For indeed, in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,
Parallel translations
- WEB For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
- KJV For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
- BSB For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
- NKJV For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
- NLT We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul groans with longing to be clothed with the heavenly body. There is a deep yearning to put on immortality.
Overview
Using the imagery of being clothed, Paul expresses an earnest longing to receive the resurrection body 'from heaven.' The groaning reflects the tension of living in a frail, mortal body while awaiting glorification. This longing is a Spirit-given desire for the consummation of redemption.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Rom 8:23Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
- 1 Cor 15:53–54For this perishable body must become imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
- Phil 1:23But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
- Rom 7:24What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?
- 2 Cor 5:3–4if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.
- 1 Pet 1:6–7Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
In Christ all God's promises are 'Yes and Amen'; though rich, he became poor to make us rich, and in him God reconciles the world, making us new creations.
How 2 Corinthians 5:2 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.