Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Parallel translations
- WEB Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB Then Simon Peter, since he had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.
- NLT Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter draws a sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest's servant, Malchus. His zeal is misdirected and resists God's plan.
Overview
John alone names both Peter and Malchus. Peter's violent defense, though courageous, misunderstands the nature of Jesus' kingdom and the necessity of the cross. The other Gospels record that Jesus heals the ear (Luke 22:51). The incident shows the disciples' confusion about how the Messiah's victory would come, not by the sword but by willing sacrifice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Mark 14:47And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
- Matt 26:51–54At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
- Luke 22:49–51Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”
- John 18:26One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”
- Mark 14:30“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
- Luke 22:33“Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”
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John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
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Original language
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