Devine Scripture

Luke 22:45

What does Luke 22:45 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 22:45 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 22:45 means

Rising from prayer, Jesus returns to find the disciples sleeping, overwhelmed by sorrow. Their grief is real, but it lulls them into vulnerability rather than driving them to prayer. The contrast with Jesus’ earnest wrestling is stark. They cannot keep watch even for an hour. This failure foreshadows their impending flight and Peter’s denial. Yet Jesus responds not with harshness but with an urgent call to rise and pray. The verse shows how spiritual weariness can masquerade as sorrow and still leave us unguarded. It underscores our need for grace to do even the simplest obedience. The disciples’ slumber becomes a mirror for all who are heavy-hearted yet prayerless in the hour of trial.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And, getting up from prayer, he came to the disciples, and saw that they were sleeping for sorrow.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And having risen up from the prayer, having come unto the disciples, he found them sleeping from the sorrow,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And when he rose up from prayer and was come to the disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And rising up from his prayer, coming to the disciples, he found them sleeping from grief.

Context

Following His intense prayer and angelic strengthening, Jesus finds His companions asleep instead of interceding. He will exhort them once more to rise and pray to avoid temptation. As He speaks, the crowd led by Judas arrives, shifting the scene from inward struggle to outward betrayal and conflict. The disciples’ failure to watch prepares the reader to understand their confused and impulsive responses during the arrest and Peter’s later denial.

v.44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

v.45This passage

v.46and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 14:40

    And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him.

  • Matthew 26:43

    And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

  • Mark 14:37

    And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?

  • Matthew 26:40

    And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

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.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Luke 22:45.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary