Romans 8:26

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Ver. 26. Helpeth our infirmities ] Lifts with us and before us in our prayers. Or helpeth us as the nurse helpeth her little child, upholding it by the sleeve. ( συναντιλαμβανεται . Beza.)

For we know not what, &c. ] The flesh with her murmurings maketh such a din that we can hardly hear the voice of the Spirit, mixing with the flesh’s roarings and repinings, his praying, sighs, and sobbings.

But the Spirit itself ] Prayer is the breath of the Spirit, who doth super expostulate for us, υπερεντυγχανει , inditing our prayers. We cannot so much as suspirare, a sigh unless he do first inspirare, breathe out a sigh for sin, if he breathe it not into us.

With groanings that cannot be uttered ] He that would have unspeakable joy,1 Peter 1:8; 1 Peter 1:8 , must by the Spirit stir up unutterable groanings.