Devine Scripture

Mark 14:36

What does Mark 14:36 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 14:36 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 14:36 means

Jesus prays, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me; howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.” He addresses God with childlike intimacy and sovereign reverence. He affirms God’s omnipotence, then pleads for the cup—symbol of suffering and judgment—to pass. Yet He yields His human will to the Father’s will. This is the heart of His obedience: He embraces the cross not because it is easy, but because it is right. In this submission, He becomes the perfect Savior, the true obedient Son who will drink the cup for many.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; take away this cup from me: but even so let not my pleasure, but yours be done.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he said, `Abba, Father; all things are possible to Thee; make this cup pass from me; but, not what I will, but what Thou.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he saith: Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: remove this chalice from me; but not what I will, but what thou wilt.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to thee: take away this cup from me; but not what I will, but what thou [wilt].

Context

This is the central prayer of Gethsemane, revealing Jesus’ relationship with the Father and His willing submission. It follows His falling to the ground and request for the hour to pass, and it precedes His return to find the disciples sleeping. The pattern of prayer, rebuke, and renewed prayer will repeat. These verses prepare readers to understand the arrest and trial not as a breakdown of God’s plan, but as the outworking of Jesus’ chosen obedience. Soon after, Judas will arrive with a crowd, and Jesus will yield to the Father’s will in action.

v.35And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.

v.36This passage

v.37And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?

Cross references

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

  • Jeremiah 32:27

    Behold, I am Jehovah, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?

  • John 5:30

    I can of myself do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is righteous; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

  • John 18:11

    Jesus therefore said unto Peter, Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

  • Hebrews 6:18

    that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:

  • John 4:34

    Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to accomplish his work.

  • Romans 8:15

    For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

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