Mark 14:36

“And he was saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; take this cup away from me; yet not what I want, but what you want.””

Mark 14:36 · direct translation from the Greek
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In Gethsemane, Jesus prays in anguish: not what I want, but what you wantPrayerJesus, greatly distressed, falls to the ground and prays: “take this cup away from me”Suffering and Trials

With the Greek beneath

36

Mark 14:36, word by word

he was sayingἔλεγενelegen

say

To express something in words to others.

Where else “elegen” appears
“AbbaΑββαAbba

Abba

Abba: an Aramaic word, "father".

Where else “Abba” appears
Fatherπατήρpatēr

Father

God, who gives life and cares for his own; the Father of Jesus.

Where else “patēr” appears
possibleδυνατάdynata

possible

Within reach: "nothing is beyond God".

Where else “dynata” appears
takeπαρένεγκεparenenke

take away

Make something pass by.

Where else “parenenke” appears
cupποτήριονpotērion

lot

What someone has to suffer.

Where else “potērion” appears
wantθέλωthelō

want

To have the desire or the resolve for something.

Where else “thelō” appears

Translation note

“Abba” is the Aramaic word for “father”; Mark translates it at once: “Father.”

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Gethsemane

Matthew 26:36-46Luke 22:39-46

See them side by side

Mark 14:32-42

32And they come to a place whose name is Gethsemane, and he says to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33And he takes Peter and James and John with him, and he began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34And he says to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” 35And going forward a little, he was falling on the ground and praying that if it is possible, the hour might pass from him. 36And he was saying, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you; take this cup away from me; yet not what I want, but what you want.” 37And he comes and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to keep watch one hour? 38Keep watch and pray, so that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh weak.” 39And again going away, he prayed, saying the same words. 40And again coming, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer him. 41And he comes the third time and says to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come; look, the Son of Man is handed over into the hands of sinners. 42Get up, let us go; look, the one who hands me over has come near.”

Matthew 26:36-46

36Then Jesus comes with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he says to the disciples, “Sit here while I go away there and pray.” 37And taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then he says to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with me.” 39And going forward a little, he fell on his face praying and saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not as I want, but as you want.” 40And he comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, “So you were not able to keep watch with me one hour? 41Keep watch and pray, so that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh weak.” 42Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, let your will be done.” 43And coming again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44And leaving them again, he went away and prayed a third time, saying the same words again. 45Then he comes to the disciples and says to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Look, the hour has come near, and the Son of Man is handed over into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us go; look, the one who hands me over has come near.”

Luke 22:39-46

39And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him. 40And when he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and kneeling down he was praying, 42saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; yet not my will, but yours, be done.” 43And an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44And being in anguish, he was praying more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground. 45And rising from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow. 46And he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

The context

35And going forward a little, he was falling on the ground and praying that if it is possible, the hour might pass from him.

36 · This verse (above)

37And he comes and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to keep watch one hour?

Read all of Mark 14

To study Mark 14 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What did Jesus do with the bread and the cup at the meal, and what did he say (vv. 22–24)?

  2. 2. What it means

    Why did Jesus pray in Gethsemane, “not what I want, but what you want” (vv. 32–36)?

  3. 3. How I live it

    The disciples fell asleep while Jesus prayed (vv. 37–41). How can you stay with someone who is going through a hard time?

How to use it