The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Parallel translations
- WEB The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
- BSB The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
- NKJV The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
- NASB The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
- NLT For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
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
The Spirit Himself confirms to our spirit that we are God's children. God gives believers inward assurance of their adoption.
Overview
Paul describes the Spirit's witness, a deep inner confirmation of our standing as children of God. This testimony works alongside our own spirit, giving believers assurance grounded in God Himself. Such assurance is a gracious provision strengthening confidence in our relationship with the Father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 1 Jn 4:13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
- 2 Cor 1:22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
- 2 Cor 5:5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
- Eph 1:13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
- Rom 8:26Likewise 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.
- 1 Jn 3:19–22And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
- Eph 4:30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
- 2 Cor 1:12For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
- Rom 8:23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
- 1 Jn 5:10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
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
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 8:16 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.