36Simon Peter says to him: "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him: "Where I am going you are not able to follow me now, but you will follow afterward." [13:37] Peter says to him: "Lord, why am I not able to follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." [13:38] Jesus answers: "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will certainly not crow until you have denied me three times."
JHN 13:36-38
Jesus Predicts Peterʼs Denial
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, discipleship was a deeply relational and hierarchical commitment. To (follow) a teacher meant more than physical accompaniment; it entailed allegiance, imitation, and shared identity. Peter’s declaration that he would lay down his (life/self) for Jesus reflects the honor-shame culture, where such a vow was a public claim of loyalty and courage. However, Jesus’ response underscores the fragility of human resolve. The emphatic (certainly not) paired with (truly, truly) highlights the gravity of Peter’s impending failure. In a society where public denial of association with a condemned figure would bring profound shame, Jesus’ prediction would have been jarring. The rooster’s crow, a common marker of dawn, serves as a humbling reminder of human limitation. This exchange would have resonated with early audiences familiar with the risks of discipleship in a context where loyalty to Jesus could mean social ostracism or worse.
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How other translations render this
JHN 13:36
- KJV
- Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
- BSB
- “Lord, where are You going?” Simon Peter asked. Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”
- Koinōnos
- Simon Peter says to him: "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered him: "Where I am going you are not able to follow me now, but you will follow afterward.
JHN 13:37
- KJV
- Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
- BSB
- “Lord,” said Peter, “why canʼt I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
- Koinōnos
- Peter says to him: "Lord, why am I not able to follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.
JHN 13:38
- KJV
- Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
- BSB
- “Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.
- Koinōnos
- Jesus answers: "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will certainly not crow until you have denied me three times.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 13:36
- Me:The word translated 'Me' here is a form of 'follow,' and it often described soldiers or slaves following their leader or master, implying a close and obedient adherence.
JHN 13:37
- life:The term translated 'life' here refers to one's very existence or vital breath, often used in contexts of risking or sacrificing one's life.
JHN 13:38
- Me:The word translated 'Me' is actually 'amen,' a Hebrew term used to affirm truth or express a strong desire for something to be so, often translated as 'truly' or 'verily.'
- to you;:The word translated 'to you;' is a negative particle used in prohibitions, indicating a strong command not to do something, rather than simply a statement of fact.