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.
I have always heard this verse interpreted as a reference to praying in tongues. This seems unlikely, however, since tongues can hardly be described as “groanings,” and tongues are “uttered.” So what is Paul talking about? I’ve heard people groaning before, but even those groans are uttered. I can’t even make sense of an unutterable groan.
And who is doing the interceding? It’s commonly understood that the Spirit is interceding through human beings, but as I read the text, the Spirit makes intercession “for” us, not “trough” us. If so, what does it mean to say the Holy Spirit groans?
Does anyone have any insight on the meaning of this passage they would like to share?
Thinking to Believe 
October 5, 2010 at 10:30 am
http://cheryl-g.blogspot.com/2009/05/have-we-forgotten-about-intimacy.html
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October 5, 2010 at 11:45 am
Just because the Spirit is doing the intercession “for” (on our behalf) us doesn’t mean that the intercession is being done apart from indwelling a saint.
I can imagine a groan that is not uttered. It’s a deep, intense, inner groan that may exhibit itself as a wrenching of the human vessel. Words are incapable of expressing the groan.
You might want to consider what is meant by creation and ourselves groaning in verses 22 and 23.
I agree that this verse cannot be speaking of praying in tongues.
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October 5, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Before dismissing the praying in tongues interpretation you may want to read Fee’s defense of it in “God’s Empowering Presence”.
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October 5, 2010 at 3:57 pm
CarolJean,
I don’t find it as easy to imagine an un-utterable groan. It seems like anoxymoron. A groan refers to a sound. If I said, “Bill is groaning,” you would be listening for a sound that Bill is making.
But more importantly, if this is something that the Spirit does in believers, why do we have to imagine it? Shouldn’t this be something we are experiencing on a regular basis?
Jason
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October 5, 2010 at 3:57 pm
El Bryan Libre,
Can you summarize his argument for us?
Jason
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October 5, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Not really as the whole section starting with the previous verses that speak about creation groaing is about 15 pages long. Sorry.
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October 5, 2010 at 4:05 pm
I feel it is as CarolJean summarized. Before I knew this verse even existed I groaned in prayer with such intensity that it shocked me. It couldn’t be uttered, as in spoken about in descriptive terms of what was going on. It just happened. Now, in my human mind I knew what I was seeking God for, yet my mind was limited to what God was doing through me and to me. All I can say is it happened. I personally feel it is a prayer closet kind of thing… it should be reverently done while alone with God.
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October 5, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Only 15 pages? I would think that would make it relatively easy to boil down his main arguments, then. Are you sure you can’t do it? I would be interested to hear his take on it, and I know I won’t be rushing out to buy his book just for this. 🙂
Jason
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October 5, 2010 at 4:13 pm
cs,
But what is truly silent? I’ve had a few times where I so burdened that I was groaning from the very depths of my gut, but these groans were still utterable.
And if the experience you had is what Paul is talking about, why have so few people experienced this? Paul presents it as something that Christians experience more generally.
Jason
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October 5, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Oh I’m the worse at condensing stuff. Terrible. I once tried to review an article by Fee on one of my old blogs and I got to my 6 post and I still had 3 more to go. That’s also why I never review books, beyond saying I like or dislike it.
The books worth rushing out to buy for more than just his arguments on that passage. It’s my all time favorite book.
BTW he does argue that the groans aren’t silent but inarticulate.
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October 5, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Compare this with Gen 4:10 “The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” – yet, we don’t actually hear this (I’m sure Cain also didn’t hear anything). What’s also more important for me is v27 from your passage “he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit” which leads me to belief it’s not something you will actually hear.
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October 6, 2010 at 12:36 am
Praise the Lord Bro Dulle,
I will add my two cents to the dialogue.
It appears that the Apostle Paul begins the text in vs 18 dealing with our transition from suffering to glory.
He list two eschatological events that will happen when the sons of God are revealed at the day of the Lord.
1) The glorification of our physical bodies.(the culmination of our adoption)
2) And the subsequent transformation of the material creation in the new age.
Paul also makes a parallel between the saints and the material creation.
1) We are both groaning.
2) We are both hoping.
3) And we are both waiting for supernatural change in the new age.
The “groaning” of the beliver and the material creation appears to be the sighing, or the internal frustrations
that we and the creation share, which denote our desire to be totally delivered from the remaining effects of sinfulness.
Believers and the material creation both have the same eschatological expectation,
total restoration from the aftermath of sin.
In vs 26, 27 he deals with the ministry of intercession on the behalf of believers
by the Holy Spirit.
It appears that the Spirit “helps” or sustains the believer
in the midst of their weaknesses.
One of the infirmities or weaknesses that we have is not that we do not know “how” to pray but we do not always know “what” to pray”.
This deals with us (at times) not having the proper information or knowledge
in order to pray according to the will of God.
The text seems to imply that it is possible that we as believers
can have the proper “practice” of prayer
but not have the proper “knowledge” when praying.
It appears that due to the infirmities found in our Adamic nature
there will often times be an epistemological distance between us an the knowledge of the will of God in prayer, and only the Holy Ghost can bridge this gap for us as our intercessor. (See also vs 27)
When we don’t know the will of God for our lives, the Spirit always knows the will of God for our lives.
Paul lets us know that that even though we should be cognizant of the fact that prayers are being made on our behalf by our intercessor (the Holy Sprit) ,
we can not be cognizant of what our intercessor is praying while he is interceding .
In vs 26 Paul says that this type of Holy Spirit intercession that is done on our behalf is made with groanings that can not be “uttered”.
The word “uttered” comes from the Greek word “alaletos”
and it means not expressed in words.
Now it appears that Paul is making a parallel between the saints, the material creation, and God, in this respect, and that is, all three “groan” vs 22, 23, 26.
There also seems to be similarities between the “groanings” of all three.
1) The groanings are internal to the entity itself
2) The groanings are not expressed in words.
3) The groanings contain requests for deliverance.
I agree that It appears that the intercessory groanings of the Holy Spirit are not “glossolalia” due to the groanings not being expressed in words.
Unlike the “groanings” of the Spirit ,
The “Glossa” of the Sprit, due to the baptism of the Holy Ghost,
is always expressed in audible words/languages that can be heard,
sometimes understood, and sometimes interpreted through the gift of interpretation of tongues.
The word “groanings” comes from the Greek word stenagmos and in context it appears to mean to sigh. A sigh can mean to yearn, or to desire internaly.
These intercessory groanings of the Holy Spirit seem to be internal, unarticulated prayer request, made in heavenly places
on the behalf of believers, that are in harmony with the unrevealed will of God for our lives.
Paul goes on to say in vs 27 that “he” that searcheth the hearts
knows what is the mind of the Spirit ,
because “he” maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
The “he” , that searcheth the hearts is either speaking about God the Father, or God’s existence in the person of Jesus Christ,(See 1 Chron 28:9 , Ps 7:9, Prov 17:3, Jer 11:20, Acts 1:24, 1 Thess 2:4, Rev 2:23, 1John 5:14)
The word “searcheth” means to examine into.
In other words it means to presently and or to continually pervade into by omniscience.
The word “hearts” means – internal unarticulated desires.
This would mean that God the Father and or God in the person of Jesus Christ
is presently and continually cognizant of the internal , unarticulated, desires of the heart by way of omniscience.
The word “knoweth” means to perceive, understand, and or regard.
The word “mind” means the internal unarticulated thoughts and purposes.
This would mean that God the Father and or God in the person of Jesus Christ
not only knows and understands the internal, unarticulated thoughts, and purposes of the Spirit of God through omniscience, but also agrees with and accepts them, because the internal, unarticulated thoughts of the Spirit , in the form of intercessory prayer,
are always in harmony with the will of God.
In this context God doesn’t need to hear audible words because he
already knows the heart and the mind.
For example, if I had a desire in my heart/mind, I would not have to speak it to my self audibly so that
I could know it, understand it , do it, or accept it.
In 1 John 5: 14 -15 the scripture says :
vs 14-And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
vs 15-And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
It seems that Paul was informing the church that just because we don’t know the will of God when we pray
(because of the limitations of our flesh) ,
That it doesn’t mean that the will of God will not be done in our lives.
This is because the Spirit will intercede for us according to the will of God.
God’s desires become prayers for us
when we can’t pray God’s desires for our selves.
I hope that this all was coherent.
God bless.
Milton
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October 6, 2010 at 2:00 am
Jason,
Matthew Henry argues that it is when the soul is in such turmoil that you are crying out to God but without sound. Examples are Moses (Exo 14:15) and Hannah (1 Sa 1:13). That we don’t know what to pray nor how to express ourselves yet the Spirit intercedes for us.
Also makes sense if you look at it in the ESV
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Rom 8:26)
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October 6, 2010 at 8:01 am
Jason: As a couple of others have already noted, you seem to be misunderstanding the word “uttered.” It means “expressed in words,” not just “made as a sound.” In a sense, NO groans are uttered, because that would require them to be linguistically intelligible.
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October 6, 2010 at 9:19 am
The Spirit helps with “our” infirmities and with our weakness’. In context it is our lack of understanding regarding prayer. They are inarticulate groanings. God has complete access to the human heart and can work in and THROUGH us.
I agree with F.F. Bruce here though:
“Speaking to God in the Spirit with ‘tongues’ (1 Cor. 14:2) may be included in this expression, but it covers those longings and aspirations which well up from the depths of the spirit and cannot be imprisoned within the confines of everyday words…these in articulate groans cannot be dissociated from the groanings of verse 23, with which believers (teogether with all creation) express their longing for the coming resurrection-glory, which will consummate the answer to all their prayers.”
(TNTC Romans)
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October 6, 2010 at 9:20 am
Jaaon,
Mark me down in Milton’s column.
Dale
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October 6, 2010 at 9:32 am
What are the groanings of creation and believers? Are they audible groans? Are they of the same order as the groaning of the Spirit as He helps us pray?
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October 6, 2010 at 10:51 am
Nico, Gen 4:10 is a figure of speech, so it cannot be legitimately compared with Romans 8:26. There’s nothing about the passage in question that indicates this is a figure of speech. As for Rom 8:27, I don’t see how that informs us on the audible vs. inaudible issue. All it says is the Spirit knows the mind of God. It provides the reason for which the Spirit can intercede on our behalf. That’s all.
Jason
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October 6, 2010 at 12:17 pm
Scott,
I don’t see how Exodous 14:15 is an example of what Henry speaks of. Neither isHannah. The text says she was “speaking in her heart.” Indeed, she was “lipping” her prayer to God.Unlike whatPaul describes in Rom 8:26,she knew what to pray for, and prayed for it with actual words (albeit silent words).
Jason
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October 6, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Jason… good point but could it be that the “cannot be uttered” phrase isn’t being completely silent but not having the utterance or words to say.
I do not believe it is speaking of ‘tongues’ or else paul would say so.
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October 6, 2010 at 2:52 pm
cs,
Yes, it is. Other commentors have made that same point. So it could be some kind of audible groaning. But how is the Spirit making intercession for us through a groan/moan/sigh?
Jason
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October 6, 2010 at 3:42 pm
Jason – When Jesus was deeply troubled at the death of Lazarus he “groaned in the spirit” KJV ofcourse and the word groaned here is not the same word Paul used in Romans. However, it seems to be a connection here with how we humans respond to distressing situations. Let’s face it, we US citizens have had it pretty easy. When I “groaned in the spirit” it was in a particulary distressing time in my life. Since then I’ve learned to tap in to that mindset in order to intercede and bear someone else burdens. Not everyone who is a “christian” has distressing times or they may not seek God during those times. I feel it to be a spiritual “skill” that is learned by experience.
Could it be that when we are distressed and deeply troubled God takes us to a special place of prayer? Why groan/moan/sigh? Why clap/raise hands in praise? I feel it is a natural response of humanity.
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October 6, 2010 at 3:47 pm
cs,
But according to Paul, the purpose of the Spirit’s intercession is not to remedy existential angst or personal distress, but to help us pray the will of God. And since we are often ignorant of what to pray for (inthe will of God), why aren’t we experiencing the intercession of the Spirit more often? It seems that if we limit what Paul is talking about to deep groanings in our spirit, then we are limiting the application of this verse to just a few occassions in the lives of most believers.
Jason
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October 6, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Jason – I didn’t say it would remedy. The fact is Paul said the Spirit helps our infirmities by prayer. When we don’t know the problem or the solution we are left helpless, but we have hope in the Spirit of the all knowing God who takes our distressed prayer and uses it to heal us or do whatever it is we need. Paul went on to say that all things work together for the good to them who love God and are called according to his purpose.
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October 7, 2010 at 8:08 am
Jason,
This has actually happened to me before….It is a very strange and wonderful experience. It happens when a deep burden for someone comes upon you. Strange gutteral sounds come thru you as you pray. Sounds you could not make. It is intense and feels like you are giving birth to something…..When it’s over you feel a release. Something always happens when I pray this way. But it cannot be worked up (just like tongues). The Holy Spirit has to initate it. It happens to a lot more people than you think….Talk to some old time intercessors.
LD
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October 8, 2010 at 7:20 pm
I preface this by admitting I have not studied this out and am only saying what came to mind when reading the verse in question.
I think that what many are speaking about, groaning in intercessions is being confused with what the Scripture actually says. I am not saying that you cannot reach a place of burden in the Spirit where you groan in intercession.
However, to be true to what the Word says, it is both not us interceding and it is not an audible utterance. (so I guess I am in Jason’s camp) I think this verse is simply telling us that when we are praying in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is interceding for us as well, not through us in utterance.
I think this is similar in function if you will as Jesus sitting at the right hand of God making intercession for us (Romans 8:34).
Well, like I said this was off the top of my head, so feel free to pick it apart. 🙂
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October 11, 2010 at 10:11 am
It does make any sense to say an inaudiable utterance. ONLY the Spirit can make these strange sounds that come from deep within you while interceding. You have to experience this to understand it. I cannot make these sounds on my own……
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October 26, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I recently learned that when people are speaking in tongues, a certain part of the brain becomes active that is not active any other time. This may be what Paul is describing as “groanings” in the best sense that he is able given the knowledge of anatomy he is not likely privy to.
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October 26, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Hargrove,
I think you are referring to the neuroscientific evidence as reported on by the NYT (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE3DA113FF934A35752C1A9609C8B63) and other news agencies, but this did not show that a certain part of the brain becomes active that isn’t otherwise active. It showed that when people were speaking in tongues “their frontal lobes — the thinking, willful part of the brain through which people control what they do — were relatively quiet, as were the language center.” This indicated that the people were not consciously thinking about the things they were saying, which is exactly how people who speak in tongues describe it. It’s not something they have to think about to do. The words are coming from the Spirit of God.
But Paul can’t be talking about tongues since tongues are uttered.
Jason
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May 24, 2011 at 8:08 pm
I don’t know if anybody is still following this thread, but I would like to offer my personal insight regardless.
I suffered through several years of clinical depression throughout adolescence, recurring in adulthood. Anybody who has been through this can tell you there are times when the emotional anguish is so intense that there literally are no words to express how hollow and alone you feel. This passage has always been a huge comfort to me, knowing that even when the very depths of my soul feel empty and I have no words to pray, although I cannot effectively express my needs to God to ask for help or comfort, the Holy Spirit is there to take the wheel, so to speak. He takes the groanings of my soul to God for me, when I am otherwise at a loss!
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May 27, 2011 at 12:11 am
I agree with Tiny,as I experience the same!
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May 28, 2011 at 11:58 am
There were times when Jesus “groaned” within Himself. Where they uttered words… no. It’s something the Holy Spirit does in us, His temple. It’s like a heaviness in your heart or spirit. Some people express, “I have a gut feeling.” They’re picking up on something in their spirit. It’s the same with the Holy Spirit’s groaning. It’s a heaviness or a burden too deep for words in our spirits that the Holy Spirit wants to pray it through according to the will of God. When the burdened or heaviness leave, He has finished with that form of intercession that’s too deep for words. Usually a light, peaceful, joyful feeling replaces the heaviness.
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May 28, 2011 at 12:00 pm
There were times when Jesus “groaned” within Himself. Were they uttered words… no. It’s something the Holy Spirit does in us, His temple. It’s like a heaviness in your heart or spirit, all Christians don’t experience this. Some people express, “I have a gut feeling.” They’re picking up on something in their spirit. It’s the same with the Holy Spirit’s groaning. It’s a heaviness or a burden too deep for words in our spirits that the Holy Spirit wants to pray it through according to the will of God. When the burdened or heaviness leave, He has finished with that form of intercession that’s too deep for words. Usually a light, peaceful, joyful feeling replaces the heaviness.
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August 9, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Hello I just want to say one of the strong’s definition of the word groan is to pray inaudible with greif
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January 9, 2013 at 4:27 pm
Are u there?
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January 10, 2013 at 2:32 pm
Yes?
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March 20, 2013 at 12:54 pm
I have a friend that this happens to in situations when he is in deep loving prayer to the Father and has these groans and utterances it is exactly what it describes I know too that is has always been in situations where the spirit intercedes on his behalf and miracles happen!!
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August 26, 2013 at 12:04 pm
checking if this will go through first
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September 18, 2013 at 10:02 pm
http://praisedancecentralministries.wordpress.com/welcome-to-pdcm/does-romans-826-mean-praying-in-tongues/
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October 28, 2013 at 12:05 pm
I have to say in everything that you all speak of I have experienced it the groaning moanings in the spirit and speaking in tongues continually and trevailing its a beautiful experience. when you have this awesome relationship with the father. he will show you miracles and another level in your spiritual understanding about the father. truly it is magnificent. you become more spiritually aware (open) of the things that the father cares about witch is you and being able to help others with this gift, which is only given by the holy spirit, He determines but its up to you to decide how far you want go. Just having an average relationship where a lot of Christians leave him and only use when YOU think YOU need him when it is convenient or are you the kind of christians that have the knowledge by reading his word which are carnal minded christians or are you the kind believe in and that there is a God but you deny the POWER OF GOD and just keep him in the book and on your shelves and a box
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October 28, 2013 at 12:29 pm
I have scriptures for these . I myself am studying to be a True Deliverance Minister and a intercessor prayer warrior and everything that I have experience is so I can help others by following and the leading of the holyspirit under his annointing.
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December 24, 2013 at 7:09 pm
Came upon this site because I was searching for answers as to what is happening to me lately.I feel deep inward wrenching groans when I enter prayer that feel like suffering but without physical pain. It happens whenever I pray for situations and people.particularly my ex-husband who is in an adulterous common-law relationship with a practising witch. I used to pray and receive anointing that breaks yokes.Now it seems I have transitioned into something deeper spiritually. so far I don’t see any evidence my prayers have been answered where it concerns my ex-husband.
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February 19, 2014 at 7:13 am
Keith says:
I am not sure about the groaning and do not dismiss the thought that Paul is referring to the speaking of tougues. Paul in fact established the first charismatic churches that primarily spoke in tougues. I think someone who is able to speak in tougues is better able to interpret the groans than someone is cannot. Praise Him!
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August 30, 2014 at 11:40 am
I believe that this means graonings which cannot be uttered by humans in a known way. In other words, we cannot accurately articulate the burden deep within us. The Holy Spirit does and He gives us utterance to speak in other tongues. This is His way of helping us with our infirmaties (weakness to articulate). In this way He is at work for us as He works through us. Remember God is with us, for us and in us.
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September 10, 2014 at 6:33 pm
After reading all the comments above, I guess Milton made good points but those from Charismatic background in opinion refuse to understand. May God the Holy Spirit convict each and every one of you, so that we will learn to divide/handle the word correctly.
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March 6, 2015 at 11:49 am
Please let me share what happened to me as God began to use me in this kind of GROANING INTERCESSION for His glory!
The life of an intercessor is chosen by God Himself where his or her body becomes a vessel of honour in the realm of persevering prayer. In intercession, the intercessor becomes a carrier of the burden of the Lord. In other words, what is a pain and burden in the heart of God concerning the people becomes a pain and burden upon the heart of the intercessor. This burden and pain is generated from deep within the intercessor’s innermost being, which is called in scriptures “bowels of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:8).
Though all Christians are called to intercede and bear the bowels and burden of Christ, an ordained intercessor is able to bear the burden of Christ in a way that no other can. They enter into a realm where the desires and burdens of Christ become alive in their spirit, soul and body. That means, they literally feel the pain of the agony of the Holy Spirit. This is why the prayer of an intercessor is called “travailing prayer” or “agonizing prayer”. Casual prayers are done with eloquent words, while intercessory prayer is done with weeping, mourning, agonizing and travail; as though in a labour room in childbirth, (Jer 9:20, Eze 21:12, Jer 9:1, Eze 27:30, Eze 27:31, Eze 27:32).
Blessings of Joy and the FIRE of Christ’s Love fill your hungry hearts even more! Hearts Ablaze #Greta
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March 22, 2015 at 1:23 am
I recieved the infilling of the Holy Spirit in July 2014, with the evidence of speaking in tounges. Since then I have a had many great supernatural experiences in God. Tonight however I experienced deep intercessional groanings. It was no fun. During the interceeding I was unable to speak in tounges, instead I had this deep long groan that was eminating from the Holy Spirit in me….I had to just let it flow out. I hurt deeply and initially I wanted it to stop, that is, until I begin receiving information from the Holy Spirit about someone I know, their calling, and that death was eminent. This process super sucked, however I am very pleased God chose to use me as a vessel for deep intercession. Its 3 a.m, but tomorrow I will talk to this person and encourage them in the Lord. Im certain they know Jesus and are going to be ready for a spiritual harvest. The Lord always makes my path straight! Blessings and The perfect love of Christ to the reader of this message.
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March 22, 2015 at 7:54 am
Hernamewasbitter:
In the privacy of our own hearts and minds there are times when we become self-convicted, with great personal sorrow. At these times we know not what to ask for: First, when one is most oppressed by outward trials and most depressed by a sense of his inward sorrow, when one is at wit’s end and ready to wring hands in despair, one is most conscious in the depths of his being: “The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings and moanings which cannot be uttered in words.”
The inward turmoil or sorrow in our core in manifested and overwhelmed by crying, weeping and tears. I have cried this way more than once; sometimes, my groanings and moanings reach pitch level and sound like a wolf howling long at the moon without taking a breath, like a failure and helpless. Sobbing in this way is what this scripture is referring to; there’s nothing complicated or supernatural about it.
However, regarding your supernatural encounters and your idea of ‘groanings and moanings’ my first suggestion to you is to consult with a psychiatrist as soon as possible in the outpatient clinic at the hospital; not a priest or a preacher. You may be suffering from a “religiously induced” nervous breakdown.
There is no second suggestion.
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September 28, 2015 at 4:18 pm
Am not sure why an oxymoron is used here- groaning is clearly “noise” – not uttered is “no noise”. However when looking at the rest of New Testament few things are clear.
Separation of this verse from the rest of the Bible and using Old Testament scriptures to back up points of new Spirtual life is not right because the old is done and the new has come, the Spirit of God now dwells in us- which it couldn’t do before.
When u read acts 10:44-48 and MANY more scriptures in the New Testament then you will see that the evidence of receiving the Spirit is clearly tongues. Moreover how could u follow Jude verse 20? It is definitely in tongues! John 3: 1-8 (look up the original word of verse 8- it is Spirit, the Spirit does pray for us and “you hear the sound thereof but can’t tell where it Cometh or whither it goeth”
So that was to make clear that Christians do speak in tongues.
(if u don’t and claim to be a Christian please read Mark 16:15- 18)
Moreover to clarify- 1 Corinthians 14 is stating how Spiritual gifts within the MEETINGS should be done-which is why it gives an order in verses 27-31 for the edification of the church (God guiding- not just making talking)
Subject of the Spirit suggests that we are in CONTROL- no weird things when u receive the Spirit and no weird things when u speak in tongues- all is in peace for “God is not the author of confusion but of peace,”.
So to anyone who says that speaking in tongues is “not” necessary whether u be a Pastor/ Priest or whatever, u are verity clearly blaspheming agains the Holy Spirit! Highlight in the New Testament every single time it talks about the Holy Spirit and u will find some correlations. Just saying- peace!
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October 1, 2015 at 11:29 am
it means that the Holy Spirit speaks with in a supernatural/superhuman language that cannot be translated into a natural/human language. it is only the father who understands this ‘groaning’ that cannot be ‘uttered’ (that is, explained in human logic or to human understanding.
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October 1, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Heavenson:
This reference of your commentary, I disagree with you on your interpretation ………groanings that cannot be uttered…… is not talking about tongues, tongues is about language and here it is talking about weeping, sobbing, crying; that is groanings and moanings that cannot be uttered in prayer, not speech; it is raw spirit emotion! It can be utter sorrow and it can be utter joy.
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October 31, 2015 at 9:48 am
AT times I believe we can be so burdened with an intercessory burden we lose our own comprehension! Hence praying in other tongues helps get us out of our own understanding and pray thru until sufficient intercession is accomplished. I remember Paul saying I pray with tongues more than you all! Bcselah
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November 13, 2015 at 5:24 am
I agree that the groanings are a deep exhaustive-like weeping and sobbing of the soul that has been referred to in several comments already. I believe it is a spiritually cleansing activity that empties our vessel of spiritually poisonous anxiety. We groan out so to speak – the poisonous tension that we have inspired from an unpredictable and corrupt world. We cultivate what is referred to as an existential anxiety and tension that builds up in our souls and needs to be expired. I believe It is done very effectively through this “groaning”. It would be healthy and beneficial to “groan” regularly. That is my two cents on the subject.
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December 20, 2015 at 10:59 am
I think we are trying to over philosophy the word uttered, we must leave that passage of scripture in it’s meaning, and content; it has a lot more to do with what is express, than what sound is made; I groan, why? because what I want to say I can’t rightfully articulate in words, and what I articulate in words may be words base upon my feelings and experience that may be somewhat distorted, and often of times does not cover what God knows what is going on in our life, God goes to the root of our problems, and not the surface. So the Spirit groans through us, with groaning that can’t be utter, this implies that my language of prayer is being reclassified to groanings, and not words. The sound is there, it just comes into the form of groanings.
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March 20, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Could it be for those who cannot speak? My son has autism and cant speak in compleye sentences but he goes to church, says his prayers everynight(i say prayer and at the end he says Amen). Although he cant confess with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and God raised him from the dead, could these scripture pertain to those who cant speak?
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March 20, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Nikki J
No, these scriptures do not pertain to those who can’t speak;you are grasping at straws just as the religious community grasped at straws when they went to the church trying to obtain help for their child for other affirmities.
I mean that was a reasonable thing to believe you had if you were having seizures but now we have the science of neurology and we know about epilepsy so now when your kid has seizures, you know you don’t go to the church to get him diagnosed and treated by exorcism and so that’s a good thing. I’m just saying that religion is losing the argument on every front. On every other front, it’s losing the argument ethically and will lose the argument spiritually. Seek medical advice for your child’s afflictions.
We will understand spiritual experience so well at some point at the level of the brain, at the level of changing attention in certain ways can change human experience, we’ll understand it in a way that makes a mockery of this kind of denominational religious talk and magic powers and that will break down in the same way it has broken down on medicine and that’s a process that we have to be honest about and let unfold.
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March 25, 2016 at 7:20 am
The Greek word ‘could not be uttered’ in Rom 8:26 can also be translated as ‘could not be expressed in words’. So, it does not seem to rule out making sounds that could not be understood. I just want to share with you my own limited experience about this verse. When I prayed for a burden in my heart for a long time. My weakness was sustained by praying in tongues with groaning in tears and relief. While the problem persisted, I could still enjoy the rest in Him and never grew weary in continuous prayer. In the process, many scriptures were also revealed.
I also want to emphasize, I do not rule out other possible ways that Holy Spirit helps us to pray. May God guide you in peace and joy.
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June 16, 2016 at 11:06 am
Hi. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit several months after Jesus saved my soul. I was not raised in a church that understood this gift of the spirit, nor did they welcome the Holy Spirit in their services. But, the spirit of God cannot be strong armed or contained. He is everywhere. It was after the baptism that God gave me the gidt of intercessory prayer. The Holy Apirit would place a burden on my heart and prayed through me as I yielded to Him in faith. I could feel His pain. After prayer the burden would lift. One time he told me to pray for a friend who was in distreas, but He did not reveal who it was. Later on one of my friends that I had been talking to at the time said it was him. I have been warnes by the Holy Spirit, and have been spared from disaster, also. I believe the Holy Spirit does pray for us and thru us also. Thank you for letting me share.
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July 25, 2016 at 3:04 pm
Goodness, Jesus is coming soon and perhaps before some of you can solve this enigma. A person can gag at a gnat and swallow a camel. The Word says what it means and means what it says. A groan is not a groan unless it is heard. How would you even know it was a groan unless it was heard? When interceding in prayer there will be times when you will grieve so hard for the one/situation/need that you are praying for that you will groan and make a sound then there are times when the pain is so deep you can’t make a sound, it’s like your just blowing breath out, because the grief is so strong, just like Hannah. It’s not that hard to figure out if you have had the experience.
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July 25, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Judy:
I agree completely: groanings………… intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered………….when we are over whelmed with emotions we cannot utter……I have weeped a number of times that way and understand the passage.
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August 2, 2016 at 5:37 am
I take it to mean that God the Holy Spirit is so in tune with us as believers that He senses the smallest need even before we even realize that it is there. Because He is a member of our triune God, He communicates these needs, hurts, sorrows, joys…whatever…to God the Father and God the Son through a means of communication that exceeds the need for words or even sounds. What a gift/treasure that God the Son (Jesus) besought God the Father to send us when He departed from us for a time. He is our Comforter.
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August 2, 2016 at 8:08 am
Bob Howell:
A comparable analogy to the Holy Spirit to your human spirit is like the immune system is to the body….it’s designed that way………though you never physically recognize the need until it later manifests itself, when germs invade the body, the first responders are already activated and at work seeking out the invaders unbeknowns to you at the earliest outset.
It is the same operation that senses your needs that the father also sees everything you do in secret. Yu just can’t hide from yourself and that’s where He Lives….”within you” Luke 17:20-21
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August 12, 2016 at 11:51 pm
I am a Christian and yet some how thought the ‘groaning’ in the Bible bore little relevance today. But to my shock, my prayers were suddenly accompanied by great powerful groaning. I can literally feel pangs (not painful) overtake me. I am aware that in the spiritual realm, things are shifting and that soon it will be manifested in the physical realm. My sisters hear me groan as we pray in agreement and are frankly mystified. I don’t entirely understand it myself. I only know something significant is or will take place regarding whatever we are praying for. I can’t be the only one who experiences this! Is there any one else out there?
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January 1, 2017 at 5:24 pm
The only people that really understand this is intercessory prayer warriors. What happens to me is when the Lord wants me to pray for someone, he doesn’t tell me who or what the situation involves just that my immediate prayer is required. He does this by making my spirit ill. I get sick to my stomach and my heart starts fluttering. I get shortness of breathe and I begin groaning. This feeling will not stop until either I go into intercessory prayer or I find out what it is he needed me to pray for. When I was younger I didn’t understand the groans of the spirit instead I thought the Lord was just warning me something bad was going to happen so instead of praying I would stay sick for days and then I would get the bad news. I look back now and my prayers were so needed at the time. I could have changed things. But at least I’ve figured out my place now and realize when this happens I must immediately go into prayer for the situation because it always affects someone I know.
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January 5, 2017 at 11:06 am
I think the passage needs to be taken in context with the rest of the text; or at least from verse 18 on.
It seems, in the context of the text, that this concept of “groanings” is metaphoric in nature. Deeply rooted emotions that are difficult to put into words perhaps.
I personally don’t think the passage bears any relationship to “tongues” at all.
What “Amy Nelson” reports in her post above is quite interesting – somewhat similar to an empath.
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January 5, 2017 at 1:40 pm
Kaki:
“It seems, in the context of the text, that this concept of “groanings” is metaphoric in nature. Deeply rooted emotions that are difficult to put into words perhaps.”
In my own experiences in moments of heartbreak for somebody the moanings and groaning welled up in deep empathetic emotion the result of which was a flow of tears,weeping and at times crying in wolf howls that lingered and lingered until I was forced to take a deep a breath and it continued for some time. When I hear wolf howls it reminds me of me and that scripture comes to my mind every time. That, I believe, is the groanings and moanings the text refers to, at least that is how I ID with those words.
On the other hand I attended a funeral with my wife for a colleague who passed from complications nobody thought to expect for a relatively minor surgical procedure. I did not know my wife’s co-worker but when I saw the sadness on my wife’s face in the church assembly I was overcome with emotion for her. I sat by myself while my wife sat with other co-worker for group grieving but this time it was a bout of quiet weeping. I cried for my wife as her deepest sorrow touched me to the core. Same spirit but a quiet version.
“Deeply rooted emotions” in either case; it’s not only difficult but impossible to put into words during those moments. If I try to speak my voice goes up like a Eunuch singing Soprano at the Opera House. 🙂
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January 30, 2017 at 5:21 pm
The groanings that cant be uttered is the pain that we may be experiencing at the time in our lives. The Holy Spirit takes those unuttered groaning or pains and uses them as intercessory prayer. Some times we may not know what to pray or say in hard times. But the Holy Spirit takes our pain we are having at that time. And presents it to our loving Father. So we are always in prayer. Even when we are silent Its called effortless Faith. The Holy Spirit keep us in prayer. We have a loving God. Through our pain God will help us to the place we need to be at that time and to the altemate goal which is inmortality. If any one is intested in learning about the
Love of our Father. Google Bertie Brits and hear the true message of Grace.
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February 16, 2017 at 6:07 am
Around 33 years ago I purposed to pray one hour every morning before going to work. After doing so faIthfully for maybe ten days I had a supernatural occurrence while praying. My body began heaving and it frightened me as I knew it was not natural. I asked the Lord what I was experiencing. He led me to read Roman’s 8:26-27. He showed me the Holy Spirit Himself within me was praying directly to Jesus. We know from scripture that Jesus Himself is seated at the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for the saints. Shortly after this experience I was baptised in the Holy Spirit according to Acts 8:12-25. This was evidenced through receiving the gift of tongues. I pray both in tongues and with understanding. Groaning without utterance and praying in tongues are two different enabling of the Holy Spirit.
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February 16, 2017 at 11:08 am
Ron:
What does “praying” entail for you during the daily hour; did you weave and bob, finger bead, chant, recite repetitious phrases, ad lib anything that comes into your mind and out of your mouth, meditate in silence or just being silent in your own mind until the hour was finished?
“We know from scripture that Jesus Himself is seated at the right hand of the Father ever making intercession for the saints” I submit you “believe” from scripture but you do not “know” from scripture.
Did you know that over production of dimethyltryptamine (DMT), an endogenous psychoactive compound, by the pineal gland can cause hallucinations and other psychedelia occurrences. DMT is also known as The Spirit Molecule.
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February 16, 2017 at 12:30 pm
I’m not sure i get this – if one subscribes to the concept of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is one of three aspects of God and Jesus is one of three aspects of God (the “Son” aspect). Somehow I don’t think God would need to pray to himself.
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February 16, 2017 at 1:47 pm
KAVIK:
I think you are alone for “not getting it”; the Trinity idea is merely a concept that tries to describe the human experience; i.e., the consciousness experience of thought and awareness of thinking, wondering, reasoning (spirit) with the essence of being a physical human person (son) and the totality of a body housing all aspects of being human; on the one hand, the spiritual and on the other hand with all the body sensory perception and memory leading from the tips of the body into the central mind of the brain that includes consciousness, subconsciousness, unconsciousness and the autonomous systems of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, immune system and digestive processes including the reptilian brain. That’s the nutshell of the oneness.
The triune brain is analogous to the religious Triune Godhead to describing the various functions.
The reptilian brain, the oldest of the three, controls the body’s vital functions such as heart rate, breathing, body temperature and balance. Our reptilian brain includes the main structures found in a reptile’s brain: the brainstem and the cerebellum. The reptilian brain is reliable but tends to be somewhat rigid and compulsive.
The limbic brain emerged in the first mammals. It can record memories of behaviours that produced agreeable and disagreeable experiences, so it is responsible for what are called emotions in human beings. The main structures of the limbic brain are the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the hypothalamus. The limbic brain is the seat of the value judgments that we make, often unconsciously, that exert such a strong influence on our behaviour.
The neocortex brain first assumed importance in primates and culminated in the human brain with its two large cerebral hemispheres that play such a dominant role. These hemispheres have been responsible for the development of human language, abstract thought, imagination, and consciousness. The neocortex is flexible and has almost infinite learning abilities. The neocortex is also what has enabled human cultures to develop.
I suppose when Jesus said: ““The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
So the moral of the story Kavik: These three parts of the brain do not operate independently of one another. They have established numerous interconnections through which they influence one another. The neural pathways from the limbic system to the cortex, for example, are especially well developed. And in a sense you are correct that you are praying to yourself but the three brains do not act independently but act as one unit by interacting the one with the other so meditating (praying) in one brain sends signals to the other two brains and therefore acting as one with each part in its role, committing and contributing to your sincerity, integrity, health and attitude. And that is where the triune Godhead resides within everyone of the creatures we call humanity.
The meditative practices we undergo are useless if we are locked in egoic thinking and think that saying Namaste to everyone makes us enlightened.
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February 17, 2017 at 12:00 pm
Hmmm…I never thought of it like that. Interesting! Thanks for the insight.
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February 17, 2017 at 5:37 pm
The first line in Post 71 should read….”I think you are “not” alone for “not getting it”;
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April 29, 2017 at 8:15 am
I am studying this right now and my thoughts are words that humans can not say or express and I totally agree that this is not talking about tongues. How awesome to know that he holy Spirit prays for us and sounds we could not copy or imagine.
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April 29, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Reason Productions:
It sounds to me that you may be interchanging scriptures: one that refers to speaking in tongues and the other, that …….we know not what or how to pray……..:(or what to say that cannot be uttered.)
“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.” Romans 8:26
This is different from “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” (Acts 2:11). The Greek word translated tongues literally means “languages.”
One refers called moanings and groanings and mourning that wells up into tears, weeping and sobbing, crying and sadness, wailing and bawling, howling and whimpering. Irreconcilable lamentation from the spirit empathy, sympathy and deepest love within you.
And some songs trigger that spirit…. from where I sit that has nothing to do with tongues save metaphorically as per the scriptural phrase: “….which cannot be uttered.,,,” guttural sounds (from the gut)
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May 14, 2017 at 2:46 pm
Hi my name is Julie. Ive just been listening to joseph prince sermon on groanings. Backed up by Jesus sighing in spirit then saying ephrata. Which means Bethlehem. In my own experience i heard message of the cross when in an abusive relationship. I carried on in this relationship far too long till god intervened. One day at my wits end i called on Jesus name and i woke up next day singing praising god and began reading my bible. I read alone for two years almost three i got baptised Easter Sunday April 8 th 2014. After that i began evangelising i experienced so much anxiety suffering i couldn’t go to church. I persevered and found my way to a vineyard church in Woking surrey where i broke and yielded and sensed something the whole congregation went quiet. A leader came upto and asked if she could lsy hands on me. Crippled by anxiety i wanted healing. She touched my back and a group surrounded me in prayer. Suddenly her hand shook and i clearly heard her say ephrata then said with authority let the holy spirit fall i leaned forward and instantly sobbed and cried a good ten mins. She said id been healed. I left feeling calm happy and peaceful no more panic attacks to this day. Prior to that id been to a and e 11 times in a year. I’m so happier these days. His perfect love casts out fear. Recently i was homeless i groaned on my spirit god heard i asked Jesus to pray for me and i was desperate and immediately i prayed in tongues. It seems to me that god hears our depths of pain. Psalm says this poor man cried out . Joseph prince sermon worship god with the psalms of David is annointed. I pray this helps and blessed you. Today i smile told in radiant i smell holy spirits perfume. Please people just believe hes with you nite nite xxx love you in Jesus name amen
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May 28, 2017 at 4:56 pm
Groan that cannot be uttered is more like words cannot fully express it. its more like yeee, haaaaaaa. wuuuuuu. Groans actually means a kind of sound but not necessarily words. it could be in tongues and it may not. If any one have experience a situation where prayers seems to be out of your control and you feel like shouting without necessarily knowing what to say that is groaning of the spirit sometimes the spirit give words to shout and repeat again and again. other times no words meaningful, other times it could be touges. In all cases the spirit direct.
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August 29, 2017 at 8:03 pm
I also don’t think that it refers to speaking in tongues. My interpretation is that at times when we cannot seem to prayer because of the extent of our affliction, we sometimes can’t find the right words..The Holy Spirit who is the searcher of hearts and minds, who knows all things, intercedes for us. He knows what’s on our heart, what were battling with/ feeling at any given moment when its hard for us to prayer.
Very Similar to what was said by Jesus to his desciples in Matthew- God knows all things we need before we even ask.
That’s what I make of it.
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August 29, 2017 at 8:30 pm
soulfoodsw:
“God knows all things we need before we even ask”.
That’s what I make of it.
What Jesus meant here was akin to the immune system, within you. You don’t need to pray for the immune system to react to invading pathogens; it knows what is needed and the defenses are already activated before you fell the symptoms of the flu for example.
Nor do we need to tell the body to make sure the heart is doing what is expected…….? what is expected would be laughable…all these things we are born with and we are complete with those attributes.
We could describe it as God or describe it as genetic predisposition and the like. We don’t need to pray that we’ll keep on breathing while we sleep; it is automatic. It’s called the autonomic system that controls breathing, heart pumping and other systems required to keep you alive……
only ‘believers’ ponder gods in their sleep…But the reality of what is, is wonderful to behold whether you are human, an antelope on the serengetti or the miserable mosquitoes harboring viruses that will manifest as malaria or the parasitic pika virus.
In the world of everything, is this magnificent operative, without worship, without thought, without anything other than the way of design that pathogens may never think about or understand if they have those capacities…..Humans attribute such wonder to a concept they call God. This concept encompasses the idea that “there is that beyond which a greater cannot be thought” and who knows what it means even to be able to think about such grandiose ideas about the great questions that wrangle the minds of man and sparks the imagination to ponder the cosmos macro and the invisible nano microbial world of instinctual life.
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September 17, 2017 at 7:30 pm
This just happened to me two weeks ago. This is the Holy Spirit who takes over in a miraculous way during our prayer and uses our body generating groans from our heart that are barely heard but definitely not controlled or motivated by our physical response (i.e. weeping, breathing, etc…) This is strictly him and is not us. I can guarantee that. It also has nothing to do with speaking in tongues. I have searched the internet for two weeks and have read only one other person who had it correct. This cannot be generated by our will power or effort for an experience. It is only by the will of the Father. I’m still amazed at the experience and can only tell you it was not me but my body was used and originated from the heart with groans not understandable by the spirit. I could hardly breath and my chest was sore for two days later.
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September 17, 2017 at 11:25 pm
BSR:
Have you ever experienced the decease of a loved one? If you ever do and you are welled up to tears with moaning and groaning that cannot be uttered; nor can it be controlled, call it what you will, it is part of the human experience and has nothing to do with your belief in God using your body for some special communication.
It is ridiculous to try and bring a religious interpretation to the phenomenon. It is merely an emotional response, uncontrollable and undeniable whether you call it God, the Spirit, or the the Soul which is just another word to describe Emotion. Don’t get carried away with religious nonsense.
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October 30, 2017 at 6:29 pm
I see within this scripture a simple explanation of a profoundly valuable assistance offered to believers through the Holy Spirit during times in which our emotions are so stirred by circumstances that we feel deeply the need to pray, but have no idea what to say or how to express such feelings and the resulting needs! We are spiritually speechless! Understanding our emotional plight and our feelings of profound inadequacy, the indwelling Holy Spirit, prays a prayer for us that captures every emotion that flows during these most troubling moments and the deep needs and desires arising from even the unintelligible groans and utterances that arise from our indescribable despair! The resulting prayer of the Holy Spirit on our behalf completely expresses every one of those feelings and emotions in language that gives meaning to even our groans and incoherent utterances so that the prayer God hears results in His perfect understanding of our feelings and needs! Thus God is able to respond to the height, width and depth of our emotions and the essence of our feelings and needs! Our deepest need is conveyed to God in its fullness and entirety. Perhaps the best prayers we ever pray are prayed when we really do not know what to pray. That opens the door for the Holy Spirit to offer us maximal intervention as he prays for us!
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October 30, 2017 at 10:33 pm
There is no resulting prayer by the holy spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an external entity; the Holy Spirit is within and what we call the soul of a man…it is the emotional aspect of a human…remember this….mind, emotion and will;
body soul and spirit.
It is not a prayer that we can even understand because it is not a prayer as such, but an inner moaning and groaning that suggests a deep indwelling of an empathic connection to the human experience; hence, the spirituality of the deepest indwelling…………
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March 10, 2018 at 11:36 am
Dennis, your response has the ring of truth in my experience, Though it may not always be linked to despair. on a mountain walk I set off on alone this summer, very early, I invited the Holy Spirit to accompany me…I had Cader Idris to myself and it was a beautiful fresh clear morning… I was thrilled and delighted to be able to do what I was doing…then I had the clear impression to “Look Up” there was nothing to see but the sky nevertheless i had five or so minutes of groaning and howling, intensely guttural…then it passed, I blew my nose wiped my eyes got my shallow gasping back to normal and had a memorable walk to the top and back…Though at the time i was wrung out.
I have just this moment got back from the Alpha Holy Spirit day at our fellowship led by David and Mairisine Stansfield…and whilst being prayed with This happened again…Im not at all sure what this meant and what could I expect as there was no particular understanding in my mind during or after on both occasions..On todays occasion I felt vulnerable, the mountain experience with the benefit of hindsight edified me…I can accept that on both occasions it was intercessory in nature…and personally I consider the two experiences a great blessing…as you say they could well be the “best” prayers we ever pray with the mental facilities disengaged…I have the Faith to Believe That.
foolishness….to confound the wise…Well He would do that wouldn`t He
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March 19, 2018 at 3:13 pm
Grieving the seperation of entities. He intercesses between The Holy Father and The Holy Children who have yet to pass infection from the tree. With His native dialect, he relays information, to the pure Father, from the infected pure children, so, as not to cross contaminate, and, to remedy detriment.
Jesus is Lord. GOD raised Him from the dead. Love never fails.
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March 19, 2018 at 3:16 pm
Wash and be clean.
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January 27, 2019 at 3:04 pm
My current understanding has been given me quite recently. When I have come to the end of my understanding when praying and asking for help because of the physical pain I have been in I was given tears and then able to let out deep groans that rose up from somewhere deep within me. The result was a stillness, a peace that passeth understanding. I believe that for me the holy spirit stepped in and prayed for me. Both the tears and the groans were a gift, but as with everything with God we have a choice, I had to choose to let these groans out, they seemed to say what my words could not. I believe the holy spirit was interceding for me and with me.
Groanings that cannot be uttered in my experience were sounds but not spoken words.
I hope you will give this some consideration as I think it can be a great means of release when a trouble, affiction or pressure seems to much to bear.
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January 28, 2019 at 8:19 am
Carol:
To me, your experience is exactly what the scripture means…… with groanings and sighs amidst tears …….when words and language have ended and you know not what to you ought to say or pray…………. That is indeed, the spirit within.
That is when the soul reaches out in a language unutterable – consisting of unuttered groanings, voiceless moanings, silent musings, and inward mournings. ..The Spirit within, expresses for us with groanings what cannot be expressed in words.
It is like the cry of children when their inner spirit takes over and you can hear the difference in heartfelt, sobful sighs…it’s quite distinct.
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April 1, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Whenever your heart is so broken that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us to the Heavenly Father, ABBA GOD!!!
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May 3, 2019 at 9:11 am
It doesn’t say you won’t utter, it’s you won’t utter in words
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June 24, 2019 at 1:48 pm
We have the Holy Spirit in us. When we moan & groan from deep within us. The Holy spirit intercede for us by taking it to Jesus. The moans and groans is a feeling that can’t be uttered.
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August 5, 2019 at 1:48 pm
From experience when I fully surrender to the Holy Spirit and pray in tongues it sounds like deep groanings a lot of times with tears! I believe it to be deep travailing for my family! Its coming straight from your belly the living water of the Holy Spirit flowing up out of you! Its intense for sure!
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August 11, 2019 at 3:51 pm
It is the holy spirits ability to act on your behalf in spite of your personal fears. Long before we think to pray, the Holy Spirit is already communicating your deepest fears to the lord. We are too often afraid to lay our needs before his altar for any number of reasons. He created the holy spirits connection to us in order to already know our darkest fears and positively lay out the path before us.
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October 27, 2019 at 7:02 pm
The verse is correct the Holy Spirit pray for us. We as Christians do no know what God is preparing for us we may not know what our brothers need. As I have gone to another level in prayer, the Holy Spirit prays through me often in very deep moaning and groaning I can pray this way for hours. The Holy Spirit prays and make intercession for me no utterance just moaning and groaning, not with your understanding, I know it helps my infirmities.
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January 1, 2021 at 8:01 pm
The word for uttered means “mute sighs” if you look in Strong’s Concordance. That means there is no sound to the groan. When the Holy Spirit groans as he intercedes for us, according to the will of God, there is no sound, it is a mute sigh. You and I are not involved. It is purely a function of the Holy Spirit, without our to help, to help us when we do not know what to pray for. That is the literal interpretation of those words. Mike
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March 14, 2021 at 7:53 pm
Sometimes we look at things as though they were natural And we miss The spiritual Understanding of things Of the word of God
When The Bible speaks of spirit groans with sounds that cannot be uttered Simply means that human words cannot express what is felt…
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June 25, 2021 at 8:48 am
I had a personal experience with this and for me it was complete transformation.
Like primal man some kinda straining in the physical an spiritual it was very traumatic.
I sweat profusely and the sweat turned to oil outta my face. I could only say in an audible way Jesus loloves me
I saw
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January 11, 2022 at 8:16 pm
Have you considered this translation of the Bible of that verse.
“In the same way, the Ruach Hakodesh helps us in our weakness. For as we daven, we do not know as we should for what to make tefillos (prayers), but the Ruach HaKodesh Himself intercedes on our behalf with labor pang groans not intelligibly uttered.”
Romans 8:26 TOJB2011
https://bible.com/bible/130/rom.8.26.TOJB2011
I believe it’s still speaking in tongues while you are already in the spirit and not in the flesh.
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September 6, 2022 at 6:52 am
Uttered means spoken. Groanings are not spoken. When you pray in tongues, you can go deeper into travailing which is like a groaning. When we have so many needs and don’t know where to even begin asking for help from Jesus, the spirit in us does the work through this powerful communication between God and man. Praying in tongues and travailing moves mountains in our lives.
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September 18, 2022 at 10:44 am
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Why are we told the words are too deep .
If it’s silent groanings then we should not need to know about
words .
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February 8, 2023 at 7:11 am
Unless you are spirit filled b egg Lieberman .
It’s the obvious it’s super natural !
Have great day !
What I find interesting is the beginning of the scripture likewise the spirit also helpers our infirmities.
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February 18, 2023 at 3:50 am
Our Spirit prays with the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we may go into groaning and travail when praying for the lost or those suffering. Sounding as if you are in labor.
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March 12, 2023 at 2:48 pm
We ourselves do not always know what to pray for, or how we ought to pray.
While praying in tongues, the spirit (human spirit) is stirred up and once the “connection” to the Holy Spirit happens, then The Spirit (Holy Spirit) intercede for us by taking over the prayer.
The Holy Spirit is the one who makes the moanings and groanings. At this point, you the person have now gone being your own physical form and have entered into the physical.
This is sometimes termed being “lost on the wings of the spirit.
Whereby, by the time the moanings and groanings are happening, it is no longer possible for you to speak (utter any words) anymore, whether in own known language or in tongues
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March 12, 2023 at 2:54 pm
We ourselves do not always know what to pray for, or how we ought to pray.
While praying in tongues, the spirit (human spirit) is stirred up and once the “connection” to the Holy Spirit is made, then The Spirit (Holy Spirit) intercedes for us by taking over the prayer.
The Holy Spirit is the one who makes the moanings and groanings through the believer who’s praying. At this point, you the person have now gone beyond your own physical form and have entered into the spiritual.
This is sometimes termed being “lost on the wings of the spirit.
Whereby, by the time the moanings and groanings are happening, it is no longer possible for you to speak (utter any words) anymore, whether in your own known language or in tongues.
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March 13, 2023 at 5:03 am
The passage so often quoted from Romans (Rom. 8:26) has absolutely nothing to do with “tongues”.
As one writer puts it (better than I can)…. “The burden of the text is that the Spirit counterbalances the handicap of believers in prayer by interceding for them in accordance with God’s will. The hope of believers is also strengthened by the assistance of the Holy Spirit.”
As to whether or not Paul sort of ‘encodes’ a statement about tongues….Since Biblical ‘tongues’ refers to real language, it’s rather unlikely. To equate this passage with modern tongues because “groaning” is akin to how some Charismatics and Pentecostals describe the modern tongues experience, would require jumping through some interpretive hoops.”
I have never heard modern tongues presenting as anything but very audible glossic strings; never as groaning.
This verse is typically taken completely out of context from the rest of the passage and offered as yet another Biblical “proof” of modern tongues-speech. Another example of the Pentecostal/Charismatic synthesis of trying to make sense of the “tongues experience” in light of the narrative of Scripture; a reading into the text of something that’s just not there.
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September 2, 2023 at 5:10 pm
Thats a tough one. All i can think of is that the Spirit intercedes in and thru us w intercessions so deep that they cant even be uttered or spoken.
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