Mark 14:38

“Keep watch and pray, so that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh weak.””

Mark 14:38 · direct translation from the Greek
Study it in the app

With the Greek beneath

38

Mark 14:38, word by word

Keep watchγρηγορεῖτεgrēgoreite

be alert

To be alert and ready for when the Lord comes.

Where else “grēgoreite” appears
prayπροσεύχεσθεproseuchesthe

pray

Pray: speak with God.

Where else “proseuchesthe” appears
comeἔλθητεelthēte

come

To move to where someone is or to a place, and be present there.

Where else “elthēte” appears
temptationπειρασμόνpeirasmon

temptation

Something that pushes you to sin.

Where else “peirasmon” appears
the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma

spirit

A person's spirit, their inner self.

Where else “pneuma” appears
willingπρόθυμονprothymon

willing

Willing, eager.

Where else “prothymon” appears
the fleshσὰρξsarx

mortal

Human beings, frail and mortal.

Where else “sarx” appears
weakἀσθενήςasthenēs

weak

Lacking strength or firmness; frail.

Where else “asthenēs” appears

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

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

38 · This verse (above)

39And again going away, he prayed, saying the same words.

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