Mark 14:40

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

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus returns to the Garden of Gethsemane after praying a second time and finds Peter, James, and John sleeping. He addresses them directly after they fail to stay awake during his period of anguish.

The words — The Greek καθεὺδοντας (katheudontas) literally means "sleeping" and describes their physical state, while γὰρ (gar) introduces the causal explanation that their eyes were heavy. These terms ground the narrative in their involuntary exhaustion rather than mere disobedience.

The thread — This pattern of failed vigilance and speechless response echoes in Mark 9:33, where disciples avoid answering Jesus, and in Romans 3:19, where every mouth is silenced before God. The motif also appears in Genesis 44:16, where guilt leaves no defense ready.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that spiritual readiness cannot be sustained by human effort alone. It confronts readers with the necessity of relying on divine strength when facing imminent trial.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

καὶkaiAnd πάλινpalinagain ἐλθὼνelthōnhaving come εὗρενheurenhe found αὐτοὺςautousthem καθεύδοντας·katheudontassleeping;ἦσανēsanWere γὰρgarfor αὐτῶνautōnof them οἱhoithe ὀφθαλμοὶophthalmoieyes καταβαρυνόμενοι,katabarunomenoibeing wearied,καὶkaiand οὐκouknot ᾔδεισανēdeisanthey knew τίtiwhat ἀποκριθῶσινapokrithōsinthey may answer αὐτῷ.autōto Him.

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Genesis 44:16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
Mark 9:33 Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?”
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.