στενάζω

I groan

Definition

The verb στενάζω means to groan, sigh, or express deep inward emotion, often involuntarily. It primarily conveys a profound sense of grief, distress, or burden, as seen in Romans 8:23 where believers 'groan' inwardly while awaiting redemption. It can also express a deep longing or desire, such as the yearning for a heavenly dwelling in 2 Corinthians 5:2, 4. In a few instances, it denotes a sigh of compassion or earnest prayer, as when Jesus 'sighed' in Mark 7:34 before healing a deaf man.

Biblical Usage

This word is used six times in the New Testament, appearing in Gospels, Pauline epistles, and a general epistle. It consistently describes an inward, often inarticulate, expression of deep feeling. In Romans 8:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:2, 4, Paul uses it for the spiritual longing of Christians. In Hebrews 13:17 and James 5:9, it describes the burden of leadership and the grievance of believers against one another. Jesus’s compassionate sigh in Mark 7:34 shows its use in a healing context.

Etymology

Derived from the root στενός (stenos), meaning 'narrow' or 'constricted.' The verb στενάζω literally conveys the idea of being pressed in or constrained, giving rise to the figurative sense of groaning under pressure. It is related to the noun στεναγμός (stenagmos, G4726), also meaning 'groaning.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it captures the tension of the 'already but not yet' of Christian existence. The groaning of creation and believers (Romans 8:22-23) points to the present reality of suffering and the future hope of redemption. It validates deep, inexpressible longing as a legitimate part of the spiritual life, connecting human experience to the Spirit's own intercession with 'groanings too deep for words' (Romans 8:26).

In the Greco-Roman world, groaning was a recognized, sometimes public, expression of profound grief, pain, or desire. Unlike some modern contexts where stoicism is valued, such vocal expressions were culturally acceptable as genuine responses to suffering or deep yearning. Jesus’s sigh in Mark 7:34 may also reflect a common gesture of earnest prayer or compassion in that setting.

ἐπιποθέω (epipotheō, G1971) — focuses on intense longing or yearning, less on the audible expression of grief. στενάζω emphasizes the inward pressure and its outward sound.

Word Details

Scripture References