27And Jesus said to them, "All of you will be caused to stumble, because it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' [14:28] But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." [14:29] Peter was saying to him, "Even if all are caused to stumble, I will not." [14:30] And Jesus said to him, "Amen — I tell you that today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." [14:31] But he was saying overexceedingly, "Even if I must die with you, I will absolutely not deny you." And they all were saying the same.
MRK 14:27-31
Jesus Predicts Peterʼs Denial
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, loyalty and honor were paramount virtues, especially within the context of discipleship. Jesus’ prediction that his disciples would 'fall away' would have been deeply unsettling, as it implied a failure in loyalty and a breach of the honor-bound relationship between teacher and disciple. The citation of Zechariah 13:7, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered,' evoked the imagery of a leader’s betrayal and the resulting chaos, a familiar theme in Jewish prophetic tradition. Peter’s vehement denial of this possibility reflects the cultural expectation of steadfastness, particularly in the face of adversity. His insistence that he would not deny Jesus, even to the point of death, aligns with the honor-shame dynamics of the time, where public declarations of loyalty were crucial. Jesus’ use of 'Amen' underscores the certainty of Peter’s impending denial, highlighting the tension between human confidence and divine foreknowledge. The rooster crowing, a common marker of the early morning, would have been a vivid, time-specific detail for the original audience.
›See the receipts
How other translations render this
MRK 14:27
- KJV
- And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
- BSB
- Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus said to them, "All of you will be caused to stumble, because it is written: 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.
MRK 14:28
- KJV
- But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
- BSB
- But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
- Koinōnos
- But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.
MRK 14:29
- KJV
- But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
- BSB
- Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I never will.”
- Koinōnos
- Peter was saying to him, "Even if all are caused to stumble, I will not.
MRK 14:30
- KJV
- And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
- BSB
- “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus said to him, "Amen — I tell you that today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.
MRK 14:31
- KJV
- But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
- BSB
- But Peter kept insisting, “Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You.” And all the others said the same thing.
- Koinōnos
- But he was saying overexceedingly, "Even if I must die with you, I will absolutely not deny you." And they all were saying the same.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 14:27
- you will fall away:The word translated 'you will fall away' implies being tripped up or caused to stumble, often leading to moral failure or a loss of faith. It suggests an external cause for one's downfall.
MRK 14:29
- was saying:The word translated 'was saying' indicates an ongoing or repeated action, suggesting Peter's persistent or emphatic declaration rather than a single, brief statement.
MRK 14:30
- Amen:The term 'Amen' is a Hebrew affirmation adopted into Greek, functioning as a solemn declaration of truth or a strong agreement, often used to emphasize the certainty of what is being said.
MRK 14:31
- overexceedingly:The word translated 'overexceedingly' conveys a sense of being beyond measure or extremely abundant, emphasizing the intensity and excessiveness of Peter's declaration.