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Romans 8 · a question people ask

"the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered" (8:26). What are these groanings?

In the text

The verse says only that they "can’t be uttered" (8:26), and these notes say no more. It begins, "In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought." (8:26), and the next verse says, "He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God." (8:27). The chapter doesn't explain the groanings beyond these words, and these notes don't either.

The verses

“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. He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.”
Romans 8:26-27 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Romans 8

Romans 8: If God is for us

Romans 8 says the Spirit "makes intercession for us" (8:26), and a few verses later says of Christ, "who also makes intercession for us" (8:34). The chapter that begins with "no condemnation" (8:1) ends with nothing that "will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (8:39).

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Last reviewed October 7, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions