At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?
Parallel translations
- WEB The high priest tore his clothes, and said, “What further need have we of witnesses?
- KJV Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
- NKJV Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
- NASB Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
- NLT Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses?
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
The high priest tears his clothes, treating Jesus' claim as blasphemy. He declares no further witnesses are needed.
Overview
Tearing garments was a traditional response to perceived blasphemy. The high priest seizes on Jesus' confession as grounds for condemnation. Ironically, the true Son of God is judged a blasphemer for telling the truth about himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Matt 26:65At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
- Jer 36:23–24And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.
- Num 14:6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
- Acts 14:13–14The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.
- Lev 21:10The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.
- Isa 36:22Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
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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 14:63 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
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