ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Matthew 26.39

type: passage created: 2026-05-06 updated: 2026-05-06 book: Matthew chapter: 26 verses: "39" translation_default: ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT tags: [scripture] citation_count: 1 enriched: false

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Matthew 26.39

Book: Matthew · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"37. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled. 38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here, and watch with me."

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

"40. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:37-41, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"37. He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and severely troubled. 38. Then he said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me.”"

"39. He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”"

"40. He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What, couldn’t you watch with me for one hour? 41. Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”" (Matthew 26:37-41, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"37. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me."

"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."

"40. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:37-41, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"37. And having taken Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful, and to be very heavy; 38. then saith he to them, 'Exceedingly sorrowful is my soul, unto death; abide ye here, and watch with me.'"

"39. And having gone forward a little, he fell on his face, praying, and saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou.'"

"40. And 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! 41. watch, and pray, that ye may not enter into temptation: the spirit indeed is forward, but the flesh weak.'" (Matthew 26:37-41, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: Matthew (traditionally) the tax-collector-apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: Jewish-Christian audience (heavy OT-fulfillment emphasis)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Antioch (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 4 BC, AD 30/33; composed c. AD 60-80

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.