John 13:38

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} him {G846}, Wilt thou lay down {G5087} thy {G4675} life {G5590} for {G5228} my sake {G1700}? Verily {G281}, verily {G281}, I say {G3004} unto thee {G4671}, The cock {G220} shall {G5455} not {G3364} crow {G5455}, till {G2193}{G3739} thou hast denied {G533} me {G3165} thrice {G5151}.

Yeshua answered, “You will lay down your life for me? Yes, indeed! I tell you, before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.

“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.

Jesus answereth, Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

Commentary

This verse captures a pivotal moment of prediction and human vulnerability, as Jesus responds directly to Peter's fervent declaration of loyalty. It highlights the stark contrast between Peter's self-assured zeal and Jesus' clear foreknowledge of his impending failure.

Context

The setting is the Last Supper, where Jesus has just spoken of his departure and given the new commandment to love one another (John 13:34). He mentions that where he is going, they cannot come yet. Peter, ever impetuous, asks why he cannot follow now and boldly proclaims he will lay down his life for Jesus' sake. This verse is Jesus' direct, sobering reply to that confident assertion.

Key Themes

  • Human Overconfidence vs. Divine Foreknowledge: Peter's sincere but ultimately flawed confidence is met with Jesus' perfect knowledge of future events.
  • The Reality of Denial: The prediction of Peter's denial underscores the fragility of human resolve, especially under pressure and fear.
  • Jesus' Authority: Jesus speaks with absolute certainty about a specific future event, demonstrating his divine authority and insight.
  • Testing of Faith: This prediction foreshadows the trial Peter would soon face, revealing the gap between intention and action.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Verily, verily" translates the Greek Amen, Amen, which is used by Jesus only in the Gospel of John. It signifies a strong affirmation or truth, emphasizing the certainty and solemnity of his statement about Peter's denial.

Cross-References

The prediction of Peter's denial is recorded in all four Gospels, highlighting its significance in the disciples' journey and understanding of Jesus.

Peter's actual denial, fulfilling this prophecy, is recorded shortly after:

Reflection

Peter's bold claim and subsequent failure serve as a powerful lesson. It teaches us that our confidence should not rest solely on our own strength or good intentions, but on Christ. We may sincerely desire to stand for Him, but without His enabling grace, we are prone to falter when tested. This verse encourages humility and reliance on the strength Christ provides, rather than trusting in our own ability to "lay down our life" or remain steadfast. It reminds us that Jesus knows our weaknesses even better than we do, and His grace is sufficient even when we fail.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 22:34

    And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

  • Matthew 26:34

    Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

  • Mark 14:30

    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 22:56

    But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

  • Luke 22:62

    And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

  • Matthew 26:69

    ¶ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

  • Matthew 26:75

    And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
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