John 13 38

John 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.

John 13:38 nkjv

Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

John 13:38 niv

Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

John 13:38 esv

Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

John 13:38 nlt

Jesus answered, "Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter ? before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.

John 13 verses

John 13 38 Meaning

In John 13:38, Jesus prophesies Peter's impending denial of Him. Following Peter's fervent declaration of loyalty, Jesus confronts his confidence with a solemn warning that before the "rooster crows"—a specific temporal marker, signaling morning or a Roman watch—Peter would utterly disown Him three distinct times. This verse underscores Jesus' divine foreknowledge, highlights human fallibility even in the face of genuine devotion, and sets the stage for Peter's ultimate repentance and restoration.

John 13 38 Context

This verse takes place during Jesus' final private moments with His disciples in the Upper Room, immediately following the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples' feet. Jesus has just spoken about His impending departure and given them a new commandment to love one another (John 13:31-35). Peter, true to his impulsive and loyal character, asks where Jesus is going and, upon learning he cannot follow yet, emphatically declares his willingness to lay down his life for Jesus (John 13:36-37). It is in direct response to Peter's confident boast that Jesus delivers this startling prophecy. Historically, this occurs just hours before Jesus' arrest, trials, and crucifixion. The setting is intimate, charged with both anticipation of suffering and a profound unveiling of divine truth concerning the weakness of human commitment.

John 13 38 Word analysis

• Jesus answered,: Signifies a direct response to Peter's declaration (v. 37). It shows Jesus' immediate attention to Peter's claim.
• "Will you really lay down your life for me?": A rhetorical question (Greek: synkedei tēn psychēn sou?), challenging Peter's sincere but overly confident boast. It highlights the disparity between Peter's intent and his strength.
• Truly, truly,: From Greek "Amen, Amen" (ἀμὴν ἀμὴν - amēn amēn). This double "Amen" is a distinctive Johannine signature of Jesus' speech, used only by Him. It emphasizes the solemnity, truth, and absolute certainty of the declaration that follows, signaling a prophetic pronouncement.
• I tell you,: Reinforces the authoritative nature of Jesus' statement.
• before the rooster crows,: This is a specific temporal marker. It points to early morning (likely between 3:00 AM and dawn). In ancient Jewish custom, the third watch of the night was called the "cockcrow" (alektorphōnia). This could refer to a literal bird or to the Roman military bugle call (Gallicinium) at the changing of the guard. Regardless, it precisely defines the time of Peter's failure.
• you will disown me: From Greek "me aparnesē" (με ἀπαρνήσῃ - me aparnēsei). The verb aparnéomai means to deny, reject, renounce, or refuse to acknowledge. It signifies a definitive severing of association, a profound turning away. It is a stark contrast to Peter's pledge to "lay down his life."
• three times.: The repetition of "three" (Greek: tris) signifies completeness or emphatic certainty. This would be a full and total denial, echoing the ritualistic pattern of denial and subsequent restoration (John 21:15-17).

John 13 38 Bonus section

The seemingly paradoxical interplay between divine foreknowledge (Jesus knowing Peter would deny Him) and human free will (Peter actively making the choice to deny Him) is deeply explored in this passage. Jesus' prophecy is not a causal force compelling Peter's denial, but a perfect description of a future event freely chosen by Peter, yet perfectly foreseen by God. This emphasizes God's sovereignty alongside human responsibility. Furthermore, Peter's denial and subsequent restoration are a micro-narrative within the Gospel that offers hope to all who stumble. It illustrates that failure is not the end of one's spiritual journey but can be a pathway to deeper humility, dependence on God, and ultimately, a more powerful witness. Peter, humbled by his failure, becomes the courageous preacher of Pentecost, having learned the bitter lesson that true strength lies not in self-reliance, but in divine grace.

John 13 38 Commentary

John 13:38 stands as a profound moment revealing Jesus' divine omniscience and the raw reality of human frailty. Jesus does not condemn Peter's genuine zeal but gently exposes the limits of self-confidence and inherent weakness. Peter's boast to lay down his life (v. 37) stemmed from sincere love, yet it was untempered by an understanding of the immense spiritual battle ahead. Jesus, knowing precisely what lurked in Peter's heart and what lay before him, delivers this startling prophecy not to humiliate, but to prepare and instruct. It forewarns the deep testing of faith Peter would face, a trial far more formidable than his initial fervor could overcome. This event serves as a crucial lesson: reliance on self, no matter how sincere, will falter. True strength comes only from dependence on Christ, highlighting the necessity of His grace for perseverance. Though Peter falls, this prophecy ultimately testifies to Jesus' perfect foreknowledge and His continuous pastoral care for His disciples, foreshadowing Peter's eventual restoration.