Romans 8 22

Romans 8:22 kjv

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:22 nkjv

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Romans 8:22 niv

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Romans 8:22 esv

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.

Romans 8:22 nlt

For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Romans 8 verses

Romans 8 22 Meaning

Romans 8:22 articulates that the entirety of the created world, outside of humanity, is experiencing an ongoing collective suffering. This suffering is likened to the intense but anticipatory pains of childbirth, signifying a deep longing and hopeful expectation for deliverance and renewal. It is a shared travail, felt acutely throughout the present age, yearning for the promised redemption.

Romans 8 22 Context

Romans chapter 8 stands as a profound theological zenith, charting the glorious work of the Holy Spirit in securing salvation, freedom from condemnation, and the hope of future glory for believers. Verses 18-30 pivot from individual believer's experience to the broader cosmic scope of redemption. The immediate preceding verses (Rom 8:18-21) set the stage by emphasizing that present sufferings are overshadowed by future glory (v.18), and that creation itself anxiously awaits the revelation of God's children (v.19). It was subjected to "futility" (mataiotes) not by its own choice, but by God, in hope (v.20) that it too would be "liberated from its bondage to decay" (v.21). Romans 8:22 describes how this creation is waiting—through an audible groaning and labor pains. Paul's message counters both contemporary Stoic apathy towards suffering and pagan tendencies to deify creation, instead presenting it as a magnificent, yet presently marred, entity eagerly anticipating a Christ-centered renovation, echoing ancient Hebrew prophecies of a renewed earth after judgment.

Romans 8 22 Word analysis

• For we know that: The Greek phrase is οἴδαμεν γὰρ ὅτι (oidamen gar hoti). "For we know" expresses a deep conviction and shared understanding among believers. This isn't merely intellectual knowledge but experiential and spiritually discerned truth, aligning with other similar expressions in Paul's writings (e.g., Rom 8:28).
• the whole creation: πᾶσα ἡ κτίσις (pasa hē ktisis). "Pasa" means 'all' or 'whole'. "Ktisis" refers to creation, the created order. In this context, it refers to the non-human physical universe – animals, plants, earth, sky. This is distinct from humanity, who are addressed in v.23. It signifies that the effects of the Fall are cosmic, impacting the entirety of the natural world, not just human experience.
• groans: συστενάζει (sustenazei). A powerful word, from συν- (together with) and στενάζω (to sigh, to groan deeply). This means 'to groan together', indicating a shared, profound sighing of distress or longing. It’s an audible expression of deep-seated anguish and earnest expectation, echoing human suffering but projected onto the natural world itself. This personifies creation.
• and suffers the pains of childbirth: συνωδίνει (sunōdinei). Also contains συν- (together with) and ὠδίνω (to have birth pangs, travail). Thus, 'travails together' or 'is in labor pains together'. This is a vivid metaphor. Birth pains are intense, painful, and often long, but they are purposeful, anticipating a new birth, a glorious arrival. It suggests the current suffering is not futile destruction but a necessary, temporary process leading to ultimate renewal and life.
• together: The English translation adds "together" explicitly, although the συν- (sun-) prefix in both συστενάζει and συνωδίνει already conveys this shared, communal aspect of suffering among the entire creation.
• until now: ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν (achri tou nyn). This phrase indicates the continuous nature of this suffering. It has been happening since the Fall (the initial subjection to futility) and persists into the present moment. It implies a definitive end point for this groaning—the anticipated redemption—which is yet to come but is fervently awaited.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the whole creation groans and suffers": This pairing of verbs, systenazei kai synodinei, vividly describes creation's current state. The cosmic groaning signifies a deep, heartfelt yearning, while the labor pains add the dimension of hopeful anticipation. It’s not just random suffering but directed, expectant suffering, akin to a mother anticipating her child's birth despite the pain. The personification imbues the natural world with an active role in waiting for redemption, connecting it intrinsically to the human spiritual journey.
• "pains of childbirth together until now": This phrase ties the type of suffering (childbirth pains—intense, progressive, purposeful) to its scope ("together"—all of it, collectively) and duration ("until now"—ongoing, awaiting future climax). The "together" underscores that this is a universal phenomenon, an inherent part of the current corrupted state of the cosmos under the curse, but it carries the promise of new life.

Romans 8 22 Bonus section

The suffering of creation is not merely a consequence but a catalyst. By linking it to "birth pains," Paul elevates it beyond mere decay. These pains are designed to produce something new and magnificent, making creation an active, if unwitting, participant in the redemptive drama. This perspective challenges humanity to see creation not just as a resource, but as a co-sufferer and co-await-er of the future glory, fostering a deep respect and a call to stewardship aligned with God's ultimate restorative purpose. It refutes views that see the material world as inherently evil or disposable, asserting its fundamental goodness and its place in God's eternal plan for renewal. The universal groaning also signifies that even non-rational elements bear witness to the brokenness caused by sin and the urgent need for divine intervention, leaving all creation in hopeful anticipation of its ultimate liberation and glorious transformation into a new heaven and a new earth.

Romans 8 22 Commentary

Romans 8:22 presents a profound truth: the entire non-human created order participates in a cosmic struggle resulting from humanity's fall. This isn't a passive endurance but an active, audible "groaning" and "travail." Paul uses the metaphor of childbirth, a familiar experience across cultures, to convey the intensity, the necessity, and, crucially, the hopeful nature of this suffering. It implies that creation is not dying but entering a new phase of life. The "groaning together" suggests a solidarity in suffering, where creation and (as we'll see in v.23) believers are united in their eager anticipation. This cosmic longing points to God's ultimate plan not just for human salvation but for a holistic redemption that renews the entire physical cosmos. The "until now" indicates the ongoing duration of this state, stretching from the curse in Genesis until Christ's glorious return and the revelation of the children of God, when all will be made new.

• Practical Example: Imagine a beautifully wild garden, meticulously planned yet choked with weeds and parched from lack of rain, exhibiting signs of strain. The plants might "groan" for proper care, for water and light, but ultimately for the gardener to restore it to its intended glory. This suffering is not a death wish, but a longing for a glorious flourishing.