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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane after departing His disciples for a second time to pray. This moment follows His instruction to watch and pray and precedes His return to find them asleep.

The words — ἀπελθὼν (apelthōn) translates literally as “having gone away,” and δευτέρου (deuterou) means “a second time.” These terms record the physical sequence of Jesus withdrawing repeatedly for prayer.

The thread — The same prayer sequence appears in Matthew 26:39 and Mark 14:39, while Hebrews 4:15 connects this pattern to His ability to sympathize with human weakness.

Why it lands — The text states that Jesus submits to the Father's will despite His own desire to avoid the cup. A reader must align their own prayers with divine purpose when facing unavoidable hardship.

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

King James Version

He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Cross-references

Matthew 26:39 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 14:39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same thing.
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
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.
Psalms 88:1 A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. For the choirmaster. According to Mahalath Leannoth. A Maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.
Psalms 22:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my words of groaning?
Psalms 69:1 For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of David. Save me, O God, for the waters are up to my neck.
Psalms 69:17 Hide not Your face from Your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me quickly!