Mark 14 30

Mark 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.

Mark 14:30 nkjv

Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."

Mark 14:30 niv

"Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "today?yes, tonight?before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times."

Mark 14:30 esv

And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."

Mark 14:30 nlt

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter ? this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me."

Mark 14 verses

Mark 14 30 Meaning

This verse records Jesus' solemn and precise prediction to Peter concerning his impending denial. Despite Peter's confident assertions of unwavering loyalty, Jesus declares that even within that very night, before the rooster crows twice as a specific time marker, Peter would disown Him three times. This highlights Jesus' divine foreknowledge, the frailty of human resolve under pressure, and the absolute certainty of biblical prophecy.

Mark 14 30 Context

This verse occurs during the final hours of Jesus' earthly ministry, specifically on the night of His betrayal and arrest. Mark 14 begins with the plot against Jesus, His anointing at Bethany, and the Passover meal. Immediately preceding this verse, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper and then prophesied Judas's betrayal. As they depart to the Mount of Olives, Peter confidently boasts that he would never desert Jesus, even if all others did. Jesus, knowing Peter's heart and the imminent trials, delivers this startling and specific prophecy about Peter's denial. This setting underscores the contrast between human assurance and divine foresight, preparing the reader for Peter's subsequent actions in the Garden of Gethsemane and later at the high priest's courtyard. The context highlights the intense spiritual and physical pressures the disciples were about to face. Historically, the "cockcrow" referred to a specific Roman night watch (the third or fourth watch, 3-6 AM), signaling not just an animal's sound, but a definite time period.

Mark 14 30 Word analysis

• And Jesus said to him: A direct, personal address, underscoring the weight and importance of the statement.
• “Truly” (Greek: Amēn, Ἀμήν): A solemn affirmation, translated as "Verily" or "Amen," emphasizing the absolute truth and certainty of Jesus' forthcoming declaration. It signals an authoritative pronouncement.
• I tell you: Jesus speaks with direct authority, affirming the truth of what follows from His divine knowledge.
• this very night (Greek: tautē tē nykti, ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ): The use of the demonstrative pronoun "this" and "very" is emphatic. It highlights the immediacy and speed with which the prophesied events will unfold, making the prophecy particularly impactful for Peter.
• before the rooster (Greek: alektora, ἀλέκτορα) crows (Greek: phōnēsai, φωνῆσαι) twice (Greek: dis, δὶς):
  • alektora: The word for "rooster." This refers to a specific animal but, more broadly, to the "cockcrow" watch, a known time division in Roman reckoning, typically between midnight and 3 AM (first crowing) and 3 AM and dawn (second crowing).
  • phōnēsai: "To crow" or "to sound."
  • dis: "Twice." This detail is unique to Mark's Gospel among the synoptics. Its precision lends profound authenticity to the account and foreshadows the exact fulfillment where Peter denies three times, with a crowing happening after the first denial and a second crowing after the third, definitive denial (Mk 14:68, 72). It acts as a clear and verifiable temporal marker for the fulfillment.
• you yourself (Greek: sy, σὺ): The Greek pronoun is emphatic, specifically targeting Peter amidst the group. It directly contradicts Peter's boast that he would not deny, even if all others did (Mk 14:29). This personal focus heightens the prophecy's impact on Peter.
• will deny (Greek: aparnēsē, ἀπαρνήσῃ): Future active indicative of aparneomai, meaning "to utterly deny," "to disown," "to disclaim knowledge of," or "to refuse association with." It implies a complete and definitive repudiation, not merely a lack of confession.
• me: The object of Peter's denial is Jesus Christ Himself, underscoring the spiritual gravity of the act—a denial of the Son of God.
• three times (Greek: tris, τρὶς): A precise numerical quantity. This specific number reinforces the certainty of the prophecy and perfectly corresponds to Peter's subsequent three separate denials. It sets up the later thematic connection with Peter's threefold restoration by Jesus in John 21.

Words-group analysis

• "Truly, I tell you": This phrase functions as a solemn, divine oath or prophetic declaration, ensuring the absolute veracity and certainty of Jesus' words. It elevates the statement from a mere prediction to a divinely authoritative pronouncement.
• "this very night, before the rooster crows twice": This defines a remarkably precise and immediate timeframe for the foretold event. The specificity of "this very night" emphasizes the proximity of Peter's failure, while "before the rooster crows twice" establishes an unambiguous, dual chronological marker, creating a palpable sense of inevitability and urgency around the prophecy's fulfillment.
• "you yourself will deny me three times": This powerful and direct assertion forms the core of the prophecy. "You yourself" isolates Peter and his personal commitment, starkly contrasting it with the ensuing failure. The action "will deny me" signifies a complete repudiation, while "three times" adds a specific numerical certainty, demonstrating Jesus' perfect foreknowledge and Peter's complete public renunciation.

Mark 14 30 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between Peter's confident "Even though all deny, I will not" (Mk 14:29) and Jesus' immediate, precise counter-prophecy ("you yourself will deny me three times") highlights Peter's intense spiritual pride, which needed to be broken for his true spiritual formation.
• Mark's unique detail of the "rooster crowing twice" is highly significant. It aligns perfectly with the actual events described later in Mark 14:66-72, where the first denial is followed by a rooster's crow, and the third denial is followed by a second, more emphatic crow. This serves as powerful evidence of Mark's eyewitness perspective or careful research, potentially linked to Peter himself reflecting on the precise agony of his failure.
• This prediction, along with Judas's betrayal, serves as a poignant illustration of Jesus' abandonment by His closest followers during His darkest hour. This human failure deepens our understanding of the complete desolation Christ experienced on His path to the cross, suffering alone.
• Though foretold, Peter's denial was not predetermined in a way that absolved Peter of his choice; rather, it reflects God's complete foreknowledge of free moral decisions. Jesus' prophecy prepares for forgiveness and restoration, exemplified in John 21 where Peter is given three chances to affirm his love for Christ.

Mark 14 30 Commentary

Mark 14:30 is a potent demonstration of Jesus' prophetic authority and the profound contrast between human boastfulness and divine insight into human weakness. Uttered immediately after Peter's fervent declaration of unyielding loyalty, Jesus' words reveal His intimate knowledge of His disciples' hearts and the spiritual realities that would soon unfold. The startling precision of the prophecy—"this very night," "before the rooster crows twice," and "three times"—serves as a compelling validation of Jesus' divinity. This event is not merely a prediction of Peter's failure, but a crucial element in his spiritual journey: a humbling experience necessary for his transformation into a true leader, built on dependence on Christ, not self-reliance. It underscores that even the most devoted disciples are susceptible to denial under pressure, highlighting the need for grace and reminding believers of Christ's perfect foreknowledge, compassion, and ultimate plan for restoration.