He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour?
Parallel translations
- KJV And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
- BSB Then Jesus returned and found them sleeping. “Simon, are you asleep?” He asked. “Were you not able to keep watch for one hour?
- NKJV Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?
- NASB And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
- NLT Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?
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
Jesus finds the three sleeping and gently rebukes Peter for failing to watch one hour. The contrast between his vigilance and their weakness is striking.
Overview
Having boasted of his loyalty, Peter cannot even stay awake. Jesus' question exposes how the spirit's willingness is undermined by the flesh's weakness. His tender yet pointed words call disciples to wakeful dependence on God rather than self-confidence.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 26:40He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?
- Mark 14:29–31But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.”
- 2 Sam 16:17Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your kindness to your friend? Why didn’t you go with your friend?”
- Matt 25:5Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept.
- Luke 22:45–46When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of grief,
- Luke 9:31–32who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
- Heb 12:3For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
- Mark 14:40–41Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him.
- 1 Th 5:6–8so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober.
- Jer 12:5“If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? Though in a land of peace you are secure, yet how will you do in the pride of the Jordan?
- Jonah 1:6So the ship master came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”
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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 14:37 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.