Romans 8:26

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspeakable groanings.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τὸ Πνεῦμα συναντιλαμβάνεται ταῖς ἀσθενείαις ἡμῶν: τὸ γὰρ τί προσευξώμεθα καθὸ δεῖ: οὐκ οἴδαμεν ἀλλʼ αὐτὸ τὸ Πνεῦμα ὑπερεντυγχάνει ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις.

Transliteration

Hōsautōs de kai to Pneuma synantilambanetai tais astheneiais of us: the for what proseuxōmetha katho dei: ouk oidamen all' auto to Pneuma hyperentygchanei hyper us stenagmois alalētois.

Grammar Details

• *Hōsautōs*: adverb - likewise/in the same way
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and
• *kai*: conjunction - also/even
• *to Pneuma*: nominative neuter singular - the Spirit
• *synantilambanetai*: present middle indicative 3rd person singular - helps/assists with
• *tais astheneiais*: dative feminine plural - the weaknesses
• *hēmōn*: genitive 1st person plural - us
• *to gar ti*: accusative neuter singular - the what
• *proseuxōmetha*: aorist middle subjunctive 1st person plural - we should pray
• *katho*: conjunction - as/just as
• *dei*: present active indicative 3rd person singular impersonal - it is necessary
• *ouk*: negative particle - not
• *oidamen*: perfect active indicative 1st person plural - we know
• *all'*: adversative conjunction - but
• *auto*: intensive pronoun nominative neuter singular - itself
• *hyperentygchanei*: present active indicative 3rd person singular - intercedes
• *hyper*: preposition with genitive - for/on behalf of
• *stenagmois*: dative masculine plural - with groanings
• *alalētois*: dative masculine plural - unutterable/inexpressible

Word Meanings

• *Hōsautōs*: likewise/in the same way/similarly
• *synantilambanetai*: helps/assists with/joins in helping
• *astheneiais*: weaknesses/infirmities/frailties
• *proseuxōmetha*: we should pray/we ought to pray
• *katho dei*: as it is necessary/as we ought
• *oidamen*: we know/understand [perfect - completed action with continuing results]
• *hyperentygchanei*: intercedes exceedingly/intercedes strongly/pleads
• *stenagmois*: with groanings/sighs
• *alalētois*: unutterable/inexpressible/wordless

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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 ganings which cannot be uttered.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  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.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for [us] with groanings which cannot be uttered;

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  {G1161} 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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Lyke wyse ye sprite also helpeth oure infirmities. For we knowe not what to desyre as we ought: but the sprete maketh intercession mightely for vs with gronynges which canot be expressid with tonge.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Likewyse the sprete also helpeth oure weaknesse: for we knowe not what we shulde desyre as we oughte: neuertheles ye sprete it selfe maketh intercession mightely for vs with vnoutspeakable gronynges.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we knowe not what to pray as wee ought: but the Spirit it selfe maketh request for vs with sighs, which cannot be expressed.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Lykewyse, the spirite also helpeth our infirmities. For we knowe not what to desire as we ought: but ye spirite maketh great intercession for vs, with gronynges, which can not be expressed.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ¶ 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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And, in like manner also, the Spirit doth help our weaknesses; for, what we may pray for, as it behoveth `us', we have not known, but the Spirit himself doth make intercession for us with groanings unutterable,

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for `us' with groanings which cannot be uttered;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for [us] with groanings which cannot be uttered;

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say;

• World English Bible (2000)

  In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don't know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can't be uttered.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.

Referenced Verses

• Eph 6:18 : 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and petition. Stay alert with all perseverance as you pray for all the saints.
• Matt 10:20 : 20 For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
• Gal 4:6 : 6 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father.'
• Eph 2:18 : 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
• Jude 1:20-21 : 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.
• Zech 12:10 : 10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
• Rom 8:15 : 15 You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'
• Heb 4:15 : 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are—yet without sin.
• Jas 4:3 : 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
• 2 Cor 5:4 : 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
• Rom 15:1 : 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of those who are weak, and not to please ourselves.
• Luke 22:44 : 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
• John 14:16 : 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever.
• Ps 143:4-7 : 4 My spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart is appalled inside me. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I consider the work of your hands. 6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah. 7 Answer me quickly, Lord, for my spirit is fading. Do not hide your face from me, or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
• Ps 6:9 : 9 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
• Ps 10:17 : 17 Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts and listen with Your ear.
• Ps 42:1-5 : 1 For the director of music, a contemplative psalm of the sons of Korah. 2 As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. 3 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? 4 My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?' 5 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the celebrating crowd.
• Ps 55:1-2 : 1 To the chief musician, accompanied by stringed instruments, a contemplative psalm of David. 2 Listen to my prayer, O God, and do not ignore my plea for mercy.
• Ps 77:1-3 : 1 For the Chief Musician, according to Jeduthun, a psalm of Asaph. 2 My voice cries out to God, and I will call aloud; my voice reaches God, and He listens to me. 3 In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out at night and did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.
• Matt 20:22 : 22 Jesus answered, 'You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?' They said to him, 'We are able.'
• 2 Cor 12:5-9 : 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but concerning myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6 For if I desire to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone think more of me than what they see in me or hear from me. 7 And because of the extraordinary revelations, so that I might not become conceited, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me, so that I would not become conceited. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• Luke 11:1-9 : 1 One day, as Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.' 2 He said to them, 'When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.' 5 Then He said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to offer him.” 7 And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.” 8 I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will surely get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a piece of bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
• Rom 7:24 : 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
• Ps 102:20 : 20 For he looked down from his holy height; from heaven the LORD observed the earth,
• Ps 119:81-82 : 81 My soul faints for Your salvation; I hope in Your word. 82 My eyes fail, longing for Your promise, saying, 'When will You comfort me?
• Ps 88:1-3 : 1 A song, a psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief musician. According to Mahalath Leannoth, a contemplative poem of Heman the Ezrahite. 2 LORD, the God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. 3 Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.
• Ps 102:5 : 5 My heart is afflicted and withered like grass, for I forget to eat my food.
• Ps 69:3 : 3 I am sinking in deep mire where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, and the current has overwhelmed me.
• 2 Cor 5:2 : 2 Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
• Heb 5:2 : 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness.