Romans 8:16
in Romans 8The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God:
KJV
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
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This verse in Romans 8
Commentary
3 notes on this verseon Romans 8:16-17
MY brethren, what a contrast there is between the present and future estate of the child of God! The believer is here the brother to the worm; in heaven he shall be next of kin to the angels. Here he is covered with the sweat and dust which he acquired by Adam’s fall; there his brow shall be bright with the immortality which is conferred upon him by the resurrection of Christ.
This site's exposition
testifies with our spirit
on Romans 8:16-17
The Greek verb summartureo means to bear witness alongside, so two testimonies agree, the believer's own spirit and the Spirit of God. Being children makes them God's heirs and co-heirs with Christ. The heirs are glorified with Him if indeed they suffer with Him.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The one expresses the dignity to which we are admitted; the other the new life which we receive. The latter is more suitable here; because a son by adoption might not be heir of the property, whereas a son by birth certainly is, and this is what the apostle is now coming to.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| αὐτὸ | auto | Himself | G846 → | 5565 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | Spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| συμμαρτυρεῖ | summarturei | bears witness with | G4828 → | 3 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πνεύματι | pneumati | spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | of us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐσμὲν | esmen | we are | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| τέκνα | tekna | children | G5043 → | 99 times |
| θεοῦ. | theou | of God. | G2316 → | 1312 times |
αὐτὸHimself
autoG846 →5565 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεῦμαSpirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
συμμαρτυρεῖbears witness with
summartureiG4828 →3 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
πνεύματιspirit
pneumatiG4151 →378 times
ἡμῶνof us
hemonG3165 →1936 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐσμὲνwe are
esmenG1510 →2333 times
τέκναchildren
teknaG5043 →99 times
θεοῦ.of God.
theouG2316 →1312 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ephesians 1:13And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 1:22
placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 4:30
Through
Romans 8:26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:20
For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
- Ephesians 6:18
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Galatians 4:6
And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
- John 14:16
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—
- Jude 1:20–21
But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
- Matthew 10:20
Through
2 Corinthians 1:22placed His seal on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come.
it leads to
- Ephesians 1:13–14
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 1:13–14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies20
On this chapter
- Abba, Father
- The God Who Gets Named
- The Bronze Serpent
- Eternal Security, and the Five Warnings of Hebrews
- Firstfruits
- The Fruit of the Spirit
- How to Study the Bible
- Jesus on the Father
- Led by the Spirit
- The Messianic Psalms
- Predestination and Election
- The Tabernacle
- The Ascension: Acts 1:1-11 · Luke 24:50-53
- The Divided Self
- The Firstborn
- The Flesh
- The Groaning Creation
- The Right Hand
About Romans

This page draws on Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans; Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 339: “The Sons of God” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans.
