14:36a

Abba, Father: Here Jesus spoke to God as his father. In the Aramaic language, Abba is the informal word for “father.” It was used by family members. He used Abba, the informal word for “father,” and followed it with the Greek word for “father.” It is not clear why Mark included two words that mean “father.”

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• If you have both a formal and informal word for “father” you may be able to use both here.

• Use an expression in your language which indicates that Jesus spoke to God, his Father in an affectionate way. For example:

my father, my father
-or-
dear father

• Transliterate Abba and explain it in a footnote. Here is an example footnote:

Jesus used the Aramaic word “Abba” here. It means “Daddy/Papa.” A person used this word to speak to his father when they were at home together.

If the word Abba has a different meaning in your language, you should not include this word in the text.

Use whichever form is most natural in your language for a son to address his father in a way that shows affection.

He said: The Berean Standard Bible places the words He said after “Abba, Father.” In Greek these words occur at the beginning of 14:36a. Place the words He said where it is natural in your language.

14:36b

all things are possible for You: In this context the clause all things are possible for You indicates that God can do anything, and he can cause anything to happen.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

you are able to do everything
-or-
nothing is impossible for you

14:36c

Take this cup from Me: The words Take this cup from Me are a humble prayer. Be sure to express it in a humble and polite way in your language.

this cup: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as cup is used here as a figure of speech. It refers to the suffering that Jesus would soon experience. Jesus was asking God to rescue him from the suffering that he would endure on the cross. If your readers would not understand this, here are some ways to translate it:

• Keep the figure of speech and indicate that it refers to suffering. For example, the New Living Translation says:

Please, take this cup of suffering away from me.

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

Save me from this suffering.

14:36d

Yet: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Yet here introduces a limit or condition that Jesus added to his request. Jesus had asked to be saved from suffering, but he did not want God to save him if it was not God’s will.

Here are some other ways to translate this conjunction:

However
-or-
But even though I have asked this

not what I will, but what You will: There are implied words in this clause:

Do not do what I want you to do, but do what you want to do.

This clause indicates that Jesus accepted whatever his Father wanted to happen to him. He chose what his Father wanted, rather than what he wanted.

In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of these clauses and say:

your will be done, not my will

but what You will: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but indicates a contrast between two choices. In this context Jesus had to choose either what he wanted to happen or what God wanted to happen. Jesus chose what God wanted.

General Comment on 14:35–36

In 14:36 Mark gives the words that Jesus prayed as a direct quote. In some languages it may be necessary to translate 14:35c also as part of the direct quote. For example:

He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible in your plan, let me avoid the suffering that is about to strike me. Everything is possible for you. Cause this suffering not to come. Yet do what you want, not what I want.”

Paragraph 14:37–38

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