Romans 8:26–27
When we don't know what to ask, the Spirit himself intercedes for us
Study it word by word26And likewise the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with groanings that cannot be uttered.
27And he who searches the hearts knows what the mindset of the Spirit is, because he intercedes for the saints according to God.
In its context
24For in hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he sees?
25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait eagerly for it with perseverance.
…
28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
29because those whom he foreknew he also destined beforehand to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers;
Its words in the original
- ὩσαύτωςHōsautōs· likewise
Likewise, in the same way.
- πνεῦμαpneuma· spirit, Spirit
Spirit; also wind and breath. With "holy", the Holy Spirit of God.
- συναντιλαμβάνεταιsynantilambanetai· help
Help, take hold together with someone to share a load.
- ἀσθενείᾳastheneiai· weakness, illness
Weakness, illness.
- προσευξώμεθαproseuxōmetha· pray
Pray: speak with God.
- καθὸkatho· as, according as
"As", "according as", "to the degree that".
- δεῖdei· bind, tie
Bind, tie.
- οἴδαμενoidamen· know
Know, understand; also see.
- ὑπερεντυγχάνειhyperentynchanei· intercede
Intercede, plead on behalf of another.
- στεναγμοῖςstenagmois· groaning
Groaning, a sigh of pain.
- ἀλαλήτοιςalalētois· wordless
Wordless, unspoken: what cannot be put into words.
- ἐραυνῶνeraunōn· search
Search, look carefully, examine thoroughly.
- καρδίαςkardias· heart
Heart: the center of the person, where one thinks, feels and decides.
- φρόνημαphronēma· mindset, way of thinking
Mindset: one's way of thinking and of setting the direction of one's life.
- θεὸνtheon· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- ἐντυγχάνειentynchanei· plead, appeal
Go to someone to ask something of him, plead or appeal, for or against another.
- ἁγίωνhagiōn· holy
Holy: set apart for God, pure, belonging to him.