Matthew 26:34 kjv
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Matthew 26:34 nkjv
Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
Matthew 26:34 niv
"Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."
Matthew 26:34 esv
Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
Matthew 26:34 nlt
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, Peter ? this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me."
Matthew 26 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 26:33 | Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." | Peter's self-assured boast preceding Jesus' prophecy. |
| Matt 26:31 | Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become stumbling blocks because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'" | Jesus' prior prediction of disciples' desertion. |
| Mark 14:30 | And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” | Mark's parallel, adds "twice" for clarity. |
| Luke 22:34 | And He said, “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.” | Luke's parallel, similar prophecy. |
| John 13:38 | Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times." | John's parallel, Jesus directly challenges Peter's vow. |
| Matt 26:69-75 | Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before them all... then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a rooster crowed... | Fulfillment of the prophecy, the denial incident. |
| Mark 14:66-72 | And a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he broke down and wept. | Fulfillment in Mark, emphasizes "twice" crow. |
| Luke 22:54-62 | But Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard... And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. | Fulfillment in Luke. |
| John 18:15-18, 25-27 | Simon Peter was following Jesus... Peter was standing and warming himself... They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" He denied it, and said, "I am not."... Again, therefore, he denied it, and immediately the rooster crowed. | Fulfillment in John. |
| Zech 13:7 | "Strike the Shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered; And I will turn My hand against the little ones." | OT prophecy echoed by Jesus in Matt 26:31. |
| Jer 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately sick; Who can understand it?" | Principle of human deceitfulness/unreliability. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. | Relates to Peter's overconfidence. |
| Ps 51:17 | The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. | Peter's eventual repentance and brokenness. |
| Luke 22:31-32 | "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to have you, that he may sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." | Jesus' prior warning and prayer for Peter. |
| John 21:15-17 | Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." (Repeated thrice) | Peter's restoration and recommissioning, mirroring his three denials. |
| Isa 46:9-10 | "...I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning..." | God's divine foreknowledge and sovereignty. |
| Deut 18:22 | "...If the prophet speaks in the name of the LORD but the thing does not come about or come true, it is not a message the LORD has spoken." | Test of a true prophet; Jesus' words come true. |
| John 13:19 | "I am telling you this now before it takes place, so that when it does take place, you may believe that I am He." | Jesus reveals future events to affirm His identity. |
| Rom 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | General truth about human fallenness, exemplified by Peter. |
| Acts 2:38 | And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." | Peter's post-resurrection transformation. |
| 2 Cor 12:9-10 | But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. | Grace working through human weakness, relatable to Peter's journey. |
Matthew 26 verses
Matthew 26 34 Meaning
Matthew 26:34 records Jesus' prophetic declaration to Peter during the Last Supper. It foretells with certainty that Peter, despite his bold assurances of loyalty, would explicitly repudiate Jesus three distinct times before the morning rooster crowed, marking the onset of a new day. This statement highlights Jesus' divine foreknowledge and underscores the depth of human frailty even in committed discipleship.
Matthew 26 34 Context
This verse is spoken during the pivotal Passover meal, traditionally known as the Last Supper, just hours before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. Prior to this, Jesus had predicted that all His disciples would desert Him (Matt 26:31), a prophecy referencing Zech 13:7. Peter, with characteristic zeal and overconfidence, vehemently declared his unwavering loyalty, proclaiming he would never stumble, even if others did (Matt 26:33). It is in response to this boastful claim that Jesus delivers this specific and direct prophecy to Peter.
The broader context is the unfolding Passion narrative, where Jesus fully reveals the imminent suffering, betrayal, and abandonment that await Him. Peter's denial, foretold here, stands as a stark contrast to his bold declaration, highlighting the deep chasm between human will and spiritual reality when faced with ultimate pressure. It sets the stage for the raw portrayal of Peter's failure, his profound sorrow, and ultimately, his eventual repentance and restoration.
Matthew 26 34 Word analysis
- Jesus said to him: This highlights a direct, personal communication from Jesus to Peter. "Him" refers specifically to Peter (Simon Peter) who had just spoken.
- Truly (ἀμήν - amēn): A powerful affirmation and declaration of truth. Jesus uses this frequently to preface statements of solemn importance, emphasizing their certainty and divine authority. It conveys an emphatic "Verily," "So be it," or "It is certain."
- I tell you: (λέγω σοι - legō soi): This phrase further personalizes the declaration, making it a direct pronouncement from Jesus' lips to Peter's ears. It underlines the authoritative and direct nature of the warning.
- this very night (ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτί - tautē tē nykti): The demonstrative pronoun "this" (tautē) emphasizes the imminence and specificity of the time. The events would unfold quickly, within the hours remaining before dawn. This is not a distant future prophecy, but an immediate one.
- before the rooster crows (πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι - prin alektora phōnēsai): This serves as a precise time marker.
- Rooster crows: "Cock-crow" (alektora phōnēsai) was the third of the four Roman night watches, roughly from midnight to 3:00 AM, signifying the deepest part of the night and the approaching dawn. Mark's Gospel (14:30, 14:72) adds "twice" to this prophecy and its fulfillment, suggesting either a "first" crow (often around midnight) and the more significant "second" crow (the definitive signal of dawn around 3 AM), or emphasizing Peter's denial happening between the start of the cock-crow period and the very first true "crow." Matthew simply focuses on the definitive "rooster crows" which marked the new day.
- you will deny me (ἀπαρνήσῃ με - aparnēsē me):
- Deny (aparnēsē): A strong verb meaning to renounce, repudiate, reject, or disown. It implies not just a lapse in faith but an active disavowal of knowing someone, especially under pressure. It's the opposite of acknowledging or confessing.
- Me (me): Peter will deny Jesus personally, not just the cause or His teachings, but His very person and identity. This denial wounds the intimate relationship Peter has with Jesus.
- three times (τρὶς - tris): The numerical specificity is significant. Three times signifies completion or confirmation (e.g., three witnesses for a testimony). It directly contrasts with Peter's three affirmations of love for Jesus in John 21, showing God's grace in mirroring his restoration to his failure. It underlines the thoroughness of the denial Peter would undertake.
Matthew 26 34 Bonus section
- The detail of "before the rooster crows" links to the ancient Roman military practice of dividing the night into four watches: the evening watch (sunset to 9 PM), the midnight watch (9 PM to midnight), the cock-crow (midnight to 3 AM), and the morning watch (3 AM to sunrise). Jesus' prophecy specifically pinpoints the early morning hours, often the darkest and coldest part of the night, adding to Peter's vulnerability.
- While Peter's denial seems like a tragic failure, Jesus had already prayed for him "that your faith may not fail" (Luke 22:32) and indicated that Peter, "when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." This foreknowledge indicates a deeper purpose beyond mere prediction; it sets the stage for Peter's transformation from self-confident failure to a Spirit-filled, foundational leader of the early church. His experience made him empathetic to the weakness of others.
- The "three times" denial not only denotes completion but also ironically sets up the post-resurrection opportunity for Peter to reaffirm his love for Jesus "three times" (John 21:15-17), a powerful example of divine restoration overcoming human failure.
Matthew 26 34 Commentary
Matthew 26:34 encapsulates Jesus' divine foresight and deep understanding of human nature, particularly Peter's. It's a striking counter-point to Peter's earlier confident boasting (Matt 26:33). While Peter proclaimed absolute loyalty, Jesus knew the coming pressure would expose the fragility beneath the bold exterior. The immediate fulfillment of this prophecy within hours profoundly impacts Peter, leading him to deep repentance (Matt 26:75).
This verse underscores that Jesus is truly Lord, possessing intimate knowledge of even unspoken future events. His awareness of Peter's impending denial doesn't diminish Peter's responsibility, but rather highlights the gravity of the spiritual test. It serves as a potent reminder for all disciples that true loyalty and strength are found not in self-confidence, but in humble reliance upon God. Peter's experience, foretold here, vividly illustrates that even sincere intentions can fail under severe trials, yet God's grace is sufficient for repentance and restoration. This episode becomes a foundational lesson on humility, divine foreknowledge, and the redemptive power of forgiveness for genuine transformation.