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Romans 8:26

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.

KJV

Ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα συναντιλαμβάνεται τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ ἡμῶν· τὸ γὰρ τί προσευξώμεθα καθὸ δεῖ οὐκ οἴδαμεν, ἀλλὰ αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα ὑπερεντυγχάνει στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις·

Greek NT

Similiter autem et Spiritus adjuvat infirmitatem nostram : nam quid oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus : sed ipse Spiritus postulat pro nobis gemitibus inenarrabilibus.

Vulgate

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;

ASV

Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For, we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings,

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

20 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

αὐτός
autos
pronoun · 5564×
γάρ
gar
conjunction · 1036×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
δεῖ
dei
verb · 103×
εἴδω
eido
verb · 317×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
καθό
katho
adverb · 4×
οὐ
ou
particle · 1626×
πνεῦμα
pneuma
noun · 379×
προσεύχομαι
proseuchomai
verb · 85×
στεναγμός
stenagmos
noun · 2×
συναντιλαμβάνομαι
sunantilambanomai
verb · 2×
τίς
tis
interrogative_pronoun · 533×
ἀλάλητος
alaletos
adjective · 1×
ἀλλά
alla
conjunction · 636×
ἀσθένεια
astheneia
noun · 24×
ἡμεῖς
emeis
pronoun · 862×
o
article · 19778×
ὑπερεντυγχάνω
uperentugchano
verb · 1×
ὡσαύτως
osautos
adverb · 17×

Textual variants

3 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

minor
SBLGNT: τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ | WH/Treg/NIV: τῇ ἀσθενείᾳ | RP: ταῖς ἀσθενείαις
  • τῇ ἀσθενείᾳSBLGNT
  • τῇ ἀσθενείᾳWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • ταῖς ἀσθενείαιςRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
minor
SBLGNT: προσευξώμεθα | WH/Treg/NIV: προσευξώμεθα | RP: προσευξόμεθα
  • προσευξώμεθαSBLGNT
  • προσευξώμεθαWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • προσευξόμεθαRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
notable
SBLGNT: ὑπερεντυγχάνει | WH/Treg/NIV: ὑπερεντυγχάνει | RP: + ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν
  • ὑπερεντυγχάνειSBLGNT
  • ὑπερεντυγχάνειWestcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • + ὑπὲρ ἡμῶνRobinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Themes

Doctrines that cite this verse

Historic Christian voices

24 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§741"The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words."134 The Holy Spirit, the artisan of God's works, is the master of prayer. (This will be the topic of Part Four.)
§2559"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God."2 But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart?3 He who humbles himself will be exalted;4 humility is the foundation of prayer, Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought,…
§2630The New Testament contains scarcely any prayers of lamentation, so frequent in the Old Testament. In the risen Christ the Church's petition is buoyed by hope, even if we still wait in a state of expectation and must be converted anew every day. Christian petition, what St. Paul calls {"groaning," arises from another depth, that of creation "in labor pains" and that of ourselves…
…and 3 more from this source.
Source. Translated by J. Walker, J. Sheppard and H. Browne, and revised by George B. Stevens. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 11. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1889.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/210214.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Adven…
1. Wonderful indeed were the things in the Temple, the Holy of Holies; and again awful were those things also that were done at Mount Sina, the fire, the darkness, the blackness, the tempest. cf. Deuteronomy 33:2 For, it says, God appeared in Sina, and long ago were these things celebrated. The New Covenant, however, was not given with any of these things, but has been given in…
1. In another place he says the same, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal 2 Corinthians 4:18; and from this makes an exhortation with regard to the evils which we endure in this present life; and here he does this, and says, let us continue steadfast; let us have thankfulness, i.e., let us give thanks unto God. For not only …
Mediator Dei · 2 passages
§138The ideal of Christian life is that each one be united to God in the closest and most intimate manner. For this reason, the worship that the Church renders to God, and which is based especially on the eucharistic sacrifice and the use of the sacraments, is directed and arranged in such a way that it embraces by means of the divine office, the hours of the day, the weeks and the…
§144By assuming human nature, the Divine Word introduced into this earthly exile a hymn which is sung in heaven for all eternity. He unites to Himself the whole human race and with it sings this hymn to the praise of God. As we must humbly recognize that "we know not what we should pray for, as we ought, the Spirit Himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings."[138] Moreover, t…
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. This is the pinnacle of the epistle. Calvin shows the golden chain of salvation: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, glorification. The Spirit of adoption enables believers to cry Abba, Father. All things work together for good to them that love God. If God be for us, who can be against…
Chapter 1 In the six former books we have endeavoured, reverend brother Ambrosius, according to our ability to meet the charges brought by Celsus against the Christians, and have as far as possible passed over nothing without first subjecting it to a full and close examination. And now, while we enter upon the seventh book, we call upon God through Jesus Christ, whom Celsus acc…
14. For the Son of God indeed, being Himself the Word, is Lord of all; but we once were subject from the first to the slavery of corruption and the curse of the Law, then by degrees fashioning for ourselves things that were not, we served, as says the blessed Apostle, 'them which by nature are no Gods Galatians 4:8,' and, ignorant of the true God, we preferred things that were …
He continues his explanation of the first Chapter of Genesis according to the Septuagint, and by its assistance he argues, especially, concerning the double heaven, and the formless matter out of which the whole world may have been created; afterwards of the interpretations of others not disallowed, and sets forth at great length the sense of the Holy Scripture. Chapter 1 .— Th…
Summa Theologica · 2 passages
Without grace, can man know anything? Without God's grace, can man do or wish any good? Without grace, can man love God above all things? Without grace, can man keep the commandments of the Law? Without grace, can he merit eternal life? Without grace, can man prepare himself for grace? Without grace, can he rise from sin? Without grace, can man avoid sin? Having received grace,…
Is prayer an act of the appetitive or of the cognitive power? Is it fitting to pray to God? Is prayer an act of religion? Should we pray to God alone? Should we ask for something definite when we pray? Should we ask for temporal things when we pray? Should we pray for others? Should we pray for our enemies? The seven petitions of the Lord's Prayer Is prayer proper to the ration…
Abba Macarius was asked, "How should one pray?" The old man said, "There is no need at all to make long discourses; it is enough to stretch out one's hands and say, 'Lord, as you will, and as you know, have mercy.' And if the conflict grows fiercer say, 'Lord, help!' He knows very well what we need and he shows us his mercy."
Q. What belongs to a prayer that pleases God and is heard by him? A. First, we must pray from the heart to no other than the one true God, who has revealed himself in his Word, asking for everything he has commanded us to ask for. Second, we must acknowledge our need and misery, hiding nothing, and humble ourselves in his majestic presence. Third, we must rest on this unshakabl…
Meanwhile, Scripture testifies that believers have to contend in this life with various doubts of the flesh and that under severe temptation they do not always experience this full assurance of faith and certainty of perseverance. But God, the Father of all comfort, does not allow them to be tempted beyond what they can bear, but with the temptation also provides the way of esc…

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 2:10 — But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
  • 1Kgs 3:11 — And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for
  • 1Kgs 3:12 — Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
  • 1Sam 1:13 — Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
  • 2Cor 5:2 — For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
  • 2Cor 5:4 — For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
  • 2Cor 12:5 — Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
  • Eph 2:18 — For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
  • Eph 2:18 — For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
  • Eph 6:18 — Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  • Eph 6:18 — Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
  • Gal 3:14 — That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
  • Gal 4:6 — And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
  • Gen 32:24 — And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
  • Heb 4:15 — For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
  • Heb 5:2 — Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
  • Jas 4:3 — Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
  • John 4:23 — But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
  • John 14:16 — And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
  • John 14:16 — And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
  • Jude 1:20 — But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
  • Jude 1:20 — But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
  • Lam 3:56 — Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.
  • Lev 2:16 — And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
  • Luke 11:1 — And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
  • Luke 11:1 — And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
  • Luke 22:44 — And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
  • Matt 10:20 — For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
  • Matt 20:22 — But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able
  • Matt 20:22 — But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able
  • Phil 3:3 — For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
  • Prov 15:29 — The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
  • Ps 5:1 — Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
  • Ps 6:3 — My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long?
  • Ps 6:9 — The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.
  • Ps 10:17 — LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
  • Ps 10:17 — LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
  • Ps 38:9 — Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.
  • Ps 42:1 — As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
  • Ps 55:1 — Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.