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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
- Matt 26:51–54And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.
- Luke 22:49–51When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
- John 18:26One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?
- Mark 14:30And 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.
- Luke 22:33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into 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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