Luke 6 · Verse 12

Luke 6:12

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12, King James Version

Luke 6:12 in other translations

BSBIn those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.
WEBIn these days, he went out to the mountain to pray, and he continued all night in prayer to God.
ASVAnd it came to pass in these days, that he went out into the mountain to pray; and he continued all night in prayer to God.
YLTAnd it came to pass in those days, he went forth to the mountain to pray, and was passing the night in the prayer of God,
DARBYAnd it came to pass in those days that he went out into the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.
BBEAnd it came about in those days that he went out to the mountain for prayer; and he was all night in prayer to God.
WebsterAnd it came to pass in those days, that he went out to a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

What does Luke 6:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 6:12-16

Lu 6:12-49. The Twelve Apostles Chosen--Gathering Multitudes--Glorious Healing.

12-13. went out--probably from Capernaum. all night in prayer ... and when ... day, he called, &c.--The work with which the next day began shows what had been the burden of this night's devotions. As He directed His disciples to pray for "laborers" just before sending themselves forth (see on Mt 9:37; Mt 10:1), so here we find the Lord Himself in prolonged communion with His Father in preparation for the solemn appointment of those men who were to give birth to His Church, and from whom the world in all time was to take a new mould. How instructive is this!

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. And it came to pass in those days. The designation of the time here is very general. It means about the time when the events occurred which had been just narrated.

He went out into a mountain. Jesus was accustomed to resort to such places to hold communion with God, Mk 6:46. He did it because it was retired, free from interruption, and fitted by impressiveness and grandeur to raise the thoughts to the God that had formed the high hills and the deep-shaded groves,

And continued all night in prayer to God. There has been a difference of opinion about this passage, whether it means that he spent the night in the act of praying to God, or in a place of prayer. The Jews had places of prayer, called oratories, built out of their cities or towns, where they could retire from the bustle of a city and hold communion with God. They were built on the banks of rivers (comp. Acts 16:13), in groves, or on hills. They were rude enclosures, made by building a rough wall of stone around a level piece of ground, and capable of accommodating a small number who might resort thither to pray. But the more probable opinion is that he spent the whole night in supplication; for --

1st. This is the obvious meaning of the passage.

2nd. The object for which he went out, was to pray.

3rd. It was an occasion of great importance. He was about to send out his apostles --to lay the foundation of his religion --and he therefore set apart this time specially to seek the divine blessing.

4th. It was no unusual thing for Jesus to spend much time in prayer, and we are not to wonder that he passed an entire night in supplication. If it be asked why Jesus should pray at all if he was divine, it may be replied that he was also a man -- a man subject to the same sufferings as others, and, as a man, needing the divine blessing. There was no more inconsistency in his praying than there was in his eating. Both were means employed for an end, and both were equally consistent with his being divine. But Jesus was also Mediator, and as such it was proper to seek the divine direction and blessing. In this case he has set us an example that we should follow. In great emergencies, when we have important duties, or are about to encounter special difficulties, we should seek the divine blessing and direction by prayer. We should set apart an unusual portion of time for supplication. Nay, if we pass the whole night in prayer, it should not be charged as enthusiasm. Our Saviour did it. Men of the world often pass whole nights in plans of gain or in dissipation, and shall it be esteemed strange that Christians should spend an equal portion of time in the far more important business of religion?

(l) "And it came to pass" Mt 14:23 (m) "into a mountain to pray" Mt 6:6

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 In prayer to God - Or, in the prayer of God: or, in the oratory of God, εν τῃ προσευχῃ του Θεου. So this passage is translated by many critics; for which Dr. Whitby gives the following reasons: As the mountain of God, Exo 3:1; Exo 4:27; the bread of God, Lev 21:17; the lamp of God, 1Sam 3:3; the vessels of God, 1Chr 22:19; the altar of God, Psa 43:4; the sacrifices of God, Psa 51:17; the gifts of God, Luk 21:4; the ministers of God, 2Cor 6:4; the tabernacle of God, 2Chr 1:3; the temple of God, Mat 21:12; the synagogues of God, Psa 74:8; are all things consecrated or appropriated to God's service; so προσευχη του Θεου must, in all reason, be a house of prayer to God; whence it is called τοπος προσευχης, a place of prayer, 1 Maccabees 3:46; and so the word is certainly used Act 16:13; and by Philo, in his oration against Flaccus, where he complains that αἱ προσευχαι, their houses for prayer were pulled down, and there was no place left in which they might worship God, or pray for Caesar; and by Josephus, who says the multitude was gathered εις την προσευχην, into the house of prayer: and so Juvenal, Sat. iii. v. 296, speaks to the mendicant Jew: - Ede ubi consistas; in qua te quaero proseucha? In what house of prayer may I find thee begging? See on Act 16:13 (note). But on this it may be observed, that as the mountains of God, the wind of God, the hail of God, the trees of God, etc., mean very high mountains, a very strong wind, great and terrible hail, very tall trees, etc., so προσευχη του Θεου, here, may be very properly translated the prayer of God; i.e. very fervent and earnest prayer; and though διανυκτερευων may signify, to lodge in a place for a night, yet there are various places in the best Greek writers in which it is used, not to signify a place, but to pass the night in a particular state. So Appian, Bell. Pun. Εν τοις ὁπλοις διενυκτερευϚε μεθ' ἁπαντων - He passed the night under arms with them all. Idem, Bell. Civ. lib. v. διενυκτερευον - They passed the night without food, without any regard to the body, and in the want of all things. See more examples in Kypke, who concludes by translating the passage thus: He passed the night without sleep in prayers to God. Some of the Jews imagine that God himself prays; and this is one of his petitions: Let it be my good pleasure, that my mercy overcome my wrath. See more in Lightfoot.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 6:12-19
We often think one half hour a great deal to spend in meditation and secret prayer, but Christ was whole nights engaged in these duties. In serving God, our great care should be not to lose time, but to make the end of one good duty the beginning of another. The twelve apostles are here named; never were men so privileged, yet one of them had a devil, and proved a traitor. Those who have not faithful preaching near them, had better travel far than be without it. It is indeed worth while to go a great way to hear the word of Christ, and to go out of the way of other business for it. They came to be cured by him, and he healed them. There is a fulness of grace in Christ, and healing virtue in him, ready to go out from him, that is enough for all, enough for each. Men regard the diseases of the body as greater evils than those of their souls; but the Scripture teaches us differently.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Luke 6:12 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘγένετοEgenetoIt came to passG1096
δὲdethenG1161
ἐνeninG1722
ταῖςtaistheG3588
ἡμέραιςhēmeraisdaysG2250
ταύταιςtautaisthoseG3778
ἐξελθεῖνexeltheinto go outG1831
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸtotheG3588
ὄροςorosmountainG3735
προσεύξασθαι·proseuxasthaito pray;G4336
καὶkaiandG2532
ἦνēnHe wasG1510
διανυκτερεύωνdianuktereuōnspending the nightG1273
ἐνeninG1722
τῇtēa<the>G3588
προσευχῇproseuchēaprayerG4335
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.theouto God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 6:12

  • Hebrews 5:7

    Who 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 6:46

    And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

  • Mark 1:35

    And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

  • Mark 14:34-36

    And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

  • Matthew 14:23-25

    And 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. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

  • Matthew 6:6

    But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

  • Daniel 6:10

    Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

  • Colossians 4:2

    Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

  • Psalms 109:3-4

    They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

  • Psalms 22:2

    O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

  • Psalms 55:15-17

    Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

  • Genesis 32:24-26

    And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
Ps 55:15-17; 109:3,4; Da 6:10; Mt 6:6; Mr 1:35; 14:34-36; Heb 5:7
continued.
Ge 32:24-26; Ps 22:2; Mt 14:23-25; Mr 6:46; Col 4:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 6:11

    And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

  • Luke 6:12

    And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

  • Luke 6:13

    And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

Read all of Luke 6

Luke 6:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció en aquellos días, que fué al monte á orar, y pasó la noche orando á Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or il arriva, en ces jours-là, qu’il s’en alla sur une montagne pour prier. Et il passa toute la nuit à prier Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und es geschah in selbigen Tagen, daß er auf den Berg hinausging, um zu beten; und er verharrte die Nacht im Gebet zu Gott.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Factum est autem in illis diebus, exiit in montem orare, et erat pernoctans in oratione Dei.