Romans 8:22 Meaning and Explanation
“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →All creation groans together as in the pains of childbirth, awaiting renewal.
What Does Romans 8:22 Mean?
Paul gathers the thought into a vivid image. The whole creation groans and labors in pain together, like a woman in childbirth, and has done so until now. The travail is shared across all things and continues into the present.
The image of labor pains is full of hope as well as anguish. The groaning of creation is not the moan of mere despair but the travail that precedes birth, the prelude to new life. Something is being brought forth. The pain is real, yet it is purposeful, pointing toward the renewal of all things. As creation labors, so do we, and both await the deliverance that God will surely bring through Christ.
Romans 8:22 in the Original Language
systenazo (συστενάζω), 'groaneth together' -- to groan in company, all creation sighing as one.
Frequently Asked Questions About Romans 8:22
What does Romans 8:22 mean?
All creation groans together as in the pains of childbirth, awaiting renewal.