Romans 8:27

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

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Word by word — the Greek

Word	Greek	Strong’s	Meaning
And	δὲ de	G1161	but · conjunction
searcheth	ἐραυνῶν eraunōn	G2045	to seek · verb — present active participle, nominative singular masculine
hearts	καρδίας kardias	G2588	the heart · noun — accusative plural feminine
knoweth	εἴδω eídō	G1492	used only in certain past tenses
what	τί ti	G5101	an interrogative pronoun · interrogative pronoun — accusative singular neuter
mind	φρόνημα phronēma	G5427	(mental) inclination or purpose · noun — nominative singular neuter
Spirit	πνεύματος, pneumatos	G4151	a current of air · noun — genitive singular neuter
because	ὅτι hoti	G3754	demonstrative · conjunction
intercession	ἐντυγχάνει entugchanei	G1793	to chance upon · verb — present active indicative, 3rd person singular
for	ὑπὲρ huper	G5228	"over" · preposition
saints	ἁγίων.¶ hagiōn	G40	sacred (physically · adjective — genitive plural masculine
to	κατὰ kata	G2596	(prepositionally) down (in place or time) · preposition
God	θεὸν theon	G2316	figuratively · noun — accusative singular masculine, a title

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (James Strong, 1890/1894), public domain; digitized by Open Scriptures (CC BY-SA). KJV word tagging: eBible.org (public domain). Original-language text, parsing and brief lexicon: STEPBible.org data from Tyndale House, Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

Cross-references

Jeremiah 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh in…
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searchet…
Psalms 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Jeremiah 11:20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I…

Cross-references from OpenBible.info (CC BY), in the lineage of the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain).

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 8:26-28

The apostle here suggests two privileges more to which true Christians are entitled: - I. The help of the Spirit in prayer. While we are in this world, hoping and waiting for what we see not, we must be praying. Hope supposes desire, and that desire offered up to God is prayer; we groan. Now observe, 1. Our weakness in prayer: We know not what we should pray for as we ought. (1.) As to the matter of our requests, we know not what to ask. We are not competent judges of our own condition. Who knows what is good for a man in this life? Ecc 6:12. We are short-sighted, and very much biassed in favour of the flesh, and apt to separate the end from the way. You know not what you ask, Mat 20:22. We…

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Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 8:27

And--rather, "But," inarticulate though these groanings be. he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he--the Spirit maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God--As the Searcher of hearts, He watches the surging emotions of them in prayer, and knows perfectly what the Spirit means by the groanings which He draws forth within us, because that blessed Intercessor pleads by them only for what God Himself designs to bestow. Note, (1) Are believers "led by the Spirit of God" (Rom 8:14)? How careful then should they be not to "grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (Eph 4:30)! Compare Psa 32:8-9 : "I will . . . guide thee with Mine eye. Be not (t…

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Adam Clarke on Romans 8:27

He maketh intercession for the saints - The word εντυγχανω signifies to apply one's self to a person in behalf of another; to intercede or negotiate for. Our Lord makes intercession for us, by negotiating and managing, as our friend and agent, all the affairs pertaining to our salvation. And the Spirit of God makes intercession for the saints, not by supplication to God on their behalf, but by directing and qualifying their supplications in a proper manner, by his agency and influence upon their hearts; which, according to the Gospel scheme, is the peculiar work and office of the Holy Spirit. See Taylor. According to the will of God - Κατα Θεον· According to the mind, intention, or design of…

The Church Fathers

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in silence, the shouting of the saints is heard in the presence of God.
— Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 97.2

It is clear that the prayer of every spirit is known to God, from whom nothing is secret or hidden. How much more then should [the Father] know what the Holy Spirit, who is the same essence as himself, is saying?
— Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES

You see that all the good promptings which bring us to repentance result from the activity of the Spirit, and pure prayer, which brings all these good promptings to completion, is also stirred up in our soul as the result of the Spirit's activity. He too, in a hidden way, initially arouses us to groans at the memory of our sins.
— Philoxenus of Mabbug, ON THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Church Fathers: public-domain translations (Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers), verse-indexed by SermonIndex (CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary and topics

Christian — The name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were “brethren,”…
Comforter — The designation of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; R.V. marg., “or Advocate, or Helper; Gr. paracletos”). The same Greek word thus rendered is translated “Advocate” in 1 John 2:1 as…
Fellowship — (1.) With God, consisting in the knowledge of his will (Job 22:21; John 17:3); agreement with his designs (Amos 3:2); mutual affection (Rom. 8: 38, 39); enjoyment of his presence (Ps. 4:6);…
Intercession of the Spirit — (Rom. 8:26, 27; John 14:26). “Christ is a royal Priest (Zech. 6:13). From the same throne, as King, he dispenses his Spirit to all the objects of his care, while as Priest he intercedes for them. The…
Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or…
Saint — One separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ (Ps. 16:3; Rom. 1:7; 8:27; Phil. 1:1; Heb. 6:10). The “saints” spoken of in Jude 1:14…
Holy Spirit · 1:9,32,33;3:5,6,34;4:14;6:45,63;7:38,39;14:16,17,26;15:26;16:7-14;20:22; — 1:9,32,33;3:5,6,34;4:14;6:45,63;7:38,39;14:16,17,26;15:26;16:7-14;20:22;
Trinity · 1:2,4,5;2:33;10:36-38; — 1:2,4,5;2:33;10:36-38;

Dictionary: Easton's (1897) and Smith's (1863), public domain. Topics: Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's Topical Textbook (1897), public domain. Both as parsed by NEUU (CC BY 4.0).

Romans 8:27

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 8:26-28

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 8:27

Adam Clarke on Romans 8:27

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

Romans 8:27

Word by word — the Greek

Cross-references

Commentary

Matthew Henry on Romans 8:26-28

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 8:27

Adam Clarke on Romans 8:27

The Church Fathers

Dictionary and topics

John Gill on Romans 8:27

John Calvin on Romans 8:26-27

Tyndale Open Study Notes on Romans 8:26