Devine Scripture

Luke 22:46

What does Luke 22:46 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 22:46 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 22:46 means

Jesus asks, “Why sleep ye?” and commands, “rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.” He does not indulge their sorrow; He calls them to action. The imperative repeats the earlier warning, underscoring prayer as the shield against the imminent testing. The time for sleep has ended; the enemy approaches. Jesus, who has secured victory in prayer, summons His friends to the same path. The verse captures the urgency of spiritual vigilance and the grace in Christ’s repeated invitations. Even now, before the arrest, there is opportunity to stand by faith. The Lord’s care persists despite their weakness; He keeps exhorting them to the one thing needful as events rush upon them.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, Why are you sleeping? Get up, and give yourselves to prayer, so that you may not be put to the test.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he said to them, `Why do ye sleep? having risen, pray that ye may not enter into temptation.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he said to them: Why sleep you? Arise: pray: lest you enter into temptation.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said to them, Why sleep ye? rise up and pray that ye enter not into temptation.

Context

After discovering the disciples sleeping for sorrow, Jesus again urges them to rise and pray. In the very next verse, while He is still speaking, Judas arrives with a multitude to betray Him with a kiss. The transition is abrupt, moving from exhortation to confrontation. The disciples’ lack of prayer will soon manifest in rash use of the sword and eventual flight, while Jesus, fortified by prayer, meets the arrest with composure and healing mercy.

v.45And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow,

v.46This passage

v.47While he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them; and he drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 21:34

    But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:

  • Luke 22:40

    And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

  • Proverbs 6:4

    Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber to thine eyelids;

  • Jonah 1:6

    So 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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