Luke 5:16 kjv

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 5:16 nkjv

So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 5:16 niv

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:16 esv

But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Luke 5:16 nlt

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 16 Meaning

Luke 5:16 presents a crucial aspect of Jesus' earthly ministry and life: despite growing popularity and the increasing demands of His healing and teaching ministry, He consistently withdrew from the crowds to desolate places for prayer. This verse highlights His disciplined dependence on His Father, modeling the essential practice of solitude and communion with God as the wellspring of spiritual strength and authority.

Luke 5 16 Context

Luke chapter 5 begins with Jesus teaching from Simon's boat and calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John as His first disciples, showing His authority over nature and men. Following this, Jesus heals a man with leprosy (Lk 5:12-14) and a paralytic (Lk 5:17-26), also asserting His authority to forgive sins. His fame quickly spread throughout Judea and Galilee due to His miraculous healings and powerful teachings. People were coming in droves, even "great multitudes," to hear Him and be healed. It is against this backdrop of immense popularity and ceaseless demand that Luke 5:16 appears. This verse highlights Jesus' proactive and intentional choice to prioritize His spiritual life and communion with God above the immediate demands of ministry, even when these demands were legitimate and pressing. The historical and cultural context notes that withdrawal to desolate places (wilderness, mountains, solitary areas) was a common biblical theme for significant spiritual encounters and times of intense prayer or testing, echoing figures like Moses and Elijah.

Luke 5 16 Word analysis

• He withdrew (αὐτὸς ἦν ὑποχωρῶν - autos ēn hypochōrōn):
  • Autos (αὐτὸς): "He Himself." Emphasizes Jesus' personal, deliberate, and proactive action. It was not accidental or forced.
  • hypochōrōn (ὑποχωρῶν): "withdrew," "retired," "slipped away." The Greek word carries a sense of gradual, often secret, and purposeful departure from public view. It signifies an intentional and necessary separation for a higher purpose, rather than retreat out of fear or discouragement. It indicates a consistent practice.
• to desolate places (ἐν ταῖς ἐρήμοις - en tais erēmois):
  • erēmois (ἐρήμοις): "deserts," "solitary places," "wilderness areas," "unpopulated regions." These were not necessarily barren, sandy deserts but often lonely, unfrequented areas such as hills, mountains, or uncultivated plains outside towns. They represented places away from human activity, noise, and distractions, conducive to solitude and contemplation.
• and prayed (καὶ προσευχόμενος - kai proseuchomenos):
  • proseuchomenos (προσευχόμενος): "praying," "engaging in prayer." This present participle indicates a continuous, habitual action. It wasn't a one-off event but Jesus' consistent practice and regular discipline. It highlights that the purpose of His withdrawal was specific and devotional—to communicate with the Father.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• He withdrew to desolate places: This phrase signifies Jesus' deliberate and consistent prioritization of solitude for spiritual recharge. Despite the escalating pressure and urgent needs of the crowds, Jesus understood the vital necessity of disengaging from the clamor to engage with His Father. It portrays a conscious choice to seek intimacy with God.
• and prayed: This directly states the primary purpose of His withdrawal. His retreat was not for rest, escapism, or even strategic planning in the worldly sense, but explicitly for deep, sustained communion with the Father. It underlines that Jesus’ power and wisdom came from an uninterrupted and dependent relationship with God, sustained through prayer. This provides a clear model for effective ministry, rooting it in divine power rather than human effort.

Luke 5 16 Bonus section

This verse implicitly addresses the potential pitfalls of success and fame in ministry. As Jesus’ popularity soared, there was a real temptation for Him to become solely defined by His public role or to be overwhelmed by the physical demands. His consistent withdrawal acted as a guard against this, ensuring His identity remained rooted in His divine relationship with the Father. It also highlights Jesus' humanity; He needed rest, clarity, and spiritual fortification just as human beings do. His example reminds us that genuine spiritual strength for the outer battle is always forged in the inner sanctuary of communion with God. This divine discipline demonstrates the truth of seeking "first the kingdom of God" (Mt 6:33), even when doing the works of the Kingdom.

Luke 5 16 Commentary

Luke 5:16 reveals a profound truth about the life of Jesus: the inseparable link between His active public ministry and His private devotional life. Despite the overwhelming success and immense demand for His healing and teaching, Jesus knew that sustained ministry flowed from a replenished spiritual well. His repeated withdrawal to desolate places for prayer was not merely an occasional act but a fundamental and consistent practice—a spiritual discipline foundational to His earthly mission. This practice demonstrated His absolute dependence on the Father, showing that even the Son of God, in His humanity, needed constant communion and spiritual strength derived from prayer. This verse powerfully counters any notion that ministry effectiveness comes solely from human charisma or busy activity. Instead, it underscores that true power and endurance in service to God emanate from intentional time alone with Him, away from the distractions of the world. It provides a timeless blueprint for all who seek to serve God: prayer is not a supplementary activity, but the essential core, enabling resilience, wisdom, and anointing for every other endeavor.

• Practical examples:
  • Setting aside specific, uninterrupted time daily for prayer and Bible reading, even amidst busy schedules.
  • Scheduling periodic longer retreats (half-day, full-day) away from technology and people for deep communion with God.
  • Seeking out quiet spaces at home or outdoors specifically for reflection and prayer.