Mark 14:37

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 14:37 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?
Mark 14:37 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
37And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And he cometh and findeth them sleeping, etc..] His three disciples, Peter, James, and John: and saith unto Peter; particularly, he having so lately asserted, with so much confidence, his love to Christ, and close attachment to him: Simon, sleepest thou? Christ calls him by the name he first went by, and not by that which he had given him, Cephas, or Peter; he not now having that firmness and constancy, though he boasted of it, which answers to that name: couldst thou not watch one hour? The Arabic and Persic versions add, with me; and so does the Complutensian edition; (see Gill on “<402640>Matthew 26:40”).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 26:36-46. Mark 14:36 Ἀββα Abba This word denotes “father.” It is a Syriac word, and is used by the Saviour as a word denoting filial affection and tenderness. Compare Romans 8:15. Mark 14:40 Neither wist they ... - Neither “knew” they. They were so conscious of the impropriety of sleeping at that time, that they could not find any answer to give to the inquiry why they had done it. Mark 14:41 It is enough - There has been much difficulty in determining the meaning of this phrase. Campbell translates it, “all is over” - that is, the time when you could have been of service to me is gone by. They might have aided him by watching for him when they were sleeping, but…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Saith to Peter - The zealous, the confident Peter. Mark 14:43”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“14:37-38 are you asleep? The question was a rebuke, for Jesus knew that Peter had been sleeping. • Though the spirit is willing to avoid temptation (see Rom 7:18, 22-23), the body (literally the flesh, which denotes the general weakness and vulnerability of humanity) is weak.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“and findeth: Mar 14:40, Mar 14:41; Luk 9:31, Luk 9:32, Luk 22:45, Luk 22:46 Simon: Mar 14:29-31; Sa2 16:17; Jon 1:6; Mat 25:5, Mat 26:40; Th1 5:6-8 couldest: Jer 12:5; Heb 12:3 Mark 14:38”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification