Mark 14:72

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

And {G2532} the {G1537} second time {G1208} the cock {G220} crew {G5455}. And {G2532} Peter {G4074} called to mind {G363} the word {G4487} that {G3739} Jesus {G2424} said {G2036} unto him {G846},{G3754} Before {G4250} the cock {G220} crow {G5455} twice {G1364}, thou shalt deny {G533} me {G3165} thrice {G5151}. And {G2532} when he thought thereon {G1911}, he wept {G2799}.

and immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Kefa remembered what Yeshua had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times." And throwing himself down, he burst into tears.

And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

And straightway the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

Mark 14:72 captures a pivotal and deeply emotional moment in the life of Simon Peter, immediately following his three denials of Jesus. This verse marks the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy and Peter's profound realization of his failure.

Context

This verse is set during the night of Jesus' betrayal and arrest. While Jesus was undergoing an illegal trial before the Sanhedrin in the high priest's courtyard, Peter, having followed at a distance, was confronted by various individuals who recognized him as a disciple of Jesus. Over a short period, Peter vehemently denied knowing Jesus three times, just as Jesus had foretold. The immediate context of this verse is Peter's third and final denial, which occurred as the cock crowed for the second time.

Meaning of the Verse

The phrase "And the second time the cock crew" is the crucial trigger. In ancient times, the "cock crow" often referred to a specific watch of the night (around 3 AM), and Jesus had specifically prophesied that Peter would deny Him thrice before the cock crowed twice. At the sound of this second crowing, Peter's memory was jolted. He "called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him," experiencing a sudden, overwhelming realization of his betrayal and the accuracy of Jesus' divine foresight. The immediate consequence of this painful remembrance was his deep sorrow: "And when he thought thereon, he wept." This was not just a tear or two, but a profound, bitter weeping, indicative of immense regret and heartbreak.

Key Themes

  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: This verse powerfully demonstrates Jesus' omniscience and the certain fulfillment of His words. Despite Peter's confident assertions that he would never deny Jesus, the prophecy came to pass precisely as stated.
  • Human Frailty and Failure: Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples, a man of great zeal and devotion, succumbs to fear and denies his Lord. This highlights the universal truth of human weakness and our capacity to fail, even when our intentions are good.
  • Conviction and Repentance: The sound of the cock crowing served as an instrument of divine conviction. Peter's weeping was not merely regret for being caught or for having failed, but a deep, heartfelt sorrow over having grieved his Lord. This genuine sorrow is a hallmark of true repentance.
  • God's Grace and Restoration: While this verse focuses on Peter's immediate despair, it sets the stage for his future restoration. His tears here are the beginning of a process that ultimately leads to his forgiveness and renewed calling by Jesus, emphasizing God's boundless grace even in the face of profound failure.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "wept" is eklaisen (ἔκλαυσεν), which often denotes a loud, uncontrolled weeping, indicative of profound grief and anguish. It's a stronger term than simply shedding tears, underscoring the depth of Peter's remorse and the emotional agony he experienced upon realizing his actions.

Practical Application

Peter's story in Mark 14:72 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  1. Acknowledge Our Weakness: We, like Peter, are prone to stumble and fail. This verse reminds us not to be overconfident in our own strength but to rely on God's grace.
  2. Embrace True Repentance: When we fall short, the response should be genuine sorrow and conviction, leading to repentance, not just regret. Peter's weeping is a model for recognizing our sin and turning back to God.
  3. Hope in Restoration: Peter's journey did not end in despair. His bitter tears were a prelude to his restoration. This offers immense hope that even after significant failures, God's grace is sufficient to forgive, heal, and restore us to purpose.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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.

  • Mark 14:68

    But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

  • Ezekiel 7:16

    ¶ But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

  • Ezekiel 36:31

    Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that [were] not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

  • Ezekiel 16:63

    That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Psalms 119:59

    ¶ I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

  • Psalms 119:60

    I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

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