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Romans 8:20
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjectedthe same in hope,

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Colossians 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, andbe not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard,and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

groaneth.

Psalm 48:6
Fear took hold upon them there,and pain, as of a woman in travail.

Jeremiah 12:11
They have made it desolate,and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layethit to heart.

John 16:21
A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

has been groaning together
The imagery of groaning suggests a deep, pervasive suffering and longing for redemption. This metaphorical language is often used in Scripture to describe the intense anticipation of deliverance (Exodus 2:23-24). The collective groaning implies a shared experience of suffering, resonating with the idea that creation is in a state of travail, awaiting restoration. This aligns with prophetic visions of a renewed creation, as seen inIsaiah 65:17-25.

in the pains of childbirth
This metaphor highlights both the intensity and the purpose of creation's suffering. Childbirth is a process that involves significant pain but ultimately results in new life. This suggests that the current suffering is not meaningless but is leading to a future hope and renewal. The imagery of childbirth is also used in other biblical contexts to describe the coming of God's kingdom (Isaiah 26:17-19,John 16:21-22), indicating that the present suffering will culminate in a new creation.

until the present time
This phrase situates the groaning of creation within the current era, emphasizing that this condition persists. It reflects the "already but not yet" tension of Christian eschatology, where believers experience the firstfruits of redemption but await its full realization (Hebrews 2:8-9). The present time is marked by the ongoing effects of sin, yet it is also a period of hope, as believers anticipate the fulfillment of God's promises (2 Peter 3:13).

Paul begins with a calm confidence: “We know” (Romans 8:22). Believers possess God-given certainty, not speculation. This phrase mirrors other settled truths: “We know that all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28), and “We know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God” (2 Corinthians 5:1). Such assurance rests on the trustworthiness of Scripture, so what follows is not guesswork but revealed fact.

The term embraces every part of the universe—earth, skies, seas, and every living creature.Genesis 1:31 reminds us that God originally declared all He made “very good,” yetGenesis 3:17-19 records how Adam’s sin drew the entire created order under a curse.Psalm 148 summons mountains, animals, and even weather to praise the Lord, underscoring that creation is more than scenery; it is a chorus waiting for full redemption. Nothing is excluded from the statement “the whole creation.”

“Groaning” pictures deep, inarticulate sighs, the kind heard in pain or longing.Isaiah 24:4-6 speaks of the earth languishing because of human rebellion, andHosea 4:3 notes how land and sea creatures mourn under sin’s burden. Earlier in this chapter, “creation was subjected to futility” (Romans 8:20), and in the next verse “we ourselves groan within ourselves” (Romans 8:23). Even the Spirit “intercedes for us with groans” (Romans 8:26). All these groans harmonize in one chorus of eager expectation.

The metaphor is striking: present agony is actually labor, not death throes. Jesus used the same image: “When a woman is in labor, she has pain… but when she delivers the child, she no longer remembers the anguish” (John 16:21). The labor pains Jesus called “the beginning” inMatthew 24:8 look forward to His return. Likewise, creation’s contractions anticipate “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13) and the final unveiling of “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1). Pain, therefore, is purposeful and hopeful.

These birth pains have continued nonstop “until now,” spanning Paul’s day and ours. The groaning has not lessened, confirming that the promised redemption is still future. YetPhilippians 3:20-21 assures us we await a Savior who will transform our lowly bodies, and1 John 3:2 adds that “when He appears, we shall be like Him.” Creation’s waiting period runs parallel to ours; both terminate in the same glorious unveiling.

Romans 8:22 pulls back the curtain on a universe in labor. Since sin entered, every corner of creation has sighed under its weight, yet those sighs are labor pains, not death rattles. The cosmos longs for the day Christ returns, believers are glorified, and all things are made new. Our own groans echo creation’s, but both are filled with hope because God’s sure promises guarantee that the pain will give way to joy.

Until now.--This consciousness of pain and imperfection has been continuous and unbroken (nor will it cease until an end is put to it by the Coming of Christ.)