Romans 8:19–22
Paul: all creation groans and waits to be set free
Study it word by word19For the eager expectation of the creation waits for the revelation of the sons of God.
20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it, in hope
21that the creation itself also will be set free from the slavery of corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22For we know that the whole creation groans together and suffers birth pains together until now;
In its context
17and if children, also heirs: heirs of God and fellow heirs of the Messiah, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
18For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
…
23and not only that, but also we ourselves, having the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly awaiting adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
24For in hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he sees?
Its words in the original
- ἀποκαραδοκίαapokaradokia· eager expectation
Eager expectation: waiting with outstretched neck, longing.
- κτίσεωςktiseōs· creation
Creation; what has been created.
- ἀποκάλυψινapokalypsin· revelation
Revelation: an uncovering, making known what was hidden.
- υἱῶνhuiōn· son, Son
Son. Also descendant: "son of David" means one of King David's family, and is a title of the promised Messiah.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- ἀπεκδέχεταιapekdechetai· wait eagerly
Wait eagerly, long for what is to come.
- ματαιότητιmataiotēti· futility
Futility, emptiness: what does not reach its goal.
- ὑπετάγηhypetagē· subject, submit
Put under, subject; in the passive or middle, be subject, submit oneself, obey.
- ἑκοῦσαhekousa· willing
Willing, of one's own free will.
- ἑλπίδιhelpidi· hope
Hope: confidence in what God will do.
- ἐλευθερωθήσεταιeleutherōthēsetai· set free
Set free, free; bring out of slavery.
- δουλείαςdouleias· slavery
Slavery, bondage: being subject as a slave.
- φθορᾶςphthoras· decay, corruption
Decay, corruption, destruction.
- ἐλευθερίανeleutherian· freedom
Freedom: not being subject as a slave.
- δόξηςdoxēs· glory
Glory: splendor, honor, the weight of God's presence.
- τέκνωνteknōn· child
Child, son, daughter.
- οἴδαμενoidamen· know
Know, understand; also see.
- συστενάζειsystenazei· groan together
Groan together, groan along with others.
- συνωδίνειsynōdinei· suffer birth pains together
Suffer birth pains together, as a woman in labor.
- ἄχριachri· until
Until; as far as.