Romans 8:23 BSB — MannaFest

Romans 8:23

Not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

KJV

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

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Commentary

2 voices

Ambrose of Milan

Letter 35 (397)

This adoption of sons is the redemption of the whole body, when he who is to be the son of God by adoption shall see face to face that Divine and Eternal Good; for there is the adoption of sons in the Church of God, when the Spirit cries, Abba, Father, as it is written to the Galatians. But this will be perfected when all shall rise again in incorruption power and glory who are counted worthy to see the Face of God, for then the human race will judge itself to be truly redeemed.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

So at the general resurrection, when the body itself is redeemed from death, the sons of God shall be publicly owned by him in the great assembly of men and angels. The redemption of our body - From corruption to glory and immortality.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

It is our having received the first-fruits of the Spirit, which both quickens our desires and encourages our hopes, and both ways raises our expectations. The first-fruits did both sanctify and ensure the lump. Grace is the first-fruits of glory, it is glory begun.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

And not only they - Not only the creation in general. “But ourselves also.” Christians. Which have the first-fruits of the Spirit - The word used ἀπαρχὴ aparchē denotes properly the first-fruits of the harvest, the portion that was first collected and consecrated to God as an offering of gratitude, Deu 26:2; Exo 23:19; Num 18:13. Hence, the word means what is first in order of time.

Modern Voices1 voice

Tony Evans

"The Language of Prayer" (blog post, TonyEvans.org) (2026)

The groaning of a mother in labor is both bad and good news. The bad news is that this is going to hurt. The good news is that something is going to happen.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

24 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
οὐ	ou	Not	G3756 →
μόνον	monon	only [so]	G3441 →
δέ,	de	now,	G1161 →
ἀλλὰ	alla	but	G235 →
καὶ	kai	even	G2532 →
αὐτοὶ	autoi	ourselves	G846 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
ἀπαρχὴν	aparchēn	firstfruit	G536 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
πνεύματος	pneumatos	Spirit	G4151 →
ἔχοντες	echontes	having	G2192 →
ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	we ourselves	G3165 →
καὶ	kai	also	G2532 →
αὐτοὶ	autoi	ourselves	G846 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
ἑαυτοῖς	he'autois	ourselves	G1438 →
στενάζομεν	stenazomen	groan	G4727 →
υἱοθεσίαν	huiothesian	divine adoption as sons	G5206 →
ἀπεκδεχόμενοι,	apekdechomenoi	awaiting,	G553 →
τὴν	tēn	the	G3588 →
ἀπολύτρωσιν	apolutrōsin	redemption	G629 →
τοῦ	tou	of the	G3588 →
σώματος	sōmatos	body	G4983 →
ἡμῶν.	hēmōn	of us.	G3165 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:19
  Do not extinguish the Spirit.
- Isaiah 63:10
  But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.
- 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,
- Acts 7:51
  You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.
Through
Titus 2:13
as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:8
  From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who…
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
Hebrews 9:28
so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
leads to
- Titus 2:13
  as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 2:24
  He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.”
- Isaiah 25:9
  And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us…