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.”
Parallel translations
- 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.
- BSB “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
- 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 14:66–72As Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the maids of the high priest came,
- John 13:38Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times.
- Luke 22:34He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will by no means crow today until you deny that you know me three times.”
- 1 Cor 10:12Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn’t fall.
- John 18:17Then the maid who kept the door said to Peter, “Are you also one of this man’s disciples?” He said, “I am not.”
- John 18:25–27Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, “You aren’t also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”
- Luke 22:54–62They seized him, and led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed from a distance.
- Gen 1:5God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.
- Gen 1:8God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.
- Matt 26:69–75Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!”
- Gen 1:23There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.
- Gen 1:13There was evening and there was morning, a third day.
- Gen 1:19There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.