MARK 14:38 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Γρηγορεῖτε
2. grēgoreō
3. Be watching
4. -
5. 11270
6. VMPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ watching
8. ˓be˒ watching
9. S
10. Y33
11. 35125
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. but
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35126
1. προσεύχεσθε
2. proseuχomai
3. be praying
4. -
5. 43360
6. VMPM2··P
7. ˓be˒ praying
8. ˓be˒ praying
9. -
10. Y33; R35116; R35020; R35023; Person=John2
11. 35127
1. ἵνα
2. hina
3. that
4. -
5. 24430
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35128
1. μή
2. mē
3. not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35129
1. ἔλθητε
2. erχomai
3. you all may come
4. -
5. 20640
6. VSAA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ come
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ come
9. -
10. Y33; R35116; R35020; R35023; Person=John2
11. 35130
1. εἰσέλθητε
2. eiserχomai
3. -
4. -
5. 15250
6. VSAA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ come_in
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓may˒ come_in
9. -
10. -
11. 35131
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. into
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. into
8. into
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35132
1. πειρασμόν
2. peirasmos
3. temptation
4. temptation
5. 39860
6. N····AMS
7. temptation
8. temptation
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35133
1. τό
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NNS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35134
1. Μέν
2. men
3. On one hand
4. -
5. 33030
6. C·······
7. on_one_hand
8. on_one_hand
9. S
10. Y33
11. 35135
1. πνεῦμα
2. pneuma
3. spirit is
4. spirits
5. 41510
6. N····NNS
7. spirit ‹is›
8. spirit ‹is›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35136
1. πρόθυμον
2. prothumos
3. eager
4. -
5. 42890
6. S····NNS
7. eager
8. eager
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35137
1. ἡ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35138
1. δέ
2. de
3. on the other hand
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. on_the_other_hand
8. on_the_other_hand
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35139
1. σάρξ
2. sarx
3. flesh is
4. -
5. 45610
6. N····NFS
7. flesh ‹is›
8. flesh ‹is›
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35140
1. ἀσθενής
2. asthenēs
3. weak
4. -
5. 7720
6. S····NFS
7. weak
8. weak
9. -
10. Y33
11. 35141

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 14:32–42: Jesus prayed in a place called Gethsemane

The conversation in the preceding section occurred while Jesus and the disciples were walking toward the Mount of Olives (14:26–27). In this section, they came to a place where there were olive trees. This place was called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples to pray that God would give them strength not to sin. Jesus also prayed that he himself would do what his heavenly Father wanted him to do, rather than what he himself wanted.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Jesus prayed in the garden called Gethsemane

Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane

Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 26:36–46 and Luke 22:39–46.

14:38a

Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.

Stay^(plur) awake and pray so that you^(plur) will not sin when you^(plur) are tempted.
Do^(plur) not sleep, but rather speak/talk to God, in order that he will help you^(plur) not to yield when Satan tempts you^(plur) to sin.

Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation: The clause so that you will not enter into temptation is closely related to the words Watch and pray. Scholars interpret this relationship in two different ways:

The clause tells the purpose for which the disciples should watch and pray. For example:
Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. (BSB)
Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. (NLT96) (BSB, NIV, KJV, NLT96)
The clause tells what the disciples should pray. For example, the GNT says:
pray that you will not fall into temptation (GNT, NJB, NCV)

The word “that” with certain speech verbs can introduce either the purpose or content of the speech, so some English versions are ambiguous. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This seems to fit both the Greek grammar and the context better. However, both interpretations are valid.

Watch and pray: The verbs Watch and pray are plural forms in Greek. This indicates that Jesus was speaking here to all three disciples. They were to continue to stay awake and continue to pray. See the comments on these verbs in 14:34b.

pray: The Greek word that the BSB translates as pray means “speak to God.” Some languages use different words to refer to specific kinds of prayer, such as requests, thanks, or praise. Here you should use a general term that means “speak” or “talk.”

Avoid a term that may imply magical or meaningless words.

enter into temptation: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as enter into temptation is literally “come into temptation.” The phrase is a figure of speech. It means “yield to temptation.” It implies that when a person is tempted to do something sinful, he agrees to do it.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

so that you will be able to resist temptation

so that you do not agree to sin when you are tempted

Notice that the second example uses a passive verb. In some languages it may be necessary to use an active verb and make the subject explicit. If that is true in your language, you may supply “Satan” or use an indefinite subject. For example:

so that if Satan tempts you,^(plur) you^(plur) will not yield

It may also be necessary to indicate what Satan was tempting the disciples to do. For example:

so that you^(plur) will not sin when Satan tempts you^(plur) to stop trusting me

temptation: The Greek word that the BSB translates as temptation here refers to an enticement to sin. A temptation is anything that makes a person consider sinning in order to avoid difficulty or receive some benefit.

See how you translated “tempted” at 1:13a. In some languages there may be an idiom to express the idea.

14:38b

For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

The/Your^(plur) heart/mind wants to do right, but the/your^(plur) body lacks strength.”
People intend to do well/right but are weak and cannot do it.”

For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak: This statement expresses a contrast: a person wants to do what is right but he is not able to do it without God’s help.

Here are some other ways to translate this contrast:

I know that you^(plur) want to do what is right, but you^(plur) are unable to do it in/by your^(plur) own strength.

Your^(plur) heart/mind wants to do something good, but your^(plur) body lacks strength.

the spirit…the body: Jesus was referring mainly to the disciples when he talked about the spirit and the body. However, Jesus expressed his statement in a general way that could also apply to other people who try to resist temptation. You may translate either way. Here is one way to refer to people in general:

A person’s spirit is willing, but his body is weak.

the spirit is willing: Jesus did not say what the disciples were willing to do. There are three possibilities:

They were willing to do the right thing.
They were willing to resist sin / temptation.
They were willing to watch.

The Greek text and English versions are ambiguous about this issue. If you are able to translate ambiguously in your language, it is recommended that you do so. If you need to specify what they were willing to do, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

the spirit: In this context the phrase the spirit refers to the part of a person that thinks and feels and determines his character. It represents the person himself and his own will. In some languages, this may be expressed as:

You^(plur)

People

In some languages speakers use a certain part of a person, such as “heart,” “liver,” or “thoughts,” to express this. If that is true in your language, consider whether you could use that expression here.

but: The connector that the BSB translates as but indicates a contrast. It shows that a person wants to do right, but is not able to resist temptation without God’s help. Express the contrast in a natural way in your language.

the body is weak: The Greek word that the BSB translates as the body is literally “the flesh” (RSV). In this context it represents human ability or human strength in general. It includes the physical body and also human self-control. Here it does not represent sinful human nature that is opposed to God.

In some languages a word like body may not be used in such a general way. If that is true in your language, here are some other ways to express the meaning of the phrase the body is weak:

your/their strength is lacking

they/you are weak

they/you are unable to do so

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἵνα

that

Here, the phrase so that could introduce: (1) the purpose for which the disciples should pray. Alternate translation: [in order that] (2) what the disciples should pray. Alternate translation: [that]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

μὴ ἔλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γρηγορεῖτε καί προσεύχεσθε ἵνα μή ἔλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν τό Μέν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον ἡ δέ σάρξ ἀσθενής)

Here Jesus speaks as if temptation were a location that someone could enter into. He is referring to experiencing temptation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you do not experience temptation] or [you are kept away from temptation]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

μὴ ἔλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of temptation, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [you are not tempted]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / genericnoun

τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον, ἡ δὲ σὰρξ ἀσθενής

The words spirit and flesh represent people’s spirits and flesh in general, not one particular spirit and flesh. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in another way. Alternate translation: [People’s spirits indeed are willing, but their flesh is weak]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον

Here, spirit represents a person’s desires and will. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [The will indeed wants to do it] or [Inside, you indeed are willing]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πρόθυμον

eager

Here Jesus implies that the spirit is willing to do what is right, and more specifically what Jesus has asked. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [is willing to do what is right] or [is willing to do what I ask]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ἡ & σὰρξ ἀσθενής

the & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γρηγορεῖτε καί προσεύχεσθε ἵνα μή ἔλθητε εἰς πειρασμόν τό Μέν πνεῦμα πρόθυμον ἡ δέ σάρξ ἀσθενής)

Here, flesh represents a person’s body and actions. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [the body is weak] or [when you act you are weak]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear MARK 14:38

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 14:32–42: Jesus prayed in a place called Gethsemane

14:38a

14:38b

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)