The term "groaned" in the Bible often signifies a deep, visceral expression of distress, longing, or spiritual burden. It is used in various contexts, reflecting both human and divine responses to suffering, sin, and the anticipation of redemption.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, groaning is frequently associated with the suffering and oppression of God's people. In Exodus 2:23, the Israelites groaned under the harsh bondage of Egypt: "After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned because of their difficult labor, and they cried out, and their cry for help because of the difficult labor ascended to God." Here, groaning is a cry for deliverance, a poignant expression of the Israelites' desperate need for divine intervention.

The Psalms also capture the groaning of the righteous in times of distress. In Psalm 6:6, David laments, "I am weary from my groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears." This groaning is a manifestation of deep sorrow and repentance, seeking God's mercy and relief from suffering.

Prophetic Literature

The prophets often use groaning to describe the lament of a nation under judgment or the anticipation of future redemption. In Isaiah 24:7, the prophet describes the earth mourning and groaning under the weight of sin: "The new wine dries up, the vine withers. All the merrymakers groan." This imagery conveys the profound impact of sin on creation and humanity, highlighting the need for divine restoration.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, groaning takes on a more eschatological dimension, reflecting the tension between present suffering and future glory. In Romans 8:22-23, Paul writes, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time. 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." Here, groaning is linked to the hope of redemption and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises.

The Apostle Paul also speaks of personal groaning in 2 Corinthians 5:2, where he expresses a longing for the heavenly dwelling: "For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling." This groaning reflects the believer's desire for the eternal and the perfect, contrasting the temporal and the imperfect nature of earthly existence.

Divine Groaning

Interestingly, the concept of groaning is not limited to human experience. In John 11:33, Jesus Himself is described as groaning in spirit at the death of Lazarus: "When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled." This groaning signifies Jesus' profound empathy and His confrontation with the reality of death, underscoring His role as the compassionate Savior.

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, groaning serves as a powerful expression of the human condition in a fallen world, the anticipation of divine intervention, and the hope of future glory. It reflects the deep longing for God's presence, justice, and ultimate redemption, resonating with believers across the ages as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life.(imp. & p. p.) of Groan.

The Fulfilment
... "It is like her"like her!" he groaned. ... "How can I receive Him, when He sent her from
me?" the unhappy man groaned, unconscious of his contradictions. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxiii the fulfilment.htm

The Good Samaritan. Lk 10:33-35
... When sorely wounded, nearly slain; Like that poor man I bleeding lay,. And groaned
for help, but groaned in vain. Men saw me in this helpless case,. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 99 the good samaritan.htm

And the Fame of Antony came Even unto Kings. ...
... in a vision. Once as he was sitting and working, he fell, as it were, into
a trance, and groaned much at what he saw. Then after ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/life of antony section 81.htm

The Displeasure of Jesus.
... When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with
her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled."John 11:33. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the displeasure of jesus.htm

Chapter xii.
... He says on one occasion, "Damsel, arise;" [114] on another, "Young man, [115] I
say unto thee, Arise;" [116] and when on another occasion He groaned in the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xii.htm

Jesus the Resurrection and Life.
... When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with
her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid ...
/.../xxiii jesus the resurrection and.htm

John xi. 30, 31
... Then rebuking those feelings, (for He "groaned [1737] in spirit" meaneth, "restrained
His trouble,") He asked,. Ver.34. "Where have ye laid him?". ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxiii john xi 30.htm

Per??a to Bethany. Raising of Lazarus.
... hurt at his not coming sooner, as he could have done.] 33 When Jesus therefore saw
her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, he groaned in the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xciii peraea to bethany raising.htm

Narrative of Events at Alexandria in the Time of Lucius the Arian ...
... this, the heavens stood astonished." [747]. The whole city groaned, and
is lamenting to this day. Some men beating on their breast ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xix narrative of events at.htm

Our Last ChapterConcluded with the Words, "For Childhood and Youth ...
... We have turned from them, and tried the purer, higher pleasures of the intellect
and reason, and groaned to find them equally unsatisfying. ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter xii our last chapter.htm

Groaned (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Groaned (7 Occurrences). Mark 7:34 and looking up to heaven
he groaned, and says to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. (DBY). ...
/g/groaned.htm - 8k

Groan (32 Occurrences)
... John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with
her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, (Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS ...
/g/groan.htm - 21k

Groaneth (1 Occurrence)

/g/groaneth.htm - 6k

Groans (9 Occurrences)
... strengthened the arms of the king of Babylon, And I have given My sword into his
hand, And I have broken the arms of Pharaoh, And he hath groaned the groans of ...
/g/groans.htm - 8k

Moaning (9 Occurrences)
... I drench my couch with my tears. (See RSV). Psalms 38:8 I am faint and sore bruised:
I have groaned by reason of the disquietness of my heart. (See JPS). ...
/m/moaning.htm - 8k

Bitter (203 Occurrences)
... They represented the severity of the servitude under which the people groaned; and
have been regarded also as typical of the sufferings of Christ. ...
/b/bitter.htm - 42k

Benumbed (1 Occurrence)
... Benumbed (1 Occurrence). Psalms 38:8 I am faint and sore bruised: I have groaned
by reason of the disquietness of my heart. (See JPS NAS). ...
/b/benumbed.htm - 6k

Badly (14 Occurrences)
... (BBE NAS RSV NIV). Psalms 38:8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned
by reason of the anguish of my heart. (See NAS). Isaiah ...
/b/badly.htm - 10k

Bruised (36 Occurrences)
... saveth. (YLT). Psalms 38:8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned
by reason of the anguish of my heart. (WEB ASV). Psalms ...
/b/bruised.htm - 18k

Tumult (56 Occurrences)
... (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV). Psalms 38:8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have
groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart. (See RSV). ...
/t/tumult.htm - 23k

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