Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
- BSB At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.
- NKJV Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.
- NASB Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.
- NLT Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.
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 denies Jesus a third time with curses and oaths, and immediately the rooster crows. His failure is now complete, just as Jesus foretold.
Overview
Peter calls down curses on himself to convince his accusers he never knew Jesus, sinking to his lowest point. The crowing rooster instantly fulfills Jesus' prophecy from earlier that night, exposing both Peter's weakness and the Lord's perfect foreknowledge. This moment of total failure makes Peter's later restoration by the risen Christ all the more a display of grace.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Rev 3:19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
- John 18:27Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
- Matt 10:28And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Mark 14:71–72But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
- 1 Cor 16:22If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
- Acts 23:12–14And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
- Rom 9:3For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
- 1 Sam 14:24–28And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
- 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.
- Judg 21:18Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
- Mark 14:68But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
- Luke 22:60And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
- John 21:15–17So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
- Matt 10:32–33Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
- Matt 27:25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
- Judg 17:2And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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