What Does Mark 14:36 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Surrender here does not erase the desire for release; it lets that desire be spoken while the outcome is yielded.
THE MEANING
This prayer lets your wish for release be spoken plainly while the outcome is entrusted to the Father. Desire and surrender occupy the same moment, so trust does not require pretending the cup is welcome.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that surrender requires you to pretend you do not want relief.
THE ROOT
θέλω
thelō
GROWS FROM
θελ-
thel-
To want, wish, or desire.
The Greek verb θέλω (thelō, “to want or desire”) lets “what I will” carry the sense of “what I want.” The same verb frames both sides of the sentence, so the request for removal remains honestly named beside the Father’s desire.
ALSO GROWS
thelein: to want or wish
θέλειν
This form keeps the focus on desire as something actively expressed.
thelēma: will; what is wanted or desired
θέλημα
It names the desired choice or purpose that the prayer yields to.
ποτήριον
potērion
GROWS FROM
πιν-/ποτ- (pin-/pot-, drink)
Drinking; the act of taking in a drink.
The Greek noun ποτήριον (potērion, “drinking cup”) belongs to the πιν-/ποτ- (pin-/pot-, “drink”) word family. The image joins the vessel to the act of drinking, so the request reaches beyond removing an object to asking that its contents need not be taken in.
ALSO GROWS
pínō: to drink
πίνω
The verb makes explicit what the cup is for: drinking.
póma: a drink; that which is drunk
πόμα
This branch draws attention to what the cup contains, the portion the speaker asks not to take in.
δυνατά
dynata
GROWS FROM
δυνα-
dyna-
Ability or capacity; being able to do something.
The adjective δυνατά (dynata, “possible”) belongs to the family of δύναμαι (dýnamai, “to be able”). The sentence places divine capacity beside the request, then leaves the outcome to the Father’s will: what is possible and what is chosen are not the same thing.
ALSO GROWS
dýnamai: to be able; to have power
δύναμαι
This verb names the capacity behind the statement that all things are possible.
dýnamis: power; ability
δύναμις
This noun makes the root’s sense of capacity explicit.
THE PATTERN
A request for release can be spoken plainly while the outcome is entrusted to God.
But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.THE THREAD
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?Mark 10:38 uses the same Greek word ποτήριον (potērion, “drinking cup”) and immediately asks whether the disciples can drink it. The cup in Gethsemane is more than a vessel to remove; it is a portion whose contents must be taken in.
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