Lexical Summary stenagmos: Groaning, Sighing Original Word: στεναγμός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance groaning. From stenazo; a sigh -- groaning. see GREEK stenazo HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 4726 stenagmós – groaning (sighing), especially brought on by circumstances creating great pressure. See 4727 (stenazō). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom stenazó Definition a groaning NASB Translation groanings (1), groans (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4726: στεναγμόςστεναγμός, στεναγμοῦ, ὁ (στενάζω), a groaning, a sigh: Acts 7:34; Romans 8:26; see ἀλάλητος. ((Pindar), Tragg., Plato, Josephus, Plutarch, others; the Sept. for אֲנָחָה, אֲנָקָה, נְאָקָה.) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 4726 portrays the deep, visceral sound that erupts when pain, longing, or holy desire presses beyond the limits of normal speech. The term gathers together the groans of an enslaved nation and the inexpressible sighs of the Holy Spirit, thereby spanning redemptive history from Exodus deliverance to New-Covenant intercession. Old Testament Background While 4726 itself appears only in the Greek New Testament, its concept is rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures. Israel’s great cry from Egypt (Exodus 2:23) is described in the Septuagint with a cognate word, locating groaning at the birth of national redemption. The motif recurs in Psalms and Lamentations, where righteous sufferers sigh under affliction yet trust the covenant faithfulness of God. Thus by the time the New Testament writers employ 4726, readers are primed to hear echoes of bondage, longing, and the promise of divine intervention. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Acts 7:34 – Israel’s groaning under Pharaoh Stephen recounts the Exodus: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them” (Acts 7:34). Here the word captures collective anguish. It is not mere complaint but the Spirit-prompted cry that moves God to act in accordance with His covenant. The past tense “have heard” underscores that no groan of His people ever escapes His notice. 2. Romans 8:26 – The Spirit’s groaning within believers “In 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” (Romans 8:26). The focus shifts from external oppression to internal weakness. Human inability to articulate perfect petitions is met by divine intercession so profound that language fails. The groaning here is not frustration; it is the Spirit’s flawless prayer, perfectly aligned with the Father’s will (Romans 8:27). Intertextual Development Romans 8 sets stenagmos in a triad of groans: creation “groans together” (Romans 8:22), believers “groan inwardly” (Romans 8:23, using a related term), and the Spirit groans on their behalf (Romans 8:26). The progression moves from cosmic to personal to divine, revealing a unified movement toward final redemption. Acts 7 looks back to the first Exodus; Romans 8 looks ahead to the final one when bodies are redeemed. In both frames, groaning precedes glorious deliverance. Theological Significance • Divine Sympathy and Initiative: God’s response in Acts 7 demonstrates that He is neither passive nor distant. He sees, hears, and comes down. Romans 8 deepens this by showing that God the Spirit actually resides within believers, transforming their weakness into effective prayer. Pastoral and Practical Applications 1. Prayer When Words Fail Seasons arise when grief, confusion, or persecution muzzle articulate prayer. Romans 8:26 authorizes believers to rest in silent dependence, confident that the Spirit is pleading their case more perfectly than they could ever manage. 2. Ministry to the Oppressed Acts 7:34 charges the church to hear the groans of the marginalized. Gospel-shaped ministry listens, laments, and labors for deliverance, echoing the Lord who “came down to deliver.” 3. Worship that Embraces Lament Congregational worship should make space for holy groaning. Psalms of lament, reflective silence, and corporate intercession embody the biblical pattern and guard against triumphalism. 4. Counseling Suffering Saints The counselor may assure sufferers that sighs released in faith are not wasted breath but Spirit-interpreted petitions. This truth fortifies endurance and anchors hope. Historical Witness of the Church Early church fathers saw in Romans 8:26 a safeguard against Pelagian self-reliance, stressing the necessity of grace even in prayer. Reformers drew comfort from the verse amid persecution, while Puritans developed rich devotional literature on “spiritual sighs.” Modern missions narratives frequently link the oppressed crying out to God with subsequent gospel breakthroughs, mirroring the Exodus pattern. Summary Strong’s 4726 gathers up the groans of Exodus and the sighs of the Spirit, teaching that God hears, God feels, and God acts. Until the day creation’s travail gives way to resurrection glory, every faithful groan remains both a confession of need and a proclamation of certain deliverance. Forms and Transliterations στεναγμοί στεναγμοις στεναγμοίς στεναγμοῖς στεναγμόν στεναγμός στεναγμου στεναγμού στεναγμοῦ στεναγμόυ στεναγμους στεναγμώ stenagmois stenagmoîs stenagmou stenagmoûLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Acts 7:34 N-GMSGRK: καὶ τοῦ στεναγμοῦ αὐτῶν ἤκουσα NAS: AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN KJV: their groaning, and INT: and the groans of them heard Romans 8:26 N-DMP Strong's Greek 4726 |
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