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Luke 22:44
ESV And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
NIV And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
NASB And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground].
CSB Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
NLT He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.
KJV And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
NKJV And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

What does Luke 22:44 mean?

Given what has happened (Luke 22:43), one would expect Jesus' weeping to lessen. He is praying on the Mount of Olives while the disciples give in to sleep. With great anguish, He has asked Father God to do something, make some kind of change, so He doesn't have to die under the weight of humanity's sin. He honestly expresses what His human nature feels (Hebrews 4:15) even as He remains totally committed to the Father's will.

Then an angel arrives to strengthen Him (Luke 22:39–43). Jesus' prayers become more fervent. Mark says, "And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words" (Mark 14:39). He is still praying that God the Father will make a way. He knows there is no escape from the cross (Luke 13:33), and He goes willingly (John 10:18), but that doesn't make it easy.

Meanwhile, the disciples are sleeping. Jesus is especially concerned with Peter. Matthew and Mark describe Jesus going away from the disciples to pray three times, finding them asleep after each return (Matthew 26:36–46; Mark 14:32–42). The first time, Jesus says, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:37–38). Ideally, Peter should follow Jesus' example: pray that He may remain loyal to his calling.

Jesus doesn't stay here, though. When it is time, He rises, wakes the disciples, and greets the crowd who has come to arrest Him (Luke 22:45–47).

Luke says, "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling to the ground." The word "like" suggests that the sweat merely appeared similar to drops of blood. That would mean Luke is foreshadowing Jesus' impending, bloody death. Others suggest Jesus may have experienced hematohidrosis. In this rare condition, small blood vessels around the sweat glands rupture and blood comes out of the sweat gland. It can be caused by extreme physical exertion, fear, or psychological distress.

Like Luke 22:43, this verse is not found in the earliest manuscripts of the gospel of Luke.
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