“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
- KJV And 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.
- NKJV Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
- NASB And Jesus *said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.”
- NLT Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
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
Jesus precisely foretells that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows twice that very night. His foreknowledge underscores his authority even over his disciple's failure.
Overview
Jesus answers Peter's boast with a specific and solemn prediction. The exactness of the prophecy, fulfilled later that night, displays Jesus' divine knowledge. Yet by foretelling it he also prepares the ground for Peter's eventual repentance and restoration.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Mark 14:66–72While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down
- John 13:38“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.
- Luke 22:34But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
- 1 Cor 10:12So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
- John 18:17At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “I am not,” he answered.
- John 18:25–27Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
- Luke 22:54–62Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.
- Gen 1:5God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
- Gen 1:8God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
- Matt 26:69–75Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.
- Gen 1:23And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
- Gen 1:13And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
- Gen 1:19And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 14:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.