Mark 14:33
And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
παραλαμβάνει
he taketh
G3880
παραλαμβάνει
he taketh
Strong's:
G3880
Word #:
2 of 16
to receive near, i.e., associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Πέτρον
Peter
G4074
Πέτρον
Peter
Strong's:
G4074
Word #:
4 of 16
a (piece of) rock (larger than g3037); as a name, petrus, an apostle
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 16
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
μεθ''
with
G3326
μεθ''
with
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
10 of 16
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
ἑαυτοῦ
him
G1438
ἑαυτοῦ
him
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
11 of 16
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
12 of 16
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Cross References
Luke 22:44And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.Hebrews 5:7Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;Mark 5:37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
Historical Context
Gethsemane, an olive grove on the Mount of Olives, was a place Jesus frequently visited (Luke 22:39). Mark, likely drawing from Peter's eyewitness testimony, uses the most vivid Greek vocabulary of all the Gospel writers to describe Christ's agony. This moment occurred within hours of Jesus's arrest and crucifixion, as He confronted the cup of God's wrath He would drink for sinners.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Christ's emotional anguish in Gethsemane comfort you when you face overwhelming distress?
- Why did Jesus take only three disciples with Him? What does this teach about different levels of spiritual intimacy and vulnerability?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He taketh with him Peter and James and John—Jesus chose His inner circle of three disciples who witnessed His transfiguration (Mark 9:2) to accompany Him deeper into Gethsemane. This selective intimacy reveals Christ's humanity: even the sinless Son of God needed human companionship in His darkest hour.
Began to be sore amazed (ἐκθαμβεῖσθαι, ekthambeisthai)—an intense Greek word suggesting overwhelming astonishment or horror, used only by Mark in the NT. To be very heavy (ἀδημονεῖν, adēmonein) means to be distressed, troubled to the point of anguish. This is not mere sadness but visceral dread as Christ faced the full weight of divine wrath against sin. Isaiah 53:10 promised that "it pleased the LORD to bruise him"—here we see the psychological torment preceding Calvary's physical suffering. Jesus experienced true human emotion without sin, proving He is our sympathetic High Priest (Hebrews 4:15).