Gethsemane
Gethsemane is a structure mentioned in the New Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Gethsemane holds the most solemn place in Christian memory as the garden where Jesus prayed on the night of his betrayal and arrest. The name derives from the Aramaic meaning 'oil press,' reflecting the olive groves that covered the western slope of the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem. Matthew 26:36 and Mark 14:32 record that Jesus led his disciples there after the Last Supper. In that garden, Jesus withdrew to pray with anguished intensity, asking that the cup of suffering might pass from him yet submitting entirely to the Father's will — a moment of supreme obedience that theologians regard as pivotal to the doctrine of atonement. Luke 22:44 describes his sweat as like drops of blood, conveying the depth of his spiritual agony. It was here that Judas Iscariot arrived with a crowd bearing torches and weapons, greeting Jesus with a kiss that signaled his betrayal, leading to Jesus' arrest and the beginning of his passion. Gethsemane thus marks the threshold between the public ministry of Jesus and the events of crucifixion and resurrection that constitute the heart of the Christian gospel.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The traditional site of Gethsemane lies at the foot of the Mount of Olives, adjacent to the Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony), constructed in 1924 over Byzantine and Crusader remains. Eight ancient olive trees in the enclosure have been dated by researchers — some estimates suggesting they may be nearly 2,000 years old, though precise dating remains debated. The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land has maintained the garden since the medieval period. Ongoing excavations in the vicinity have uncovered oil-press installations consistent with the site's name. The location enjoys broad consensus among scholars as an authentic or near-authentic identification of the gospel site.
Verse Appearances (2)
Matt
Mark
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →