Lexical Summary alektór: Rooster Original Word: ἀλέκτωρ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance cock. From aleko (to ward off); a cock or male fowl -- cock. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin Definition a rooster NASB Translation rooster (12). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 220: ἀλέκτωρἀλέκτωρ, (ορος, ὁ, a cock, (Latingallus gallinaceus): Matthew 26:34, 74; Mark 14:30, 68 (Lachmann brackets), 72; Luke 22:34, 60; John 13:38; John 18:27. Cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 229; (Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 307; Winers Grammar, 23; see also BB. DD. Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Narrative Setting The masculine noun ἀλέκτωρ appears twelve times, every instance tied to the prediction or fulfillment of Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus during the night of His arrest (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 13 and 18). The term never occurs elsewhere in the New Testament, making its theological weight wholly bound to this pivotal Passion-week event. Historical and Cultural Background In first-century Judea roosters were common in both rural and urban settings. Their pre-dawn crow, often around the third Roman watch (roughly 3 a.m.), served as an unofficial time-signal for travelers, guards, and laborers. Jewish sources sometimes forbid roosters within Jerusalem (Mishnah, Baba Kamma 7:7), yet archaeology has uncovered rooster imagery in the city, and Temple courts teemed with Galileans whose customs included keeping poultry. The Gospel references assume the bird’s audible presence in the high-priestly courtyard, a detail that grounds the Passion narrative in concrete, everyday life. Prophetic Precision and Harmony of the Gospels Jesus’ foretelling (“before the rooster crows…,” Matthew 26:34) demonstrates His omniscience and validates His office as the true Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:18-22). Mark, writing with vivid immediacy, records a double crow (“before the rooster crows twice…,” Mark 14:30), whereas Matthew, Luke, and John compress the detail to a single crow. The accounts are complementary: the Lord warned of a fixed deadline—the second crow—while the remaining evangelists highlight the decisive signal itself. The harmony underscores Scripture’s integrity: distinctions of emphasis without contradiction. Symbolism of the Rooster Crow 1. Awakening to Reality The cry pierces the night just as Peter’s conscience is pierced. “And he went outside and wept bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75). The rooster becomes a living alarm clock of repentance. As night yields to morning, Peter moves from failure toward eventual restoration (John 21). The bird heralds the approaching light, prefiguring resurrection hope. In an earlier discourse Jesus exhorts, “Therefore keep watch, for you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or at dawn.” (Mark 13:35). Though using a cognate term, the idea links the rooster’s voice with spiritual vigilance, a theme illustrated powerfully by Peter’s lapse. Pastoral and Homiletical Applications • Self-confidence versus Dependence on Christ: Peter’s pledge, “Even if I must die with You…” meets the rooster’s crow, teaching believers to trust divine strength over human resolve. Chronological Value for Passion-Week Timelines The rooster crow fixes the denial shortly before dawn of Nisan 14. Combined with the synoptic trial sequence, it assists harmonizing the arrest, hearings, and early morning delivery to Pilate (Matthew 27:1; John 18:28). Early Church Memory and Catechesis Because every Gospel preserves the rooster detail, the early Christian community evidently regarded it as indispensable for teaching repentance and apostolic humility. Post-apostolic writers echo the motif: e.g., Tertullian cites Peter’s sobbing at the rooster to spur moral vigilance (On Modesty 13). Some second-century baptismal liturgies scheduled dawn rites, perhaps recalling both resurrection light and Peter’s breakthrough at cock-crow. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 220 encapsulates a single sound in the streets of Jerusalem, but its resonance spreads across Christian doctrine: prophecy fulfilled, sin exposed, grace offered, and disciples awakened for lifelong watchfulness until the true Morning Star appears. Forms and Transliterations αλεκτορα αλέκτορα ἀλέκτορα αλεκτωρ αλέκτωρ ἀλέκτωρ alektor alektōr aléktor aléktōr alektora aléktoraLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 26:34 N-AMSGRK: νυκτὶ πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι τρὶς NAS: before a rooster crows, KJV: before the cock crow, INT: night before [the] rooster crows three times Matthew 26:74 N-NMS Matthew 26:75 N-AMS Mark 14:30 N-AMS Mark 14:68 Noun-NMS Mark 14:72 N-NMS Mark 14:72 N-AMS Luke 22:34 N-NMS Luke 22:60 N-NMS Luke 22:61 N-AMS John 13:38 N-NMS John 18:27 N-NMS Strong's Greek 220 |
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