Mark 14:71 kjv
But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
Mark 14:71 nkjv
Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!"
Mark 14:71 niv
He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."
Mark 14:71 esv
But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak."
Mark 14:71 nlt
Peter swore, "A curse on me if I'm lying ? I don't know this man you're talking about!"
Mark 14 71 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jesus' Prophecy Fulfilled | ||
| Mk 14:30 | "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." | Jesus predicts Peter's triple denial. |
| Mt 26:34 | "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." | Matthew's parallel prophecy. |
| Lk 22:34 | "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me." | Luke's parallel prophecy. |
| Jn 13:38 | "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's parallel prophecy. |
| Peter's Denials (Synoptic Parallels) | ||
| Mk 14:68 | "But he denied it, saying, 'I neither know nor understand what you mean.' And he went out into the passageway, and a rooster crowed." | Peter's first denial. |
| Mk 14:70 | "But again he denied it." | Peter's second denial. |
| Mt 26:74 | "Then he began to invoke curses and to swear, 'I do not know the man.'" | Matthew's direct parallel to this verse. |
| Lk 22:60 | "But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed." | Luke's direct parallel to this denial. |
| Jn 18:27 | "Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed." | John's account of Peter's third denial. |
| Human Frailty & Denial | ||
| Mk 14:54 | "And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest..." | Peter's initial hesitant following, a precursor to his fear. |
| Prov 29:25 | "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." | Peter's denial driven by fear of human judgment. |
| Jer 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" | Peter's vulnerability due to his own fallen human nature. |
| Gal 2:11-14 | "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned." | Peter's later weakness regarding Gentiles, showing continued human struggle. |
| 1 Cor 10:12 | "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." | A warning against overconfidence, echoing Peter's experience. |
| Oaths & Cursing | ||
| Lev 19:12 | "You shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord." | The seriousness of swearing false oaths. |
| Jas 5:12 | "But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath..." | General caution against frivolous or false swearing. |
| Dt 23:21 | "When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it..." | Emphasizes the solemnity and binding nature of vows/oaths in God's eyes. |
| Repentance & Restoration | ||
| Lk 22:32 | "But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." | Jesus' foreknowledge and prayer for Peter's restoration. |
| Lk 22:62 | "And he went out and wept bitterly." | Peter's immediate repentance after his denial. |
| Jn 21:15-19 | "Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?'" | Jesus' post-resurrection restoration of Peter. |
| Acts 2:14, 38-41 | "But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them..." | Peter's courageous proclamation of Christ on Pentecost after his restoration. |
Mark 14 verses
Mark 14 71 Meaning
Mark 14:71 describes the third and most vehement denial by Simon Peter that he knew Jesus, fulfilling Jesus' earlier prophecy. Under immense pressure and fear within the High Priest's courtyard, Peter resorts to invoking curses upon himself (anathematizing) and swearing solemn oaths, declaring definitively that he does not know Jesus, the very man whom he had confessed as the Christ. This act represents the lowest point in Peter's spiritual journey before his profound repentance.
Mark 14 71 Context
Mark 14:71 marks the climax of Peter's threefold denial of Jesus. The scene unfolds in the dimly lit courtyard of the High Priest's residence, where Jesus is undergoing an illegal and rushed trial before the Sanhedrin. Peter, initially having followed Jesus "at a distance," warms himself by a fire with the High Priest's servants and guards. The environment is charged with fear, confusion, and hostility towards Jesus. As others correctly identify Peter as one of Jesus' disciples based on his Galilean accent and association, Peter's denials escalate from simple refutation to forceful swearing and self-imprecation, culminating in this verse. His desperate attempts to distance himself from Jesus directly precede the crowing of the rooster and his bitter realization of his failure, precisely as Jesus had foretold earlier in the chapter (Mark 14:30).
Mark 14 71 Word analysis
- Then he began: Peter's action is portrayed as a definite, active choice, though born of extreme duress. It is a progression from prior denials.
- to invoke curses (ἀναθεματίζειν, anathematizein): This Greek word signifies "to curse," specifically to call down a solemn curse upon oneself or to make a self-imprecation. It implies that if Peter were lying, he was invoking God's judgment or condemnation upon himself. It means, "Let me be cursed/damned if I know this man." This makes his denial incredibly forceful and deadly serious in the presence of God. It's an attempt to sound utterly convincing through spiritual intimidation.
- and to swear (ὀμνύειν, omnuein): This means "to take an oath" or "to make a solemn declaration," typically invoking a divine witness. Peter is not merely saying he doesn't know Jesus; he is affirming it under the most sacred possible declaration known to him. He calls God as a witness to his falsehood, believing he can escape association through this desperate measure. The combination of cursing himself and swearing an oath underscores the extremity of his denial and fear.
- 'I do not know: A stark, unambiguous declaration of non-acquaintance. It directly contradicts Peter's past actions and intimate relationship with Jesus, revealing the depth of his fear overriding his loyalty.
- this man: A deliberate depersonalization. Peter avoids saying Jesus' name, reducing him to a generic, unknown individual to further emphasize his supposed detachment. This serves to complete his act of dissociation.
- of whom you speak.': This phrase ties Peter's denial directly to the accusation, clarifying the subject of his oath and curse while further disclaiming any personal knowledge or connection to Jesus.
- "he began to invoke curses and to swear": This phrase represents the most severe form of denial. Peter is not merely asserting his ignorance; he is actively calling divine judgment upon himself if his words are untrue, making his denial an ultimate act of self-condemnation. It is a desperate and grave attempt to sever all ties with Jesus in the eyes of his accusers and to save himself from potential repercussions.
- "'I do not know this man of whom you speak.'": This comprehensive statement completely disavows any relationship or familiarity with Jesus. It's a forceful rejection of Jesus' identity and Peter's own discipleship, delivered under the weight of his solemn oaths and self-curses. This definitive denial ensures that anyone hearing it would believe Peter was entirely unconnected to Jesus.
Mark 14 71 Bonus section
The immediate consequence of Peter's ultimate denial, specifically after this verse, is the second crowing of the rooster (Mark 14:72). This sound serves as a direct, undeniable signal to Peter that Jesus' prophecy about his denials has been fully realized. The rooster's crow acts as an acoustic divine messenger, shattering Peter's delusion of self-preservation and plunging him into a profound, soul-searching grief as "he broke down and wept" (Mark 14:72). This bitter weeping marks the beginning of his journey towards repentance and eventually, restoration, becoming a profound biblical example of one's turning back to the Lord after failure.
Mark 14 71 Commentary
Mark 14:71 vividly portrays the peak of Peter's betrayal and the painful reality of human fear. His denials escalate from simple protestations to a grave, desperate act: invoking curses upon himself and swearing a solemn oath that he has no knowledge of Jesus. This extreme measure highlights the intensity of his terror and the profound chasm between his earlier confident boast to die for Jesus and his present reality. Peter, fearing for his own life and reputation, explicitly renounces his Lord, symbolically spitting on his past commitment. This raw moment of failure is critical, not only because it perfectly fulfills Jesus' prophecy, but also because it sets the stage for Peter's subsequent bitter repentance and ultimate restoration, underscoring God's grace and ability to forgive and redeem even the most grievous failures.