John 18 10

John 18:10 kjv

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

John 18:10 nkjv

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

John 18:10 niv

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

John 18:10 esv

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

John 18:10 nlt

Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest's slave.

John 18 verses

John 18 10 Meaning

John 18:10 describes the moment of Jesus' arrest when Simon Peter, in an attempt to defend Jesus, impulsively drew a sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest. This act of violence contrasts sharply with Jesus' divine mission of willing suffering and reveals Peter's misunderstanding of the spiritual nature of Jesus' kingdom.

John 18 10 Context

John 18:10 occurs in the Garden of Gethsemane during the arrest of Jesus. After sharing the Last Supper and a profound discourse with His disciples, Jesus entered the garden, knowing His hour had come. Judas, one of the twelve, arrived with a detachment of Roman soldiers and temple guards to arrest Jesus. When they identified Jesus, He willingly came forward. The scene is tense, with armed men facing Jesus and His eleven remaining disciples. Peter's action is an immediate, fervent response to protect his Master from capture, yet it misunderstands Jesus' foreordained path to the cross and His rejection of worldly force. This event directly precedes Jesus' own command to put away the sword and His being led away for trial.

John 18 10 Word analysis

• Then: Ov̓͂ν (oun) – Greek conjunction often indicating logical consequence or continuation. It connects Peter's action directly to the previous exchange where Jesus affirmed His identity to the arresting party, implying Peter's sudden and misguided response to perceived aggression.
• Simon Peter: Known for his impulsiveness, strong convictions, and eventual denial of Jesus. His dual name "Simon Peter" in John often highlights his identity as both an individual and a foundational apostle.
• having a sword: Ἔχων μάχαιραν (Echōn machairan) – The disciples, per Luke 22:36-38, had acquired two swords. Peter carrying one shows preparation for perceived physical threat or self-defense, or perhaps a misunderstanding of Jesus' previous metaphorical instruction about swords. Machaira is a relatively small sword, like a dagger or a knife for close combat, common among travelers for protection against robbers, rather than a military weapon.
• drew it: Εἵλκυσεν (Heilkusen) – To pull, drag, draw out. Indicates a swift, decisive, and forceful action. Peter did not hesitate.
• and struck: καὶ ἔπαισεν (kai epaisen) – And he struck. This immediate impact follows the drawing of the sword, showing the direct application of the weapon in a moment of crisis.
• the high priest's servant: τὸν τοῦ ἀρχιερέως δοῦλον (ton tou archiereōs doulou) – Malchus, identified here, was not a common soldier but an important slave in the retinue of Caiaphas. Striking such an individual was a grave offense, akin to striking the high priest himself by extension. This specific targeting highlights Peter's defiance and the gravity of the incident.
• cutting off: καὶ ἀφείλεν (kai apheilen) – Literally, "took off" or "cut off." The result of the strike, indicating Peter's aim (or perhaps a desperate swing) led to this precise injury.
• his right ear: τὸ οὖς αὐτοῦ τὸ δεξιόν (to ous autou to dexion) – The specificity of the "right ear" suggests John, who often includes minute details (cf. Jn 13:23, 19:34, 20:7), had access to precise information, likely from eyewitness accounts. The removal of the right ear could be a humiliating injury, potentially marking a slave as unfit for certain duties, and an attempt to incapacitate. In some ancient judicial practices, specific body parts were targets for punishment.
• (The servant's name was Malchus.): John uniquely identifies the servant by name, adding a historical touch to the narrative not found in the Synoptic Gospels. This detail provides credibility and makes the incident personal, showing Jesus' divine power to heal a named individual even among his enemies. It further emphasizes John's intimate knowledge of the events surrounding Jesus' ministry.

John 18 10 Bonus section

• Polemics against worldly power: Peter's action is a direct manifestation of a desire for a Messiah who would overthrow Roman oppression by force. Jesus' immediate rebuke in John 18:11 ("Put your sword into its sheath...") directly confronts and dismisses this common Jewish expectation of a political liberator. It clearly teaches that His kingdom operates on spiritual principles, not military might, serving as an implicit polemic against reliance on human power and violence for the advancement of God's purposes.
• Significance of the "right ear": Beyond a specific injury, losing the right ear in ancient Judaism could also bear symbolic weight, though not explicitly stated. The ear in Scripture is often associated with hearing and obedience to God's word (e.g., Ps 40:6, Isa 50:4-5). A damaged ear could metaphorically imply a hindrance to hearing or following. However, Jesus' healing (recorded in Lk 22:51) immediately reverses this, not only demonstrating His miraculous power but also restoring Malchus' ability to hear—a subtle grace extended even to an enemy servant involved in His arrest, providing a profound example of divine love in action.
• Peter's growth: This moment of Peter's physical defense stands in stark contrast to his later spiritual defense of the Gospel. After Pentecost, Peter boldly proclaims Christ, not with a sword, but with the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph 6:17), leading many to repentance without violence, reflecting a profound transformation and understanding of Christ's true mission.

John 18 10 Commentary

John 18:10 is a pivotal, yet concise, illustration of the tension between human will and divine purpose during Jesus' arrest. Peter's violent act, though fueled by fierce loyalty and zeal for his master, profoundly misunderstands Jesus' kingdom, which is not of this world and does not advance by physical force or retaliation. This episode starkly highlights Peter's enduring impulsiveness and lack of spiritual insight at this crucial juncture, despite Jesus having foretold His suffering and death. By resisting the arrest, Peter implicitly sought to thwart God's salvific plan. The sword, intended by Peter for defense, became a tool of offense, contrary to Jesus' teachings on love and non-resistance. While the Synoptics report Jesus' healing of the ear, John focuses on Peter's action and Jesus' subsequent command to "put your sword into its sheath," affirming His willing acceptance of suffering as a necessary part of drinking "the cup" (God's appointed suffering and wrath for sin). This short verse, with the unique naming of Malchus, reinforces the factual and personal nature of the Gospel account, while subtly underscoring Jesus' authority even in His moment of apparent helplessness, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to the Father's will and the non-violent establishment of His spiritual kingdom.