Luke 22:43
What does Luke 22:43 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 22:43 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 22:43 means
An angel from heaven appears to strengthen Jesus. The Father does not remove the cup, but He supplies help to bear it. This strengthening affirms the rightness of Jesus’ submission and the necessity of the path He must walk. Heaven recognizes the magnitude of the moment. The Son, truly human, is ministered to in His weakness. Divine assistance does not cancel agony; it enables fidelity through it. The scene echoes earlier wilderness temptations where angels ministered to Him, showing continuity in trial and support. The presence of the angel underscores that what happens in Gethsemane is of cosmic import, attended by heaven, ordained by God, and sustained by grace, even as Jesus moves inexorably toward arrest and crucifixion.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And an angel from heaven came to him, to give him strength.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And there appeared to him a messenger from heaven strengthening him;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And an angel appeared to him from heaven strengthening him.
Context
Right after Jesus prays for the Father’s will to be done, divine aid arrives. The angel’s strengthening prepares Him for intensified prayer and agony described in the next verse. Shortly after, Jesus will return to His disciples and find them sleeping, then urge them again to pray. The garden episode thus alternates between heavenly help to the praying Lord and the earthly weakness of sleepy followers, culminating in the arrival of Judas and the arresting crowd.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 10:16
And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.
- Hebrews 1:6
And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
- Acts 18:23
And having spent some time there, he departed, and went through the region of Galatia, and Phrygia, in order, establishing all the disciples.
- Deuteronomy 3:28
But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.
- Matthew 4:6
and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.
- 1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Luke 22
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 22.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Communion
Communion, often called the Lord's Supper, is a sacred practice remembering Jesus' sacrifice and looking forward to His return.
Topic
Bible Verses About Covenant
God’s covenant is a sacred agreement between Him and His people, demonstrating His unchanging faithfulness and redemptive plan for humanity.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Will of God
Understanding and following God's will is crucial for every believer seeking a life of purpose and divine fellowship
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for Anxiety Before a Job Interview
Quiet your nerves and walk in with steady steps — six verses to pray on the way.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Prayer Feels Empty
When the words won't come — scripture for the dry prayer life.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Forgotten by God
When the prayers feel one-sided — verses for the quiet seasons.