And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
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.
- BSB Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
- 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 6:12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
- Luke 5:16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
- Luke 22:39–46And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
- Eph 6:18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
- Ps 5:3My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
- John 6:15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
- Heb 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
- Matt 14:23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
- Mark 6:46–48And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
- Luke 4:42–43And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
- Phil 2:5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
- John 4:34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
- Ps 109:4For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
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
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.