36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples: "Sit here while I go over there and pray." [26:37] Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be deeply distressed and overwhelmed with anguish. [26:38] Then he said to them: "My soul is overwhelmed with grief, deeply sorrowful to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch with me." [26:39] Going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me — yet not as I will, but as you will." [26:40] He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter: "So you were not strong enough to keep watch with me for one hour? [26:41] Keep watch and pray that you may not enter into trial. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." [26:42] Again, a second time, he went away and prayed: "My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." [26:43] He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. [26:44] So leaving them again, he went away and prayed a third time, saying the same words again. [26:45] Then he came to the disciples and said to them: "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look — the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners. [26:46] Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is near."
MAT 26:36-46
Jesus Prays at Gethsemane
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish thought, prayer was often a communal act, but Jesus’ withdrawal to pray alone reflects a deeply personal engagement with God. The term (to be deeply distressed) conveys not just emotional turmoil but a visceral, physical response to impending suffering. The metaphor of the 'cup' draws on Jewish prophetic imagery, where it symbolizes divine judgment or destiny (e.g., Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15). For Jesus, accepting the 'cup' signifies submission to God’s will, a theme central to Jewish piety. The disciples’ failure to 'watch' underscores their inability to grasp the gravity of the moment, a common motif in Matthew’s Gospel. Gethsemane, likely an olive grove, would have been familiar to Jesus’ followers as a place of solitude and reflection. The scene highlights the tension between human frailty and divine purpose, a struggle deeply rooted in Jewish narratives of faith and obedience.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MAT 26:36
- KJV
- Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
- BSB
- Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
- Koinōnos
- Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to the disciples: "Sit here while I go over there and pray.
MAT 26:37
- KJV
- And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
- BSB
- He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
- Koinōnos
- Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be deeply distressed and overwhelmed with anguish.
MAT 26:38
- KJV
- Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
- BSB
- Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
- Koinōnos
- Then he said to them: "My soul is overwhelmed with grief, deeply sorrowful to the point of death. Remain here and keep watch with me.
MAT 26:39
- KJV
- And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
- BSB
- Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
- Koinōnos
- Going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me — yet not as I will, but as you will.
MAT 26:40
- KJV
- And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
- BSB
- Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.
- Koinōnos
- He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He said to Peter: "So you were not strong enough to keep watch with me for one hour?
MAT 26:41
- KJV
- Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
- BSB
- “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
- Koinōnos
- Keep watch and pray that you may not enter into trial. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
MAT 26:42
- KJV
- He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
- BSB
- A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”
- Koinōnos
- Again, a second time, he went away and prayed: "My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.
MAT 26:43
- KJV
- And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
- BSB
- And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy.
- Koinōnos
- He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
MAT 26:44
- KJV
- And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
- BSB
- So He left them and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing.
- Koinōnos
- So leaving them again, he went away and prayed a third time, saying the same words again.
MAT 26:45
- KJV
- Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
- BSB
- Then He returned to the disciples and said, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
- Koinōnos
- Then he came to the disciples and said to them: "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look — the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being handed over into the hands of sinners.
MAT 26:46
- KJV
- Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
- BSB
- Rise, let us go! See, My betrayer is approaching!”
- Koinōnos
- Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is near.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 26:37
- to be deeply distressed.:The word translated 'to be deeply distressed' describes a state of extreme anguish, dismay, or being sorely troubled, often to the point of being puzzled or overwhelmed.
MAT 26:38
- <the>:The term used here for 'sorrowful' means to be profoundly sad or deeply grieved, emphasizing an overwhelming degree of sorrow.
MAT 26:39
- cup:While literally a 'cup' for drinking, this term is often used metaphorically in ancient literature to represent one's destiny, lot, or the suffering appointed to someone.
MAT 26:41
- temptation.:The word translated 'temptation' can refer to a trial or test, which may lead to either spiritual growth or failure, depending on one's response.