The Meaning of Mark 1:35 Explained

Mark 1:35

KJV: And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

YLT: And very early, it being yet night, having risen, he went forth, and went away to a desert place, and was there praying;

Darby: And rising in the morning long before day, he went out and went away into a desert place, and there prayed.

ASV: And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  in the morning,  rising up  a great while  before day,  he went out,  and  departed  into  a solitary  place,  and there  prayed. 

What does Mark 1:35 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Mark implied that these events happened the next day. Many people would have slept late after such a busy day, but Jesus rose early, even before dawn, and went to a remote (Gr. eremon, Mark 1:4, wilderness, cf. Mark 1:12) place to pray (Gr. proseucho, the general word for prayer). This sacrificial act paints Jesus as consciously dependent on His Father for strength and direction for what lay ahead of Him (i.e, a servant; cf. Isaiah 50:4). It also implies further conflict with Satan since Satan had confronted Him in the wilderness previously. Prayerlessness typically manifests self-sufficiency, but prayerfulness reveals humility.
"Mark selectively portrayed Jesus at prayer on three crucial occasions, each in a setting of darkness and aloneness: near the beginning of his account ( Mark 1:35), near the middle ( Mark 6:46), and near the end ( Mark 14:32-42). All three were occasions when He was faced with the possibility of achieving His messianic mission in a more attractive, less costly way. But in each case He gained strength through prayer." [1]
In this case the crest of popular support that Jesus had ridden the day before threatened to carry Him into political leadership that might have washed out the Cross.

Context Summary

Mark 1:21-39 - The Helper Of The Needy
The word straightway is typical of our Lord's life. It occurs at least eleven times in this chapter (r.v.), and is the keynote of Mark's Gospel, which is pre-eminently the gospel of service. The ancient symbol for this Gospel was the ox. There is comparatively little said in it, as in Matthew, about the King; or, as in Luke, about the details of Jesus' humanity; or, as in John, about His divine sonship. There are suggestions of all these, but emphasis is laid on the unresting labors of Jesus, who went about doing good. In illustration of this trait in the Master's life, the evangelist narrates the proceedings of two typical days, the one at the beginning, the other at the close of His ministry. The first typical day is recorded in this chapter, Mark 1:21-38. The morning was spent in the synagogue, where at the close of the service the demon was cast out; the afternoon witnessed the healing of Peter's wife's mother; the evening beheld the throng at the door, whom he healed. Early next day He had gone forth for prayer, and forthwith started on a mission throughout all Galilee. The second typical day is recorded in Mark 11:20-33; Mark 12:1-44; Mark 13:1-37. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 1

1  The office of John the Baptist
9  Jesus is baptized;
12  tempted;
14  he preaches;
16  calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John;
23  heals one that had a demon;
29  Peter's mother in law;
32  many diseased persons;
40  and cleanses the leper

Greek Commentary for Mark 1:35

In the morning, a great while before day [πρωι εννυχα λιαν]
Luke has only “when it was day” The word πρωι — prōi in Mark means the last watch of the night from three to six a.m. Εννυχα λιαν — Ennucha lian means in the early part of the watch while it was still a bit dark (cf. Mark 16:2 λιαν πρωι — lian prōi). [source]
Rose up and went out [αναστας εχηλτεν]
Out of the house and out of the city, off “Flight from the unexpected reality into which His ideal conception of His calling had brought Him” (H.J. Holtzmann). Gould notes that Jesus seems to retreat before his sudden popularity, to prayer with the Father “that he might not be ensnared by this popularity, or in any way induced to accept the ways of ease instead of duty.” But Jesus also had a plan for a preaching tour of Galilee and “He felt He could not begin too soon. He left in the night, fearing opposition from the people” (Bruce). Surely many a popular preacher can understand this mood of Jesus when in the night he slips away to a solitary place for prayer. Jesus knew what it was to spend a whole night in prayer. He knew the blessing of prayer and the power of prayer.And there prayed (κακει προσηυχετο — k'akei prosēucheto). Imperfect tense picturing Jesus as praying through the early morning hours. [source]
And there prayed [κακει προσηυχετο]
Imperfect tense picturing Jesus as praying through the early morning hours. [source]
A great while before day [ἔννυχα]
Lit., while it was in the night. The word is peculiar to Mark. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 1:35

Luke 4:42 When it was day [γενομενης ημερας]
Genitive absolute with aorist middle participle. Mark 1:35 notes it was “a great while before day” (which see note for discussion) when Jesus rose up to go after a restless night. No doubt, because of the excitement of the previous sabbath in Capernaum. He went out to pray (Mark 1:35). [source]
John 17:1 Lifting up [επαρας]
First aorist active participle of επαιρω — epairō old and common verb with οπταλμους — ophthalmous (eyes) as in John 4:35; John 6:5; John 11:41. Father Vocative form as in John 16:5, John 16:11; John 11:41, Christ‘s usual way of beginning his prayers. It is inconceivable that this real Lord‘s Prayer is the free composition of a disciple put into the mouth of Jesus. It is rather “the tenacious memory of an old man recalling the greatest days of his life” (Bernard), aided by the Holy Spirit promised for this very purpose (John 14:26; John 16:13.). Jesus had the habit of prayer (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Matthew 11:25.; Luke 3:21; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28; Luke 11:22, Luke 11:42; Luke 23:34, Luke 23:46; John 11:41; John 12:27). He prayed here for himself (John 17:1-5), for the disciples (John 17:6-19), for all believers (John 17:20-26). The prayer is similar in spirit to the Model Prayer for us in Matthew 6:9-13. The hour for his glorification has come as he had already told the disciples (John 13:31.; John 12:23). Glorify thy Son First aorist active imperative of δοχαζω — doxazō the only personal petition in this prayer. Jesus had already used this word δοχαζω — doxazō for his death (John 13:31.). Here it carries us into the very depths of Christ‘s own consciousness. It is not merely for strength to meet the Cross, but for the power to glorify the Father by his death and resurrection and ascension, “that the Son may glorify thee” Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the first aorist active subjunctive. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 1:35 mean?

And very early in night still much having risen up He went out departed into solitary a place and there He was praying
Καὶ πρωῒ ἔννυχα λίαν ἀναστὰς ἐξῆλθεν ἀπῆλθεν εἰς ἔρημον τόπον κἀκεῖ προσηύχετο

πρωῒ  very  early 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πρωί̈  
Sense: in the morning, early.
ἔννυχα  in  night 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔννυχος  
Sense: nightly, nocturnal.
λίαν  still  much 
Parse: Adverb
Root: λίαν  
Sense: greatly, exceedingly, exceedingly beyond measure.
ἀναστὰς  having  risen  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀναπηδάω 
Sense: to cause to rise up, raise up.
ἐξῆλθεν  He  went  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
ἀπῆλθεν  departed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἔρημον  solitary 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρημος  
Sense: solitary, lonely, desolate, uninhabited.
τόπον  a  place 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: τόπος 
Sense: place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space.
κἀκεῖ  and  there 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: κἀκεῖ  
Sense: and there.
προσηύχετο  He  was  praying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: προσεύχομαι  
Sense: to offer prayers, to pray.