Mark 14:39

KJV

And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} again {G3825} he went away {G565}, and prayed {G4336}, and spake {G2036} the same {G846} words {G3056}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words;

Berean Standard Bible

Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.

American Standard Version

And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 14:39 details Jesus' second withdrawal and prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before His crucifixion. This verse powerfully conveys His profound spiritual agony and unwavering submission to the Father's will, as He returns to earnest supplication, repeating the very words He had uttered before. It highlights His perseverance in prayer amidst immense distress and His perfect obedience in the face of unimaginable suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of Jesus' Gethsemane experience, immediately following His initial prayer and His discovery of the disciples (Peter, James, and John) asleep. Mark 14:32-34 sets the scene, with Jesus entering Gethsemane and expressing His soul's "exceeding sorrow, even unto death." He then instructs His inner circle to "watch and pray." His first prayer, recorded in [Mark 14:36](/mark/14-36 "Mark 14:36 - Jesus' Prayer for the Cup to Pass"), reveals His desire for the "cup" of suffering to pass, yet always qualified by "nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt." Upon returning, He finds the disciples sleeping and gently rebukes Peter in [Mark 14:37-38](/mark/14-37-38 "Mark 14:37-38 - Disciples Fall Asleep"). Mark 14:39 thus marks a significant repetition, emphasizing Jesus' continued, solitary struggle and the disciples' repeated failure to remain vigilant, building the tension towards the impending betrayal and arrest.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting, the Garden of Gethsemane, was an olive grove at the foot of the Mount of Olives, a common place for Jesus and His disciples to retreat for prayer and rest. Its name, derived from Aramaic, means "oil press," perhaps symbolizing the crushing pressure Jesus was experiencing. This event occurs during the Passover week, a time of heightened spiritual and political tension in Jerusalem, where Jesus' arrest and execution were imminent. Jewish prayer traditions often involved repetition and earnest supplication, especially in times of great need, which Jesus here exemplifies. The "cup" metaphor, common in Old Testament prophetic literature (e.g., [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "Isaiah 51:17 - The Cup of God's Wrath")), signifies divine wrath, judgment, and suffering, underscoring the immense weight of the atonement that Jesus was contemplating.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 14:39 powerfully contributes to several key themes within the Gospel of Mark and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Perseverance in Prayer**, as Jesus models a profound and unwavering commitment to communion with God, even in the face of overwhelming distress. His repeated return to prayer, despite His disciples' inability to stay awake, underscores the importance of persistent and earnest supplication, especially during times of intense spiritual warfare or personal trial. Secondly, it profoundly illustrates **Submission to God's Will**. By praying "the same words," Jesus reaffirms His initial plea for the "cup" to pass, yet always with the ultimate, unwavering commitment to the Father's divine plan. This demonstrates perfect obedience, even when that obedience leads to unimaginable suffering, setting the supreme example for believers to align their desires with God's perfect and sovereign will, as seen throughout His ministry (e.g., [John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Does the Father's Will")). Finally, the verse underscores **Jesus' Full Humanity and Agony**. The repeated prayer, born out of deep anguish, vividly portrays Jesus' genuine experience of fear, sorrow, and distress as He contemplated the cross. This scene is crucial for understanding His identity as both fully God and fully man, making His subsequent sacrifice all the more profound and relatable.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **again (Greek, _pálin'_):** This adverb signifies repetition, meaning "anew" or "once more." In Mark 14:39, its use emphasizes that Jesus did not merely pray, but returned to the same act of prayer, reinforcing the intensity and persistence of His supplication. It highlights the cyclical nature of His struggle and His unwavering commitment to seeking God's will.
* **prayed (Greek, _proseúchomai'_):** Derived from "pros" (to, toward) and "euchomai" (to wish, to pray), this verb specifically means "to pray to God," implying supplication and worship. It denotes a deliberate, earnest act of communicating with the divine. Here, it underscores that Jesus' action was not a casual thought but a focused, intentional engagement with His Father, a deep spiritual communion.
* **words (Greek, _lógos'_):** This noun, from which we get "logic" and "word," refers to "something said," including the underlying thought, topic, or reasoning. In this context, "the same words" (with _autós_ "same") indicates that the content of Jesus' prayer remained consistent. It wasn't a new request or a change of heart, but a reaffirmation of His initial, agonizing plea and His ultimate submission, demonstrating a focused and unwavering spiritual resolve.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And again he went away":** This phrase signifies Jesus' deliberate act of separation, withdrawing from His disciples for a second time. The repetition of "went away" (implied from the previous verse and the use of "again") underscores His need for solitary communion with God during this intense spiritual struggle, highlighting the profound isolation of His suffering.
* **"and prayed":** This simple yet profound clause indicates the core activity. Jesus' response to His deep distress and the disciples' inability to watch was not despair or anger, but a return to earnest prayer. It reveals His unwavering reliance on His Father in His moment of greatest human weakness and spiritual agony.
* **"and spake the same words":** This is the pivotal element of the verse. The repetition of "the same words" emphasizes the consistency and intensity of Jesus' prayer. It was not a casual or changing request, but a fervent, focused plea born out of deep spiritual agony, reiterating His desire for the "cup" to pass, yet always in submission to the Father's will. This highlights His perseverance, His unwavering commitment to His initial petition, and ultimately, His perfect obedience.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 14:39 is rich with literary techniques that amplify its theological and emotional impact. The most prominent device is **Repetition**, evident in the phrase "again he went away" and "spake the same words." This structural repetition emphasizes the intensity of Jesus' spiritual struggle and His unwavering perseverance in prayer. It underscores that His agony was not a fleeting moment but a sustained, profound burden. This repetition also creates a powerful **Contrast** between Jesus' steadfast devotion and the disciples' repeated failure to stay awake, highlighting their human weakness against His divine strength and perfect obedience. Furthermore, the scene evokes a strong sense of **Pathos**, drawing the reader into Jesus' deep emotional and spiritual anguish. His repeated, agonizing prayer invites profound empathy for His human suffering as He confronts the weight of the world's sin. The entire Gethsemane narrative, including this verse, functions as **Foreshadowing**, preparing the reader for the ultimate sacrifice on the cross by revealing the immense cost and the depth of Jesus' commitment to His redemptive mission.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 14:39 stands as a profound theological statement on Christ's perfect humanity and His absolute submission to the divine will. In His repeated prayer, Jesus models the essence of true intercession: persistent, honest, and ultimately submissive to God's sovereign plan. His agony underscores the reality of the Incarnation—that the Son of God truly experienced the full spectrum of human suffering, including fear, sorrow, and the crushing weight of impending judgment. This moment is not a sign of weakness, but of His perfect obedience, demonstrating that even the Son, in His human nature, learned obedience through what He suffered, thereby becoming the author of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. It highlights the profound cost of redemption and the unwavering resolve of the Son to fulfill the Father's redemptive purpose, even unto death.

* [Hebrews 5:7-8](/hebrews/5-7-8 "Hebrews 5:7-8 - Christ's Prayers and Obedience")
* [Luke 22:42-44](/luke/22-42-44 "Luke 22:42-44 - Jesus' Agony and Angelic Strengthening")
* [Matthew 26:44](/matthew/26-44 "Matthew 26:44 - Jesus Prays a Third Time")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' repeated prayer in Gethsemane offers a profound model for our own spiritual lives, particularly when we face overwhelming challenges or deep spiritual distress. His example teaches us the vital importance of persistence in prayer, reminding us that we should not give up after a single request, but continue to bring our burdens, fears, and desires before God with earnestness and sincerity. Moreover, it calls us to cultivate a spirit of ultimate submission to God's will, even when His path for us involves suffering or goes against our immediate desires. Like Jesus, we are invited to pour out our hearts to God, expressing our truest feelings and struggles, knowing that He understands our weaknesses. Yet, our ultimate aim in prayer should always be to align our will with His, trusting that His perfect plan, though sometimes painful, is always for our ultimate good and His glory. This passage encourages us to embrace vulnerability in our relationship with God, finding strength and comfort not in the absence of struggle, but in His presence and sovereign control through it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you called to pray with greater persistence, even when answers are not immediately apparent?**
* **How can you cultivate a deeper spirit of submission to God's will, especially when it differs from your own desires or involves hardship?**
* **What does Jesus' vulnerability in Gethsemane teach you about expressing your own fears and struggles to God?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus pray the "same words" repeatedly?**

Answer: Jesus prayed the "same words" repeatedly not because He lacked faith or needed to convince God, but for several profound reasons. Firstly, it highlights the **intensity of His spiritual agony** and the profound burden He was carrying as He contemplated the "cup" of God's wrath and the weight of sin He was about to bear. His repeated plea underscores the depth of His human anguish. Secondly, it demonstrates His **perseverance in prayer**, modeling for us the importance of continuing to bring our petitions before God, even when the answer is not immediately clear or the struggle is prolonged. Finally, and most significantly, it emphasizes His **unwavering submission to the Father's will**. By repeating the same words, "nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt" ([Mark 14:36](/mark/14-36 "Mark 14:36 - Jesus' Prayer of Submission")), Jesus reaffirmed His ultimate commitment to obey God's plan, even though it meant immense suffering. This repetition underscores the deliberate and conscious choice He made to fulfill His redemptive mission.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 14:39, depicting Jesus' agonizing and repeated prayer in Gethsemane, is a pivotal moment that profoundly points to Christ's ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. His perfect submission, expressed in His willingness to drink the "cup" of suffering, was the essential prerequisite for His atoning work on the cross. This Gethsemane struggle was not a moment of weakness, but the ultimate demonstration of His perfect obedience as the second Adam, reversing the disobedience of the first Adam (cf. [Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of Christ")). By embracing the Father's will in such profound agony, Jesus became the sympathetic High Priest, one who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). His suffering here foreshadows the full weight of the sin He would bear, allowing Him to fully identify with humanity's pain and offer Himself as the spotless Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Thus, His repeated prayer for the "cup" to pass, culminating in His resolute submission, was the very act that secured our salvation, demonstrating that His obedience, even unto death on the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")), was the means by which He reconciled us to God and opened the way to eternal life for all who believe in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 26:42

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Matthew 26:44

And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

2 Corinthians 12:8

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Matthew 6:7

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Luke 18:1

¶ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;