Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
Parallel translations
- WEB Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
- KJV And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
- NKJV Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
- NASB And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.
- NLT Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
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
Very early, Jesus withdraws alone to a deserted place to pray. Even amid demanding ministry, He prioritizes communion with the Father.
Overview
Despite the previous night's success, Jesus rises before dawn to seek God in solitude. This shows the Son's dependence on the Father and the centrality of prayer to His mission. For believers, it models the necessity of prayer to sustain faithful service and right priorities.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Luke 6:12In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.
- Luke 5:16Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
- Luke 22:39–46Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.
- Eph 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints.
- Ps 5:3In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.
- John 6:15Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
- Heb 5:7During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.
- Matt 14:23After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,
- Mark 6:46–48After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.
- Luke 4:42–43At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving.
- Phil 2:5Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus:
- John 4:34Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.
- Ps 109:4In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 1:35 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.