Luke 5:16
New International Version
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

New Living Translation
But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

English Standard Version
But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Berean Standard Bible
Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

Berean Literal Bible
And He Himself was withdrawing into the wilderness and praying.

King James Bible
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

New King James Version
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

New American Standard Bible
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

NASB 1995
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

NASB 1977
But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.

Legacy Standard Bible
But He Himself would often slip away to the desolate regions and pray.

Amplified Bible
But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].

Christian Standard Bible
Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.

American Standard Version
But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.

Contemporary English Version
But Jesus would often go to some place where he could be alone and pray.

English Revised Version
But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But he would go away to places where he could be alone for prayer.

Good News Translation
But he would go away to lonely places, where he prayed.

International Standard Version
However, he continued his habit of retiring to deserted places and praying.

Majority Standard Bible
Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

NET Bible
Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed.

New Heart English Bible
But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Weymouth New Testament
but Jesus Himself constantly withdrew into the Desert and there prayed.

World English Bible
But he withdrew himself into the desert and prayed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He was withdrawing Himself in the desolate places and was praying.

Berean Literal Bible
And He Himself was withdrawing into the wilderness and praying.

Young's Literal Translation
and he was withdrawing himself in the desert places and was praying.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he was retreating into the deserts, and praying.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he retired into the desert, and prayed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he withdrew into the desert and prayed.

New American Bible
but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.

New Revised Standard Version
But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But he departed into the wilderness, and prayed.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But he was departing to the wilderness and praying.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he withdrew to the deserts and prayed.

Godbey New Testament
And He was out in the deserts, and praying.

Haweis New Testament
But he himself was in the desert for retirement and prayer.

Mace New Testament
so that he retired into places of solitude, for the convenience of prayer.

Weymouth New Testament
but Jesus Himself constantly withdrew into the Desert and there prayed.

Worrell New Testament
And He was wont to retire into the deserts, and pray.

Worsley New Testament
But He frequently retired into solitary places, and prayed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Leper's Prayer
15But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray. 17One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.…

Cross References
Mark 1:35
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.

Matthew 14:23
After He had dismissed them, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,

Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Luke 6:12
In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.

Matthew 26:36
Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He told them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Mark 6:46
After bidding them farewell, He went up on the mountain to pray.

Luke 9:18
One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”

Luke 9:28
About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.

Matthew 17:1
After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

John 6:15
Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.

Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

Psalm 55:16-17
But I call to God, and the LORD saves me. / Morning, noon, and night, I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Psalm 109:4
In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.


Treasury of Scripture

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

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.

Matthew 14:23
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.

Mark 1:35,36
And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed…

Jump to Previous
Abroad Crowded Cured Desert Deserts Diseases Great Hear Jesus Lonely Multitudes Often Places Prayed Praying Report Slip Spread Waste Wilderness Withdrawing Withdrew
Jump to Next
Abroad Crowded Cured Desert Deserts Diseases Great Hear Jesus Lonely Multitudes Often Places Prayed Praying Report Slip Spread Waste Wilderness Withdrawing Withdrew
Luke 5
1. Jesus teaches the people out of Peter's ship;
4. shows how he will make them fishers of men;
12. cleanses the leper;
16. prays in the desert;
17. heals a paralytic;
27. calls Matthew the tax collector;
29. eats with sinners, as being the physician of souls;
33. foretells the fasting and afflictions of the apostles after his ascension;
36. and illustrates the matter by the parable of patches.














Yet He frequently withdrew
This phrase highlights the regular practice of Jesus to seek solitude. In the Gospels, Jesus often retreats from the crowds and even His disciples to spend time alone. This practice underscores the importance of personal communion with God, setting an example for believers to prioritize time away from the busyness of life to focus on spiritual matters. The use of "frequently" indicates that this was not a one-time event but a consistent habit, emphasizing the necessity of regular spiritual discipline.

to the wilderness
The wilderness, or desert, in biblical terms, is often a place of testing, reflection, and divine encounter. It is reminiscent of the Israelites' 40 years in the desert, where they learned dependence on God. For Jesus, the wilderness was a place of preparation and spiritual fortification, as seen in His 40 days of fasting and temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:1-11). The wilderness setting also symbolizes separation from worldly distractions, allowing for deeper focus on prayer and communion with God.

to pray
Prayer is central to Jesus' ministry and life, demonstrating His dependence on the Father. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus prays at key moments, such as before choosing the twelve apostles (Luke 6:12-13) and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). His prayer life serves as a model for believers, illustrating the importance of seeking God's guidance, strength, and will. This phrase also highlights the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father, a relationship that believers are invited to share through prayer.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is depicted as frequently withdrawing to pray, emphasizing His commitment to communion with the Father.

2. The Wilderness
A place of solitude and reflection, the wilderness serves as a backdrop for Jesus' prayer life, symbolizing separation from the distractions of daily life.

3. Prayer
The act of communication with God, prayer is highlighted as a vital practice in Jesus' ministry and personal life.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Solitude in Prayer
Jesus' example shows the necessity of withdrawing from the busyness of life to focus on God. We should seek times of solitude to deepen our relationship with Him.

Consistency in Prayer Life
Jesus "frequently" withdrew to pray, indicating a regular and disciplined prayer life. We are encouraged to establish consistent prayer habits.

Prayer as a Source of Strength
Jesus' retreats to prayer were a source of strength and guidance. In our lives, prayer should be a primary means of seeking God's will and empowerment.

Modeling After Christ
As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His practices, including His dedication to prayer. This involves prioritizing time with God amidst our daily routines.(16) He withdrew himself into the wilderness.--Literally, into the wildernesses, agreeing with St. Mark's "in desert places," now in one part, now in another, of the unenclosed, uncultivated country. The addition that he "was praying" there is peculiar to St. Luke, who, throughout his Gospel, lays stress on this feature in our Lord's life. (See Introduction.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Yet
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

He
αὐτὸς (autos)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

frequently
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

withdrew
ὑποχωρῶν (hypochōrōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5298: To withdraw, retire, go back, retreat. From hupo and choreo; to vacate down, i.e. Retire quietly.

to
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

wilderness
ἐρήμοις (erēmois)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2048: Lonesome, i.e. waste.

to
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

pray.
προσευχόμενος (proseuchomenos)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4336: To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.


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NT Gospels: Luke 5:16 But he withdrew himself into the desert (Luke Lu Lk)
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