Bible Dictionary
Sweat, Bloody
Jesus’ sweat in Gethsemane is described as being like great drops or clots of blood falling to the ground. The passage presents the intense physical manifestation of his anguish before the crucifixion.
Definition
Bloody sweat describes the physical phenomenon reported during Jesus’ agony in the garden of Gethsemane: his sweat became like great drops, or clots, of blood falling to the ground.
Biblical Usage
The phenomenon appears in the account of the Lord’s intense agony before his crucifixion.
Historical Background
The condition has been identified with diapedesis, for which examples have been recorded in ancient and modern times. Violent mental emotion is given as its usual cause.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
One of the physical phenomena attending our Lord’s agony in the garden of Gethsemane is described by St. Luke, (Luke 22:44) “His sweat was as it were great drops (lit. clots) of blood falling down to the ground.” Of this malady, known in medical science by the term diapedesis, there have been examples recorded in both ancient and modern times. The cause assigned is generally violent mental emotion.