Matthew 26:74
New International Version
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.

New Living Translation
Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

English Standard Version
Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.

Berean Standard Bible
At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

Berean Literal Bible
Then he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

King James Bible
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

New King James Version
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.

New American Standard Bible
Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

NASB 1995
Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

NASB 1977
Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a cock crowed.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

Amplified Bible
Then he began to curse [that is, to invoke God’s judgment on himself] and swear [an oath], “I do not know the man!” And at that moment a rooster crowed.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man! ” Immediately a rooster crowed,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed,

American Standard Version
Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew.

Contemporary English Version
Peter began to curse and swear, "I don't know that man!" Right then a rooster crowed,

English Revised Version
Then began he to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And straightway the cock crew.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, "I don't know the man!" Just then a rooster crowed.

Good News Translation
Then Peter said, "I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I am not! I do not know that man!" Just then a rooster crowed,

International Standard Version
Then he began to curse violently. "I don't know the man!" he swore solemnly. Just then a rooster crowed.

Majority Standard Bible
At that he began to curse and swear to them, ?I do not know the man!? And immediately a rooster crowed.

NET Bible
At that he began to curse, and he swore with an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment a rooster crowed.

New Heart English Bible
Then he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." Immediately the rooster crowed.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crowed.

Weymouth New Testament
Then with curses and oaths he declared, "I do not know the man." Immediately a cock crowed,

World English Bible
Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then he began to curse, and to swear, “I have not known the Man”; and immediately a rooster crowed,

Berean Literal Bible
Then he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.

Young's Literal Translation
Then began he to anathematise, and to swear -- 'I have not known the man;' and immediately did a cock crow,

Smith's Literal Translation
Then began he to anathematize, and to swear, That I know not the man: and quickly the cock uttered a sound.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then he began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then he began to curse and to swear that he had not known the man. And immediately the rooster crowed.

New American Bible
At that he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then he began to curse and to swear, I do not know the man. At that very hour the cock crowed.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man”, and at that moment, a cock crowed.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then he began to curse and to swear, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Godbey New Testament
Then he began to anathematize and to swear, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Haweis New Testament
Then began he to utter the bitterest curses, and to swear, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Mace New Testament
then he fell to solemn imprecations, and swore, "I don't know the man." and immediately the cock crew:

Weymouth New Testament
Then with curses and oaths he declared, "I do not know the man." Immediately a cock crowed,

Worrell New Testament
Then began he to curse and swear, "I do not know the Man." And straight-way a cock crowed.

Worsley New Testament
then he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Peter Denies Jesus
73After a little while, those standing nearby came up to Peter. “Surely you are one of them,” they said, “for your accent gives you away.” 74At that he began to curse and swear to them, I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.…

Cross References
Mark 14:71
But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!”

Luke 22:60
“Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.

John 18:27
Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.

Matthew 26:34
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus declared, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Matthew 26:69-73
Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said. / But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.” / When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ...

Mark 14:30
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”

Luke 22:34
But Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”

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.

John 18:15-18
Now Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he also went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. / But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. / At 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 18:25-26
Simon 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.” / One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”

Matthew 10:33
But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Luke 12:9
But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

2 Timothy 2:12
if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;

Proverbs 29:25
The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.


Treasury of Scripture

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

began.

Matthew 27:25
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Judges 17:2
And 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.

Judges 21:18
Howbeit 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.

saying.

Matthew 10:28,32,33
And 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…

John 21:15-17
So 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…

Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

And.

Mark 14:30,68,72
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…

Luke 22:60
And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

John 18:27
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.

Jump to Previous
Cock Crew Crow Crowed Curse Curses Declared Immediately Invoke Oaths Rooster Straight Straightway Swear Swore
Jump to Next
Cock Crew Crow Crowed Curse Curses Declared Immediately Invoke Oaths Rooster Straight Straightway Swear Swore
Matthew 26
1. Jesus foretells his own death.
3. The rulers conspire against him.
6. The woman anoints his feet.
14. Judas bargains to betray him.
17. Jesus eats the Passover;
26. institutes his holy supper;
30. foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;
36. prays in the garden;
47. and being betrayed by a kiss,
57. is carried to Caiaphas,
69. and denied by Peter.














At that he began to curse and swear to them
Peter's reaction is intense and emotional, reflecting his fear and desperation. The act of cursing and swearing was a way to strongly deny any association with Jesus. In Jewish culture, invoking curses or oaths was a serious matter, often calling upon God as a witness to one's truthfulness. This moment highlights Peter's human frailty and the pressure he felt in a hostile environment. It also fulfills Jesus' earlier prediction that Peter would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed (Matthew 26:34).

“I do not know the man!”
Peter's denial is direct and emphatic. By referring to Jesus as "the man," Peter distances himself from any personal connection or discipleship. This denial is significant because Peter was one of Jesus' closest disciples, having witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand. The denial contrasts sharply with Peter's earlier declaration of unwavering loyalty (Matthew 26:33). This moment serves as a reminder of human weakness and the need for divine grace.

And immediately a rooster crowed.
The crowing of the rooster is a pivotal moment, marking the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about Peter's denial. Roosters were common in the region, and their crowing signaled the approach of dawn. This sound would have been familiar to Peter, serving as a stark reminder of his failure. The immediacy of the rooster's crow emphasizes the accuracy of Jesus' prediction and the inevitability of God's sovereign plan. This event also foreshadows Peter's eventual repentance and restoration, as seen in John 21:15-19, where Jesus reinstates Peter after His resurrection.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
One of Jesus' closest disciples, known for his boldness and impulsive nature. In this passage, he denies knowing Jesus, fulfilling Jesus' earlier prediction.

2. Jesus
The central figure of the New Testament, whose arrest and trial are taking place during this event. His prediction of Peter's denial is being fulfilled.

3. The Courtyard
The setting of Peter's denial, where he is confronted by bystanders about his association with Jesus.

4. The Bystanders
Individuals present in the courtyard who recognize Peter and question him about his relationship with Jesus.

5. The Rooster
The crowing of the rooster serves as a divine signal, marking the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about Peter's denial.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Fear and Pressure
Peter's denial highlights how fear and social pressure can lead even the most devoted followers to falter. Christians must be vigilant and rely on God's strength to stand firm in their faith.

The Fulfillment of Prophecy
This event underscores the accuracy of Jesus' predictions and the reliability of Scripture. Believers can trust in God's Word and His sovereign plan.

The Path to Repentance and Restoration
Peter's account does not end with his denial. His later repentance and restoration by Jesus offer hope that failure is not final. God is always ready to forgive and restore those who turn back to Him.

The Importance of Self-awareness
Peter's overconfidence in his loyalty serves as a warning against self-reliance. Christians should cultivate humility and depend on God's grace to sustain their faith.(74) To curse and to swear.--We may infer from the two words that he used some common formula of execration, such as, e.g., "God do so to me and more also" (1Kings 19:2; 1Kings 20:10), as well as the oath-formula, "By Heaven," or "By the Temple."

Immediately the cock crew.--St. Mark alone records the first cock-crow. The Greek has no article; "a cock crew." We find from Mark 13:35 that "cock-crowing" had become a familiar phrase, as with us, for the earliest hour of dawn.

Verse 74. - To curse and to swear. Peter fortifies this, his third denial, by imprecating curses on himself (καταθεματίζειν) if he spake not the truth, and again (ver. 72) confirming his assertion by a solemn oath. There is a certain gradation in his denials: he first simply asserts; he then asserts with an oath; lastly, he adds curses to his oath. "One temptation unresisted seldom fails to be followed by another; a second and greater infidelity is the punishment of the first, and often the cause of a third. Peter joins perjury to infidelity. Deplorable progress of infidelity and blindness in an apostle in so short a time, only out of fear of some under servants, and in respect of a Master whom he had acknowledged very God. He might possibly have proceeded even as far as Judas, had God left him any longer to himself" (Quesnel). Immediately the cock crew. This was the second crowing (Mark 14:72); the first had been heard at the first denial (Mark 14:68).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
At that,
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

he began
ἤρξατο (ērxato)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 756: To begin. Middle voice of archo; to commence.

to curse
καταθεματίζειν (katathematizein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2653: To curse, devote to destruction. From kata and anathematizo; to imprecate.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

swear [to them],
ὀμνύειν (omnyein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 3660: A prolonged form of a primary, but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form omoo is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. Take oath.

“I do not know
οἶδα (oida)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

man!”
ἄνθρωπον (anthrōpon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

And
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

immediately
εὐθέως (eutheōs)
Adverb
Strong's 2112: Immediately, soon, at once. Adverb from euthus; directly, i.e. At once or soon.

a rooster
ἀλέκτωρ (alektōr)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 220: A cock, rooster. From aleko; a cock or male fowl.

crowed.
ἐφώνησεν (ephōnēsen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5455: From phone; to emit a sound; by implication, to address in words or by name, also in imitation.


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Matthew 26:73
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