66And while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female slaves of the high priest came, [14:67] and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." [14:68] But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor am acquainted with what you are saying." And he went out into the gateway, and a rooster crowed. [14:69] And the female slave, seeing him, began again to say to those standing by, "This man is one of them." [14:70] But he was denying it again. And after a little while, those standing by were saying to Peter, "Truly you are one of them, for you are also a Galilean." [14:71] And he began to invoke a divine curse upon himself, swearing, "I do not know this man you are talking about." [14:72] And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
MRK 14:66-72
Peter Denies Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In the courtyard of the high priest’s residence, Peter finds himself in a space where social hierarchies are sharply defined. The servant girl who confronts him is likely a low-status household slave, yet her accusation carries weight because she represents the authority of the high priest’s household. Peter’s denial, marked by his claim to not 'know' Jesus, reflects the high-stakes nature of association with a condemned figure. In the honor-shame culture of the 1st century, public identification with Jesus would bring immediate social and physical peril. The courtyard, a semi-public space, amplifies this tension, as Peter’s actions are witnessed by others. The rooster’s crow, a common timekeeping marker in agrarian societies, underscores the inevitability of Peter’s failure, fulfilling Jesus’ earlier prediction. This scene highlights the precarious position of Jesus’ followers in a society where loyalty to a condemned leader could lead to ostracism or worse.
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How other translations render this
MRK 14:66
- KJV
- And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
- BSB
- While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down
- Koinōnos
- And while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the female slaves of the high priest came,
MRK 14:67
- KJV
- And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
- BSB
- and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”
- Koinōnos
- and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.
MRK 14:68
- KJV
- But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
- BSB
- But he denied it. “I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed.
- Koinōnos
- But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor am acquainted with what you are saying." And he went out into the gateway, and a rooster crowed.
MRK 14:69
- KJV
- And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
- BSB
- There the servant girl saw him and again said to those standing nearby, “This man is one of them.”
- Koinōnos
- And the female slave, seeing him, began again to say to those standing by, "This man is one of them.
MRK 14:70
- KJV
- And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
- BSB
- But he denied it again. After a little while, those standing nearby said once more to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you too are a Galilean.”
- Koinōnos
- But he was denying it again. And after a little while, those standing by were saying to Peter, "Truly you are one of them, for you are also a Galilean.
MRK 14:71
- KJV
- But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
- BSB
- But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!”
- Koinōnos
- And he began to invoke a divine curse upon himself, swearing, "I do not know this man you are talking about.
MRK 14:72
- KJV
- And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
- BSB
- And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
- Koinōnos
- And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter recalled the word that Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 14:66
- courtyard:The word translated 'courtyard' refers to an open, unroofed area within or in front of a house, often where daily activities took place, rather than a modern paved yard.
- servant girls:The term used here for 'servant girls' specifically denotes young female slaves or bondmaids, highlighting their social status and lack of freedom.
MRK 14:68
- understand:The word translated 'understand' carries a sense of knowing or being acquainted with something, not just intellectual comprehension, but also recognition or familiarity.
MRK 14:71
- to curse:The phrase translated 'to curse' here implies Peter was not just swearing, but invoking a divine curse upon himself if he was lying, a very serious oath.