In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that Jesus' prayers were heard not merely because he offered them, but because of his reverence. This "reverence" (a word suggesting devout awe and careful submission) signifies that his deep respect for God's will, even in the face of unimaginable suffering, was the key factor in his prayer being accepted and answered. This emphasizes that true prayer isn't just about asking, but about approaching God with profound respect and submission to His ultimate purpose.
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus, facing immense suffering and the prospect of death, pours out earnest prayers and supplications to God, weeping and crying out to Him who could save him. This intense human experience, occurring in the "days of his flesh," demonstrates his profound reverence and submission, leading to his being heard and ultimately strengthened for what he endured.
Jesus cried out with loud voice and tears. Was this a sign of weakness, or something essential for his role?
The verse vividly describes Jesus in the throes of intense suffering: 'prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears.' This wasn't a mere display of emotion; it was a profound expression of his human experience as he faced the ultimate trial. The commentators highlight that 'flesh' here refers to his human nature, susceptible to suffering. His agony in the garden, and perhaps on the cross, wasn't a sign of failing faith, but a testament to the reality of his humanity. He genuinely felt the dread and weight of what was to come, showing he was truly like us in every way, except sin.
This intense emotional and spiritual struggle was crucial. It wasn't about avoiding suffering, but about engaging with it fully, demonstrating his perfect obedience and reliance on the Father even in the most extreme distress.
Jesus was 'heard because of his reverence.' What does this mean, and how did it lead to his answer?
The verse states Jesus 'was heard because of his reverence.' This doesn't mean his prayer was simply granted as he initially might have wished. Instead, his prayer was heard because of his profound 'reverence' or 'godly fear' – a deep respect and submission to God's will.
The commentators clarify that 'reverence' here is not terror but a profound, circumspect piety and submission. Jesus wasn't heard to avoid the suffering, but to be strengthened through it. His prayer expressed the natural human desire to escape pain, as seen in 'let this cup pass from me.' However, the ultimate outcome was his perfect submission: 'nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.' This profound reverence and submission to the Father's will was the essence of his prayer being heard and answered, enabling him to complete his mission.
Ask a follow-up
Did Jesus pray to avoid death, or was his prayer part of a larger divine purpose?
Jesus’ prayers and supplications were not about evading his destiny but were integral to his preparation for it. The commentators point out that his plea, 'save him from death,' could mean deliverance from the anguish of death, or being saved out of death (through resurrection), rather than avoiding death altogether.
His prayers, offered 'with strong crying and tears,' were a vital part of his consecrated, human experience. This intense wrestling with the Father's will, and his ultimate submission, trained him in obedience. It wasn't that he needed to learn obedience as if he were flawed, but that he demonstrated perfect obedience through his human experience, making him the perfect High Priest.
This shows us that prayer isn't always about receiving a 'yes' to our immediate desires, but about conforming our will to God's, finding strength and purpose in the midst of trials, and ultimately being made fit for His purposes.
Understand the original words
sarx · Greek Noun
A period of time or state of human existence characterized by mortality, weakness, and vulnerability to temptation and suffering, which the Son of God voluntarily assumed at the incarnation.
deēsis · Greek Noun
Petitions or requests made to God, often involving the confession of need and total dependence on His mercy and power. In the Bible, these are characterized by humility, persistence, and trust in God's character.
thanatos · Greek Noun
The finality of human life resulting from sin, but also the physical event through which all must pass unless Christ returns. In the context of Christ, it refers to the separation of body and soul that He experienced for humanity.
eulabeia · Greek Noun
A state of pious devotion, godly fear, or reverence toward God that involves proper respect, awe, and submission to His will. It signifies a disposition that is pleasing to God.
eisakouō · Greek Verb
The act of hearing and responding to a request; in a biblical context, it implies that God not only hears the voice of the petitioner but actively intervenes or answers according to His sovereign will.
This verse highlights Jesus' humanity and his profound emotional struggle in the face of suffering and death, emphasizing that his obedience and reverence were learned through these intense experiences, not inherent to his divine nature alone.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus' Agony in Gethsemane
Jesus prayed intensely in the Garden of Gethsemane, expressing deep sorrow and distress, even sweating blood, as he faced his impending crucifixion. He submitted his will to God's, asking for deliverance but ultimately accepting the path set before him.
c. 30-33 AD
Crucifixion of Jesus
Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified. His last words on the cross, recorded in the Gospels, express profound suffering and a cry to God.
c. 30-33 AD
Resurrection of Jesus
Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus was raised from the dead, demonstrating victory over death and confirming his divine authority.
c. 40-60 AD
Early Church Growth and Persecution
The message of Jesus spread rapidly, but the early followers faced significant opposition and persecution from both Jewish authorities and the Roman Empire.
c. 60-70 AD
Writing of the Book of Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews was likely written during a time when believers, facing hardship and pressure to revert to old practices, needed encouragement to persevere in their faith in Christ.
This passage directly describes Jesus' agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, detailing his fervent prayer, 'strong crying,' and distress, which strongly parallels the description in Hebrews 5:7.
Philippians 2:8This verse states that Jesus 'humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!' This echoes the obedience learned through suffering mentioned in Hebrews 5:7-8, emphasizing his willingness to face death despite its terror.
Psalm 22:1-2The cry 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' from Psalm 22 is a powerful expression of Jesus' suffering and abandonment, resonating with the 'loud cries and tears' and the profound anguish described in Hebrews 5:7.
Matthew 26:39Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will,' shows his human desire for deliverance from suffering while submitting to God's will, mirroring the petition and reverence in Hebrews 5:7.
Romans 8:32The assurance that God 'did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all' highlights God's ability and ultimate plan to 'save' through sacrifice, connecting with the idea in Hebrews 5:7 that God was able to save Jesus, ultimately through his obedience unto death.
ellicottHebrews 5:7: "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;"
(7, 8) Who in the days of his flesh . . . —It will be observed that, of the two essential conditions mentioned in Hebrews 5:2 and Hebrews 5:4 , the latter is first taken up in its application to Christ ( Hebrews 5:5-6 ). This verse and the next correspond to the general thought of Hebrews 5:1-2…
barnesHebrews 5:7: "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;"
Who - That is, the Lord Jesus - for so the connection demands. The object of this verse and the two following is, to show that the Lord Jesus had that qualification for the office of priest to which he had referred in Hebrews 5:2 . It was one important qualification for that office that he who s…
The verse highlights that Jesus' prayers were heard not merely because he offered them, but because of his reverence. This "reverence" (a word suggesting devout awe and careful submission) signifies that his deep respect for God's will, even in the face of unimaginable suffering, was the key factor in his prayer being accepted and answered. This emphasizes that true prayer isn't just about asking, but about approaching God with profound respect and submission to His ultimate purpose.
Jesus, facing immense suffering and the prospect of death, pours out earnest prayers and supplications to God, weeping and crying out to Him who could save him. This intense human experience, occurring in the "days of his flesh," demonstrates his profound reverence and submission, leading to his being heard and ultimately strengthened for what he endured.
Jesus, facing immense suffering and the prospect of death, pours out earnest prayers and supplications to God, weeping and crying out to Him who could save him. This intense human experience, occurring in the "days of his flesh," demonstrates his profound reverence and submission, leading to his being heard and ultimately strengthened for what he endured.
"In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence." — The verse highlights that Jesus' prayers were heard not merely because he offered them, but because of his reverence. This "reverence" (a word suggesting devout awe and careful submission) signifie…
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Last reviewed October 2026