For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
Parallel translations
- WEB For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.
- KJV For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- NKJV For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- NASB For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
- NLT As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.
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
Paul says he is already being poured out as a drink offering, for the time of his departure has come. He faces death with calm acceptance as an offering to God.
Overview
Using sacrificial imagery, Paul describes his impending death as a libation poured out to God. 'Departure' is a gentle term for dying, likely by execution in Rome. This poignant verse shows a faithful servant facing the end of life with peace and surrender to God's will.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Phil 1:23I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
- Phil 2:17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
- Josh 23:14Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your heart and soul that not one of the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Everything was fulfilled for you; not one promise has failed.
- 2 Pet 1:14–15because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
- Num 27:12–17Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites.
- Gen 48:21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
- Gen 50:24Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
- Deut 31:14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, so that I may commission him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting.
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
Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.
How 2 Timothy 4:6 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.