Luke 22:44 kjv
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.
Luke 22:44 nkjv
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44 niv
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Luke 22:44 esv
And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
Luke 22:44 nlt
He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
Luke 22 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gethsemane & Suffering | ||
| Matt 26:38 | Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." | Jesus' profound sorrow and suffering. |
| Mark 14:34 | And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch." | Parallel account of soul's deep sorrow. |
| Heb 5:7 | In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him... | Jesus' earnest prayers and deep anguish. |
| Isa 53:3-5 | He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... wounded for our transgressions. | Prophecy of suffering servant, connected to Gethsemane agony. |
| John 12:27 | "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'?" | Jesus contemplating the struggle before Gethsemane. |
| Phil 2:8 | And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Jesus' obedience amidst suffering and death. |
| Prayer & Submission | ||
| Luke 22:42 | "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." | Jesus' ultimate submission to God's will. |
| Matt 26:39 | ...fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me..." | Jesus' earnest prayer for alternative. |
| John 4:34 | Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." | Jesus' priority of doing God's will. |
| Ps 22:1-2 | My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me...? | Foreshadowing of deep anguish and sense of abandonment. |
| Jas 5:16 | The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. | Example of powerful, fervent prayer. |
| Rom 8:26-27 | ...the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. | God's Spirit aiding prayer in deep distress. |
| Blood & Atonement | ||
| Lev 17:11 | For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement... | Blood's significance for atonement in Old Testament. |
| Heb 9:22 | Indeed, under the law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. | Necessity of blood for forgiveness. |
| Eph 1:7 | In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses... | Redemption found in Jesus' shed blood. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...knowing that you were ransomed... with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish... | Our redemption through Christ's perfect blood. |
| Rev 1:5 | ...and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness... who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood... | Jesus' blood brings freedom from sin. |
| Isa 53:7 | He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter... | Lamb imagery foreshadowing Christ's quiet sacrifice. |
| Humanity & Empathy | ||
| Heb 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. | Jesus' complete identification with human weakness and suffering. |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory... | The Incarnation, essential for His full human suffering. |
Luke 22 verses
Luke 22 44 Meaning
Luke 22:44 describes the intense spiritual and physical agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as He faced the imminent weight of the world's sin and the Father's wrath. In this profound suffering, He prayed with extraordinary fervency, to the point that His sweat became like large drops of blood falling to the ground. This verse highlights Jesus' full humanity, His real struggle and absolute submission to the divine will, demonstrating the magnitude of His sacrifice.
Luke 22 44 Context
Luke chapter 22 outlines critical events leading to Jesus' crucifixion. It begins with the plotting of religious leaders (vv. 1-6), followed by the preparation for the Last Supper and the institution of the Lord's Supper (vv. 7-23). Jesus then prophesies Peter's denial (vv. 31-34) and instructs His disciples (vv. 35-38). Directly preceding verse 44, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives (Gethsemane), instructing His disciples to pray that they would not enter into temptation (v. 39-40). He then separates Himself from them to pray alone, expressing His plea for the "cup" to pass, while submitting to the Father's will (vv. 41-42). An angel appears to strengthen Him (v. 43, though this verse and 44 are debated in some early manuscripts, their inclusion is strongly supported by many textual witnesses and accepted for their theological insight). Thus, verse 44 captures the peak of Jesus' spiritual and physical battle before His arrest, crucifixion, and ultimate victory over sin and death. It vividly portrays the cost of our salvation.
Luke 22 44 Word analysis
- And being: Connects this intense suffering directly to the act of prayer following the Last Supper and the previous supplication in Gethsemane.
- in an agony (ἀγωνία, agōnia): Derives from a term used for athletic contests or battles. It signifies extreme struggle, intense distress, a profound inward fight. This was not mere emotional distress but a total spiritual and existential wrestling, a battle against the overwhelming burden of the world's sin.
- he prayed: His agony did not lead to despair or flight, but intensified His communion with the Father. Prayer was His immediate response to profound distress.
- more earnestly (ἐκτενέστερον, ektenesteron): This comparative adverb means "more intensely," "more fervently," or "stretched out to the utmost." It implies a previous level of earnestness, now surpassed due to the escalating pressure. It denotes extreme spiritual exertion.
- and his sweat was: A direct, physical manifestation of internal struggle, showcasing the link between intense spiritual distress and the body's reaction.
- as it were (ὡσεὶ, hōsei): This particle indicates a similitude, "as if" or "like." It implies a striking resemblance rather than identical composition, emphasizing the appearance. This clarifies that His sweat was not pure blood, but sweat mixed with blood or sweat so abundant and concentrated that it appeared clotted and crimson, resembling drops of blood.
- great drops (θρόμβοι, thromboi): Refers to clots, gouts, or large masses. This is not just tiny beads of sweat, but substantial, viscous droplets. It underscores the severity of the physiological phenomenon.
- of blood (αἵματος, haimatos): The critical and shocking element. Medically recognized as hematidrosis or hemohidrosis, where extreme physiological stress causes capillaries under the skin to rupture and exude blood into sweat glands. This description authenticates the extraordinary nature of Jesus' suffering, affecting Him profoundly from within.
- falling down: Suggests volume and gravitational effect, indicating the sheer amount of the bloody sweat.
- to the ground: Completes the visual of His suffering, painting a vivid picture of the physical toll of His spiritual battle.
Words-group analysis:
- "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly": This phrase powerfully links Jesus' spiritual distress (agony) directly to an amplified and fervent prayer. It shows prayer as the primary response to unimaginable suffering, indicating an escalating spiritual battle.
- "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground": This is a vivid, medically descriptive phrase illustrating the extreme physical toll of His agony. It conveys the extraordinary, even unique, nature of His suffering and foreshadows the blood He would shed on the cross. It solidifies the reality of His human suffering.
Luke 22 44 Bonus section
The debate regarding the authenticity of Luke 22:43-44 (where an angel strengthens Jesus and He sweats blood) is a matter of textual criticism, with some ancient manuscripts omitting them while others include them. However, many prominent scholars and most traditional Christian churches accept their inclusion due to strong manuscript support and their consistency with the theological portrayal of Jesus' full humanity and intense suffering, particularly when viewed alongside Heb 5:7. This scene profoundly illustrates the concept of the God-man, truly human in His struggle and needing divine strength, yet fully God in His power and determination to fulfill the Father's will. It also serves as a strong rebuttal against ancient heresies like Docetism, which denied Jesus' true humanity and physical suffering.
Luke 22 44 Commentary
Luke 22:44 offers a profound glimpse into the true cost of our redemption. It is not merely an emotional or mental struggle, but an all-encompassing agony of Jesus, the sinless Son of God, preparing to bear the weight of all humanity's sin and God's holy wrath. His sweat becoming like "great drops of blood" (hematidrosis) underscores the intensity of this experience, medically verifiable as occurring under extreme psychological and physiological stress. This was not merely the fear of physical pain or death, but the unspeakable horror of becoming sin (2 Cor 5:21) and facing momentary separation from the Father. This passage affirms Jesus' complete humanity—He felt fear, sorrow, and struggled like no other, yet His divine resolve to obey remained unshaken. It reveals His ultimate act of obedience and sacrificial love, serving as a beacon of persistent, fervent prayer in the face of insurmountable challenges and submission to God's will despite profound suffering.
- Practical example: In our deepest struggles, prayer should be our primary resort, even when feeling overwhelmed or utterly exhausted, trusting God's will above our own.