Romans 8:26

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.

📖 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

Referenced Verses

• Eph 6:18 : 18 With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions 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 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls“Abba! Father!”
• Eph 2:18 : 18 so that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
• Jude 1:20-21 : 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 maintain yourselves in the love of God, while anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that brings eternal life.
• Zech 12:10 : 10 “I will pour out on the kingship of David and the population of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication so that they will look to me, the one they have pierced. They will lament for him as one laments for an only son, and there will be a bitter cry for him like the bitter cry for a firstborn.
• Rom 8:15 : 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry,“Abba, Father.”
• Heb 4:15 : 15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.
• Jas 4:3 : 3 you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.
• 2 Cor 5:4 : 4 For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
• Rom 15:1 : 1 Exhortation for the Strong to Help the Weak But we who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, and not just please ourselves.
• Luke 22:44 : 44 And in his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.]
• John 14:16 : 16 Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever–
• Ps 143:4-7 : 4 My strength leaves me; I am absolutely shocked. 5 I recall the old days; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on your accomplishments. 6 I spread my hands out to you in prayer; my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.(Selah) 7 Answer me quickly, LORD! My strength is fading. Do not reject me, or I will join those descending into the grave.
• Ps 6:9 : 9 The LORD has heard my appeal for mercy; the LORD has accepted my prayer.
• Ps 10:17 : 17 LORD, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.
• Ps 42:1-5 : 1 Book 2(Psalms 42-72) For the music director; a well-written song by the Korahites. As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! 2 I thirst for God, for the living God. I say,“When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?” 3 I cannot eat, I weep day and night; all day long they say to me,“Where is your God?” 4 I will remember and weep! For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God, shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival. 5 Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.
• Ps 55:1-2 : 1 For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer! Do not ignore my appeal for mercy! 2 Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself,
• Ps 77:1-3 : 1 For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of Asaph. I will cry out to God and call for help! I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me. 2 In my time of trouble I sought the Lord. I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night. I refused to be comforted. 3 I said,“I will remember God while I groan; I will think about him while my strength leaves me.”(Selah)
• Matt 20:22 : 22 Jesus answered,“You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” They said to him,“We are able.”
• 2 Cor 12:5-9 : 5 On behalf of such an individual I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except about my weaknesses. 6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me– so that I would not become arrogant. 8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 9 But he said to me,“My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
• Luke 11:1-9 : 1 Instructions on Prayer Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him,“Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 So he said to them,“When you pray, say: Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread, 4 and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And do not lead us into temptation.” 5 Then he said to them,“Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him,‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 Then he will reply from inside,‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 9 “So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 What father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
• Rom 7:24 : 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?
• Ps 102:20 : 20 in order to hear the painful cries of the prisoners, and to set free those condemned to die,
• Ps 119:81-82 : 81 כ(Kaf) I desperately long for your deliverance. I find hope in your word. 82 My eyes grow tired as I wait for your promise to be fulfilled. I say,“When will you comfort me?”
• Ps 88:1-3 : 1 A song, a psalm written by the Korahites; for the music director; according to the machalath-leannoth style; a well-written song by Heman the Ezrachite. O LORD God who delivers me! By day I cry out and at night I pray before you. 2 Listen to my prayer! Pay attention to my cry for help! 3 For my life is filled with troubles and I am ready to enter Sheol.
• Ps 102:5 : 5 Because of the anxiety that makes me groan, my bones protrude from my skin.
• Ps 69:3 : 3 I am exhausted from shouting for help; my throat is sore; my eyes grow tired of looking for my God.
• 2 Cor 5:2 : 2 For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling,
• Heb 5:2 : 2 He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness,