Luke 5:16
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Original Language Analysis
αὐτὸς
himself
G846
αὐτὸς
himself
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
1 of 9
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ταῖς
G3588
ταῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 9
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐρήμοις
the wilderness
G2048
ἐρήμοις
the wilderness
Strong's:
G2048
Word #:
7 of 9
lonesome, i.e., (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, g5561 being implied)
Cross References
Luke 6:12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.Matthew 14:23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.Mark 6:46And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.John 6:15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Historical Context
This verse follows accounts of Jesus' growing fame and increasing crowds (v. 15). The more His ministry expanded, the more He withdrew to pray—success increased His need for communion with the Father, not decreased it. Luke emphasizes Jesus' prayer life more than other gospels, recording Jesus praying at key moments: baptism (3:21), choosing apostles (6:12), before Peter's confession (9:18), at transfiguration (9:28-29), in Gethsemane (22:41-44), on the cross (23:34, 46). Jesus models priorities—prayer sustains ministry, relationship with God enables service for God.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' pattern of withdrawing to pray challenge modern ministry activism that neglects contemplation and solitude?
- What does Jesus' increased prayer during increased ministry demands teach about the relationship between power and communion with God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Luke records Jesus' pattern: 'And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.' The imperfect tense indicates continuous, repeated action—Jesus habitually withdrew for prayer. The 'wilderness' (Greek 'erēmos,' ἔρημος) provided solitude away from crowds. Prayer sustained Jesus' ministry—He sought the Father's presence regularly, not just during crises. This challenges activist ministry that neglects contemplation. Jesus' power in public ministry flowed from private communion with God. Withdrawing to pray wasn't escaping responsibility but recharging for greater effectiveness.