Mark 3:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And Simon he surnamed Peter;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus gives Simon the new name Peter, meaning rock.
What Does Mark 3:16 Mean?
Mark begins to list the Twelve, and the first named is Simon, to whom Jesus gives a new name: Peter, which means a rock or stone. The renaming is significant, for in Scripture a new name often marks a new calling and a new identity bestowed by God.
Simon was impulsive and unsteady, yet Jesus names him for what he would become by grace, not merely for what he was. To be called rock was both a gift and a destiny, a stability not native to Simon but formed in him through Christ. The Lord still sees His people not only as they are but as He intends to make them. He calls us by a future He Himself will secure, naming us according to His faithfulness rather than our failures.
Mark 3:16 in the Original Language
Petros (Πέτρος), 'Peter' -- a name meaning rock or stone, given to Simon by Jesus.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 3:16
What does Mark 3:16 mean?
Jesus gives Simon the new name Peter, meaning rock.