Romans 8:26

PLUS
Helpeth our infirmity (sunantilambanetai th asqeneiai hmwn). Present middle indicative of sunantilambanomai, late and striking double compound (Diodorus, LXX, Josephus, frequent in inscriptions, Deissmann, Light, etc., p. 87), to lend a hand together with, at the same time with one. Only twice in N.T., here and Luke 10:40 in Martha's plea for Mary's help. Here beautifully Paul pictures the Holy Spirit taking hold at our side at the very time of our weakness (associative instrumental case) and before too late. How to pray (to ti proseuxwmeqa). Articular clause object of oidamen (we know) and indirect question with the deliberative aorist middle subjunctive proseuxwmeqa, retained in the indirect question. As we ought (kaqo dei). "As it is necessary." How true this is of all of us in our praying. Maketh intercession (uperentugcanei). Present active indicative of late double compound, found only here and in later ecclesiastical writers, but entugcanw occurs in verse Luke 27 (a common verb). It is a picturesque word of rescue by one who "happens on" (entugcanei) one who is in trouble and "in his behalf" (uper) pleads "with unuttered groanings" (instrumental case) or with "sighs that baffle words" (Denney). This is work of our Helper, the Spirit himself.