Matthew 26 · Verse 40

Matthew 26:40

And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Matthew 26:40, King James Version

Matthew 26:40 in other translations

BSBThen Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter.
WEBHe came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour?
ASVAnd he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
YLTAnd he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and he saith to Peter, ‘So! ye were not able one hour to watch with me!
DARBYAnd he comes to the disciples and finds them sleeping, and says to Peter, Thus ye have not been able to watch one hour with me?
BBEAnd he comes to the disciples, and sees that they are sleeping, and says to Peter, What, were you not able to keep watch with me one hour?
WebsterAnd he cometh to the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith to Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

What does Matthew 26:40 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40. And findeth them asleep. It may seem remarkable that, in such circumstances, with a suffering, pleading Redeemer near, surrounded by danger, and having received a special charge to watch, i.e., not to sleep, they should so soon have fallen asleep. It is frequently supposed that this was proof of wonderful stupidity, and indifference to their Lard's sufferings. The truth is, however, that it was just the reverse; it was proof of their great attachment, and their deep sympathy in his sorrows. Luke has added, that he found them sleeping FOR SORROW. That is, on account of their sorrow: their grief was so great that they naturally fell asleep. Multitudes of facts might be brought to show that is in accordance with the regular effects of grief: Dr. Bush says, "There is another symptom of grief, which is not often noticed, and that is profound sleep. I have often witnessed it even in mothers, immediately after the death of a child. Criminals; we are told by Mr. Akerman, the keeper of Newgate in London, often sleep soundly the night before their execution. The son of General Custine slept nine hours the night before he was led to the guillotine in Paris." Diseases of the Mind, p. 319.

Saith unto Peter, etc. This reproof was administered to Peter particularly, in account of his warm professions, his rash zeal, and his self-confidence. If he could not keep awake and watch with the Saviour for one hour, how little probability was there that he would adhere to him in all the trials through which he was soon to pass!

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 He - saith unto Peter - He addressed himself more particularly to this apostle, because of the profession he had made, Mat 26:33; as if he had said: "Is this the way you testify your affectionate attachment to me? Ye all said you were ready to die with me; what, then, cannot you watch One hour?" Instead of ουκ ισχυσατε, could Ye not, the Codex Alexandrinus, the later Syriac in the margin, three of the Itala, and Juvencus, read ουκ ισχυσας, couldst Thou not - referring the reproach immediately to Peter, who had made the promises mentioned before.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 26:36-46

He who made atonement for the sins of mankind, submitted himself in a garden of suffering, to the will of God, from which man had revolted in a garden of pleasure. Christ took with him into that part of the garden where he suffered his agony, only those who had witnessed his glory in his transfiguration. Those are best prepared to suffer with Christ, who have by faith beheld his glory. The words used denote the most…

Read the full comment on Matthew 26:36-46 →

Matthew 26:40 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἔρχεταιerchetaiHe comesG2064
πρὸςprostoG4314
τοὺςtoustheG3588
μαθητὰςmathētasdisciplesG3101
καὶkaiandG2532
εὑρίσκειheuriskeifindsG2147
αὐτοὺςautousthemG846
καθεύδονταςkatheudontassleepingG2518
καὶkaiAndG2532
λέγειlegeiHe saysG3004
τῷtō<the>G3588
Πέτρῳ·Petrōto Peter;G4074
οὕτωςhoutōsThusG3779
οὐκouknotG3756
ἰσχύσατεischusatewere you ableG2480
μίανmianoneG1520
ὥρανhōranhourG5610
γρηγορῆσαιgrēgorēsaito watchG1127
μετ᾽met᾽withG3326
ἐμοῦ;emouMe?G1473

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

Cross references for Matthew 26:40

  • Luke 22:45

    And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

  • Mark 14:37

    And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?

  • Matthew 26:43

    And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

  • Luke 9:32

    But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

  • Matthew 26:38

    Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

  • Matthew 25:5

    While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

  • Matthew 26:35

    Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

  • Judges 9:33

    And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

  • Song of Solomon 5:2

    I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.

  • 1 Kings 20:11

    And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and findeth.
43; 25:5; So 5:2; Mr 14:37; Lu 9:32; 22:45
What.
35; Jud 9:33; 1Sa 26:15,16; 1Ki 20:11

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

Context

  • Matthew 26:39

    And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

  • Matthew 26:40

    And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

  • Matthew 26:41

    Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Read all of Matthew 26

Matthew 26:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y vino á sus discípulos, y los halló durmiendo, y dijo á Pedro: ¿Así no habéis podido velar conmigo una hora?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il vient vers les disciples, et il les trouve dormant; et il dit à Pierre: Ainsi, vous n’avez pas pu veiller une heure avec moi?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er kommt zu den Jüngern und findet sie schlafend; und er spricht zu Petrus: also nicht eine Stunde vermochtet ihr mit mir zu wachen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et venit ad discipulos suos, et invenit eos dormientes, et dicit Petro: Sic non potuistis una hora vigilare mecum?