And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
Parallel translations
- WEB He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you 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 26:40And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
- Mark 14:29–31But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
- 2 Sam 16:17And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
- Matt 25:5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
- Luke 22:45–46And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
- Luke 9:31–32Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
- Heb 12:3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
- Mark 14:40–41And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
- 1 Th 5:6–8Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
- Jer 12:5If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
- Jonah 1:6So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
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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.