Mark 14:40

Verse

And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.

American Standard Version (1901)

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

And again he came and saw them sleeping, because their eyes were very tired; and they had nothing to say in answer.

Then he returned, and again he found them sleeping because they couldn't keep their eyes open. They didn't know what to say!

Geneva Bible 1599

And he returned, and founde them a sleepe againe: for their eyes were heauie: neither knewe they what they should answere him.

King James (Authorized) Version

And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.

One Unity Resource Bible

Again he teshuvah ·completely returned·, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him.

Plain English Version

Jesus’s 3 followers were very tired, and they just couldn’t stay awake. Then Jesus came back to them again, and they were asleep again. After they woke up, they felt shame, and they didn’t know what to say to him.

Translation for Translators

When he returned, he found that they were sleeping again because they were so sleepy that they could not keep their eyes open. Because they were ashamed, they did not know what to say to him when he awakened them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

When he came back again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

Noah Webster Bible

And when he returned, he found them asleep again (for their eyes were heavy:) neither knew they what to answer him.

World English Bible

Again he returned and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they didn’t know what to answer him.

Young's Literal Translation

and having returned, he found them again sleeping, for their eyes were heavy, and they had not known what they might answer him.

Context

Jesus Prays at Gethsemane

³⁹Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.⁴⁰And again Jesus returned and found them sleeping—for their eyes were heavy. And they did not know what to answer Him.

Summary

In this verse, Jesus finds His disciples sleeping while He is praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, just before His arrest. It reveals the disciples' inability to stay awake and support Jesus during His time of anguish, despite His request for them to watch and pray. This moment highlights the human weakness and frailty of the disciples, as well as the loneliness Jesus experienced in His hour of need. It serves as a reminder for believers to be vigilant in prayer and supportive of one another, especially in times of trial and testing.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And he cometh the third time,.... After he had prayed a third time, to the same purport as before: and saith unto them, sleep on now, and take your rest; which words are spoken ironically: it is enough; or "the end is come"; as the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, of watching and praying: the hour is come, behold the son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners; both Jews and Gentiles, by one of his own disciples; See Gill on Mat 26:45.