And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.
Parallel translations
- WEB Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him.
- KJV And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
- NKJV And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.
- NASB And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to say in reply to Him.
- NLT When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say.
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
He returns to find them sleeping again, too drowsy to respond. Their repeated failure highlights human weakness in the decisive hour.
Overview
The disciples cannot keep watch even briefly, and shame leaves them speechless. Mark, likely drawing on Peter's own memory, records this candidly. The scene underscores that the disciples contribute nothing to the redemption Jesus alone will accomplish.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Rom 3:19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
- Gen 44:16“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
- Mark 9:33–34Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
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 14:40 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.