Luke 22:44 And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

◄ Luke 22:44 ►

New International Version
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

New Living Translation
He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

English Standard Version
And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Berean Standard Bible
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Berean Literal Bible
And having been in agony, He was praying more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

King James Bible
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

New King James Version
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

New American Standard Bible
And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground].

NASB 1995
And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

NASB 1977
And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

Legacy Standard Bible
And being in agony He was praying very fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.

Amplified Bible
And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.

Christian Standard Bible
Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Being in anguish, He prayed more fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

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

Contemporary English Version
Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood.

English Revised Version
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So he prayed very hard in anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Good News Translation
In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

International Standard Version
In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like large drops of blood falling on the ground.

Majority Standard Bible
And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.

NET Bible
And in his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.]

New Heart English Bible
Being in agony he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Webster's Bible Translation
And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Weymouth New Testament
while He--an agony of distress having come upon Him--prayed all the more with intense earnestness, and His sweat became like clots of blood dropping on the ground.

World English Bible
Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and having been in agony, He was more earnestly praying, and His sweat became, as it were, great drops of blood falling on the ground.

Berean Literal Bible
And having been in agony, He was praying more earnestly. And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

Young's Literal Translation
and having been in agony, he was more earnestly praying, and his sweat became, as it were, great drops of blood falling upon the ground.

Smith's Literal Translation
And being in a violent struggle, he prayed more intently: and his sweat was as clots of blood coming down upon the earth.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and so his sweat became like drops of blood, running down to the ground.

New American Bible
He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground.]

New Revised Standard Version
In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And he was in fear, and prayed earnestly; and his sweat became like drops of blood; and he fell down upon the ground.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And as he was in fear, he prayed urgently, and his sweat was like drops of blood, and he fell upon the ground.

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And he was in agony, and prayed more earnestly. And his sweat was like great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Godbey New Testament
And being in agony He continued to pray the more earnestly. And His sweat was like drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

Haweis New Testament
And being in an agony, he prayed with greater intenseness: and his sweat was as clots of blood falling on the ground.

Mace New Testament
and being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was like grumes of blood falling to the ground.

Weymouth New Testament
while He--an agony of distress having come upon Him--prayed all the more with intense earnestness, and His sweat became like clots of blood dropping on the ground.

Worrell New Testament
And, being in an agony, He was praying more earnestly. And His sweat became, as it were, large drops of blood falling down upon the ground!

Worsley New Testament
And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was like clotted blood falling down upon the ground.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
…43Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 26:38-39
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.” / Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Mark 14:33-36
He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed. / Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.” / Going a little farther, He fell to the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour would pass from Him. ...

Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

John 12:27
Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? No, it is for this purpose that I have come to this hour.

Philippians 2:7-8
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. / And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

Isaiah 53:3-5
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. / Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. / But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Psalm 22:14
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are disjointed. My heart is like wax; it melts away within me.

2 Corinthians 5:21
God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Hebrews 2:17-18
For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. / Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

Psalm 69:1-3
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck. / I have sunk into the miry depths, where there is no footing; I have drifted into deep waters, where the flood engulfs me. / I am weary from my crying; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.

Isaiah 53:10-12
Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. / After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. / Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

John 18:11
“Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

Matthew 26:42
A second time He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cup cannot pass unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”

Mark 14:34
Then He said to them, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch.”

Treasury of Scripture

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

being.

Genesis 32:24-28
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day…

Psalm 22:1,2,12-21
To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? …

Psalm 40:1-3
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry…

his.

Isaiah 53:10
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Lamentations 1:12
Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.

Romans 8:32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

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Agony Blood Conflict Distress Dropping Drops Earnestly Earnestness Earth Falling Fervently Force Great Ground Intense Intently Prayed Prayer Praying Soul Stronger Sweat Trouble

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Agony Blood Conflict Distress Dropping Drops Earnestly Earnestness Earth Falling Fervently Force Great Ground Intense Intently Prayed Prayer Praying Soul Stronger Sweat Trouble

Luke 22

1. The leaders conspire against Jesus.
3. Satan prepares Judas to betray him.
7. The apostles prepare the Passover.
19. Jesus institutes his holy supper;
21. covertly foretells of the traitor;
24. rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
31. assures Peter his faith should not fail;
34. and yet he should deny him thrice.
39. He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
47. is betrayed with a kiss;
50. he heals Malchus' ear;
54. he is thrice denied by Peter;
63. shamefully abused;
66. and confesses himself to be the Son of God.

Berean Study Bible

And in His anguish
The word "anguish" here is translated from the Greek word "ἀγωνία" (agonia), which conveys a sense of severe mental struggle and distress. This term is often associated with the intense emotional and spiritual turmoil that Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. Historically, this moment is pivotal as it reflects the weight of the impending crucifixion and the burden of humanity's sins that Jesus was about to bear. Theologically, it underscores the true humanity of Christ, who, despite being divine, experienced profound human emotions.

He prayed more earnestly
The phrase "prayed more earnestly" indicates an intensification of Jesus' prayer. The Greek word for "earnestly" is "ἐκτενέστερον" (ektenesteron), suggesting fervency and persistence. This highlights the depth of Jesus' reliance on the Father during His time of need. It serves as a model for believers, demonstrating that in times of great trial, turning to God with sincere and fervent prayer is essential. This earnest prayer reflects Jesus' submission to the Father's will, even in the face of immense suffering.

and His sweat became like drops of blood
The imagery of "sweat became like drops of blood" is a powerful depiction of the physical manifestation of Jesus' inner turmoil. The Greek word "θρόμβοι" (thromboi) refers to clots or thick drops, suggesting a condition known as hematidrosis, where extreme stress causes capillaries to burst, mixing blood with sweat. This rare phenomenon underscores the extreme agony Jesus faced, emphasizing His full participation in human suffering. It also serves as a profound symbol of the impending sacrifice, foreshadowing the shedding of His blood for the redemption of mankind.

falling to the ground
The phrase "falling to the ground" illustrates the gravity and reality of Jesus' suffering. The Greek verb "καταβαίνοντες" (katabainontes) implies a continuous action, indicating that the sweat was pouring down. This detail not only emphasizes the physical and emotional intensity of the moment but also serves as a poignant reminder of Jesus' humility and submission. In a broader scriptural context, it reflects the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the suffering servant and the Messiah's role in salvation history.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(44) And being in an agony.--The Greek noun primarily describes a "conflict" or "struggle," rather than mere physical pain. The phenomenon described is obviously one which would have a special interest for one of St. Luke's calling, and the four words which he uses for "agony," "drops," "sweat," "more earnestly" (literally, more intensely), though not exclusively technical, are yet such as a medical writer would naturally use. They do not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. The form of the expression, "as it were, great drops (better, clots) of blood," leaves us uncertain, as the same Greek word does in "descending like a dove," in Matthew 3:16, whether it applies to manner or to visible appearance. On the latter, and generally received view, the phenomenon is not unparalleled, both in ancient and modern times. (Comp. the very term, "bloody sweat," noted as a symptom of extreme exhaustion in Aristotle, Hist. Anim. iii.19, and Medical Gazette for December, 1848, quoted by Alford.) If we ask who were St. Luke's informants, we may think either, as before, of one of the disciples, or, possibly, one of the women from whom, as above, he manifestly derived so much that he records. That "bloody sweat" must have left its traces upon the tunic that our Lord wore, and when the soldiers cast lots for it (Matthew 27:35; John 19:24), Mary Magdalene, who stood by the cross, may have seen and noticed the fact (John 19:25), nor could it well have escaped the notice of Nicodemus and Joseph when they embalmed the body (John 19:40).

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 44. - And his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Some (for instance, Theophylact) understand this "as it were" to signify that the expression, "drops of blood," was simply parabolic; but it is far better to understand the words in their literal sense, as our Church does when it prays, "By thine agony and bloody sweat." Athanasius even goes so far as to pronounce a ban upon those who deny this sweat of blood. Commentators give instances of this blood-sweat under abnormal pathological circumstances. Some, though by no means all, of the oldest authorities omit these last two verses (43, 44). Their omission in many of these ancient manuscripts was probably due to mistaken reverence. The two oldest and most authoritative translations, the Itala (Latin) and Peshito (Syriac), contain them, however, as do the most important Fathers of the second century, Justin and Irenaeus. We have, then, apart from the evidence of manuscripts, the testimony of the earliest Christianity in Italy and Syria, Asia Minor and Gaul, to the genuineness of these two famous verses. They are printed in the ordinary text of the Revised English Version, with a side-note alluding to their absence in some of the ancient authorities.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

in [His]
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

anguish,
ἀγωνίᾳ (agōnia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 74: From agon; a struggle, i.e. anguish.

He prayed
προσηύχετο (prosēucheto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4336: To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.

more earnestly,
ἐκτενέστερον (ektenesteron)
Adverb - Comparative
Strong's 1617: More earnestly. Neuter of the comparative of ektenes; more intently.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

sweat
ἱδρὼς (hidrōs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2402: Sweat, perspiration. A strengthened form of a primary idos: perspiration.

became
ἐγένετο (egeneto)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

like
ὡσεὶ (hōsei)
Adverb
Strong's 5616: As if, as it were, like; with numbers: about. From hos and ei; as if.

drops
θρόμβοι (thromboi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2361: A clot, large drop (of blood). Perhaps from trepho; a clot.

of blood
αἵματος (haimatos)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 129: Blood, literally, figuratively or specially; by implication, bloodshed, also kindred.

falling
καταβαίνοντες (katabainontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2597: To go down, come down, either from the sky or from higher land, descend. From kata and the base of basis; to descend.

to
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

the
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

ground.
γῆν (gēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1093: Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe.

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NT Gospels: Luke 22:44 Being in agony he prayed more earnestly (Luke Lu Lk)