Mark 14 31

Mark 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.

Mark 14:31 nkjv

But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all said likewise.

Mark 14:31 niv

But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.

Mark 14:31 esv

But he said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same.

Mark 14:31 nlt

"No!" Peter declared emphatically. "Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!" And all the others vowed the same.

Mark 14 verses

Mark 14 31 Meaning

This verse captures Peter’s strong and repeated assertion of unwavering loyalty to Jesus, despite Jesus’ recent prophecy of Peter's denial. Peter emphatically declares his readiness to die alongside Jesus rather than disown Him. This bold statement of commitment is echoed by all the other disciples present, indicating a collective, yet ultimately flawed, overconfidence in their own strength and fidelity in the face of impending crisis. The verse highlights human zeal and self-assurance confronting the reality of predicted future weakness.

Mark 14 31 Context

This verse is set immediately after Jesus has concluded the Last Supper with His disciples and predicted that all of them would desert Him and that Peter, specifically, would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed twice. They are still in Jerusalem, likely heading towards the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Peter's vehement response here is a direct, emotional, and public refutation of Jesus’ prophecy, borne out of sincere but overconfident loyalty. The other disciples' agreement solidifies a moment of shared human fallibility and presumption, starkly contrasted against Jesus' divine foreknowledge. The surrounding chapters (Mk 14-16) describe Jesus’ arrest, trials, crucifixion, and resurrection, illustrating the events leading to the disciples' failure and later, for Peter, restoration.

Mark 14 31 Word analysis

• But he (ὁ δὲ, ho de): Refers specifically to Peter, distinguishing his immediate and vehement response from the previous general statement by Jesus.
• said insisted (περισσῶς ἐλάλει, perissōs elalei):
  • περισσῶς (perissōs): "Excessively," "vehemently," "abundantly," "insistently." This adverb significantly highlights Peter's intense conviction and almost over-the-top reaction, indicating that he was not merely speaking, but speaking with great passion, perhaps even bordering on protest or stubbornness. It underscores the psychological drama and sets up the dramatic irony of his later denial.
  • ἐλάλει (elalei): Imperfect tense of laleō ("to speak"). Implies a continuous, repeated, or persistent action, suggesting Peter kept reiterating his pledge, reinforcing his denial of Jesus' prophecy.
• If I must die with you (Ἐὰν δέῃ με συναποθανεῖν σοι, Ean deē me synapothanein soi):
  • Ἐὰν δέῃ (Ean deē): "If it is necessary" or "If I must." Expresses a strong hypothetical condition that Peter envisions, where the ultimate act of loyalty would be dying with his Lord.
  • συναποθανεῖν (synapothanein): From syn (with) and apothnēskō (to die). Literally "to die together with." This vividly portrays Peter's readiness to share the ultimate fate with Jesus, showing his present sincerity and commitment, even if ultimately misplaced.
• I will not deny you (οὐ μή σε ἀρνήσομαι, ou mē se arnēsomai):
  • οὐ μή (ou mē): This is a Greek double negative construction used for the strongest possible negation in the future, signifying absolute denial of an action. It conveys "I will absolutely never deny you" or "I certainly will not deny you." It amplifies Peter's strong resolve and underscores the dramatic contrast with his eventual failure.
  • ἀρνήσομαι (arnēsomai): Future tense of arneomai ("to deny," "to disown"). It is a commitment for future conduct.
• And they all said the same (ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ πάντες ἔλεγον, homoiōs de kai pantes elegon):
  • ὁμοίως (homoiōs): "Likewise," "similarly." Indicates that the other disciples echoed Peter's fervent promise.
  • πάντες (pantes): "All." Highlights the collective nature of this pledge, suggesting a widespread shared human flaw of underestimating one's spiritual weakness in the face of intense pressure or fear. This amplifies the lesson of universal human susceptibility.
  • ἔλεγον (elegon): Imperfect tense of legō ("to say"). Like Peter's "insisted," this also suggests a repeated or sustained affirmation by all the disciples.

Mark 14 31 Bonus section

This verse effectively employs dramatic irony, a literary device where the audience knows something the characters do not. Jesus has just predicted Peter’s denial (Mk 14:30), but Peter and the other disciples, oblivious to their future actions under pressure, vehemently affirm their loyalty. This creates a powerful tension and underscores Jesus' infallible foresight versus human fallibility. The collective agreement of "all" disciples in this promise is significant. It implies that this was not just Peter's isolated pride but a pervasive human tendency to overestimate one's capacity for faithfulness in dire circumstances, particularly when separated from Christ’s sustaining grace. This prepares the reader for the eventual scattering and abandonment of Jesus by all His disciples, fulfilling Jesus' earlier words in Mk 14:27.

Mark 14 31 Commentary

Mark 14:31 is a poignant and pivotal moment revealing the stark contrast between human self-assurance and divine foreknowledge. Peter’s zealous insistence, marked by the powerful Greek adverb perissōs and the absolute negative ou mē, highlights a sincere yet overconfident loyalty born of the flesh rather than complete reliance on God's strength. His bold pledge, tragically echoed by all the disciples, sets the stage for the dramatic fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy (Mk 14:66-72). The passage serves as a sobering lesson on the profound depth of human fallibility, demonstrating that even the most fervent intentions can crumble under pressure when spiritual humility and divine reliance are lacking. It underscores that true fidelity stems not from boastful declarations of self-strength but from abiding in Christ, as it shows that loyalty is proven not in ideal circumstances, but in the crucible of tribulation. The subsequent restoration of Peter, however, illustrates God’s grace and the possibility of renewed faith after failure.