The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes with groans too deep for words (Romans 8:26–27)
Says Paul writes that "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words" (8:26, BSB). "He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (8:27, BSB). In 8:26 SBLGNT, WH, Treg, and NA28 have no word for the BSB's "for us"; RP2018 and the TR add ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν (hyper hēmōn, "for us").
Uncertain Whose are the στεναγμοῖς ἀλαλήτοις (stenagmois alalētois, "groans too deep for words" or "unspoken groans"), and what they are. This commentary takes no team lean; the main views are these. (1) The Spirit's own intercession, unheard by us: αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα (auto to pneuma, "the Spirit himself") is the subject, ἀλάλητος may mean "unspoken," and in 8:27 it is God who reads the Spirit's mind; so Cranfield (src.cranfield-icc-romans). (2) Believers' own groans, which the Spirit prompts and shapes: believers groan in 8:23, and the Spirit "helps" (συναντιλαμβάνεται, synantilambanetai; lex.G4878) their weakness; so Calvin (src.calvin-romans-owen). (3) Prayer given by the Spirit in the gathering, which Chrysostom related to the early gift of prayer (src.npnf1-chrysostom-romans) and Käsemann to speaking in tongues (src.kasemann-romans): compare praying "with my spirit" in 1 Cor 14:14–15 and the cry "Abba" in 8:15. Against the tongues reading, the groans here are ἀλάλητοι and belong to all believers. The Greek note gives the same views with no lean (note.language.Rom.8.26-Rom.8.27.stenagmois-alaletois; lex.G5241; lex.G4726; lex.G215).
Claims
- SaysThe Spirit helps believers in their weakness and, since they do not know how to pray as they ought, intercedes with groans too deep for words; God, who searches hearts, knows the mind of the Spirit, who intercedes for the saints according to God's will (8:26–27).
- UncertainWhether the στεναγμοὶ ἀλάλητοι (8:26) are the Spirit's own unspoken intercession (Cranfield; αὐτὸ τὸ πνεῦμα; 8:27), believers' groans prompted by the Spirit (Calvin; 8:23; συναντιλαμβάνεται), or Spirit-given prayer, linked to the gift of prayer (Chrysostom) or to tongues (Käsemann; 1 Cor 14:14–15; 8:15); no team lean.
Citations
- BSB public domain Rom 8:26–27
- SBLGNT CC BY 4.0 Rom 8:15, 23, 26–27 (text and apparatus); 1 Cor 14:14–15
- RP2018 Unlicense Rom 8:26
- TR (Scrivener 1894) public domain Rom 8:26
- 🔒︎ Cranfield, Romans (ICC) Copyrighted vol. 1, on Rom 8:26 (by reference; page not given)
- Calvin, Romans (Owen) public domain on Rom 8:26–27, CCEL calcom38.xii.viii (checked 2026-11-01; by reference; not quoted)
- Chrysostom, Hom. Rom. (NPNF¹ 11) public domain Hom. 14 on Rom 8:26 (by reference; not quoted)
- 🔒︎ Käsemann, Romans Copyrighted on Rom 8:26 (by reference only; page not given)
2026-11-01
Open in Reader All notes on this passage