comforting Spirit, silences our fears, and helps us over all discouragements. The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26groans too deep for words: This may refer to prayer that does not use normal human language. In such moments, believers may not know what to say and may only cry out to God without clear words. These groanings belong to the Holy Spirit, not to believers themselves. When believers do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays for them and speaks to God on their behalf.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 26-2726-27. Likewise the Spirit also, &c.--or, "But after the like manner doth the Spirit also help. our infirmities--rather (according to the true reading), "our infirmity"; not merely the one infirmity here specified, but the general weakness of the spiritual life in its present state, of which one example is here given. for we know not what we should pray for as we ought--It is not the proper matter of prayer that believers are at so much loss about, for…Read the comment

Topics related to Romans 8:26

• Holy Spirit
• Ignorance
• Power
• Prayer
• Suffering
• Trinity

In the dictionaries

• Allow
• Bondage
• Carnal
• Enmity
• Fear
• Flesh
• Foreknow
• Glorify
• Holy Ghost
• 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