Matthew 26:34 Meaning and Explanation
“Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus answers: this very night, before the cock crows, Peter will deny Him three times.
What Does Matthew 26:34 Mean?
Jesus answers the boldest disciple with painful precision: tonight, before the rooster crows toward dawn, Peter will deny Him -- not once, in a moment of surprise, but three times. The word means to disown: to say, I do not know him.
Jesus does not argue with Peter's love; He corrects Peter's estimate of Peter. The specificity is mercy: when the third denial sounds and the bird cries, Peter will know that nothing about his fall was hidden from the One he failed. Being fully foreknown, he can be fully forgiven.
Matthew 26:34 in the Original Language
aparneomai (ἀπαρνέομαι), 'deny' -- to disown, to refuse to acknowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 26:34
What does Matthew 26:34 mean?
Jesus answers: this very night, before the cock crows, Peter will deny Him three times.