Bible Strands
John 18:10
Then Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — During Jesus’ arrest, Simon Peter acts against the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear, before Jesus intervenes in the following verse.
The words — εἵλκυσεν (eilkusen) = drew and μάχαιραν (machairan) = sword describe Peter’s physical action of drawing and using the weapon.
The thread — The event parallels Matthew 26:51 and Mark 14:47, while Luke 22:49 records only the companions’ question about striking, with the actual ear-cutting occurring in Luke 22:50.
Why it lands — The text states Peter’s violent intervention and names the victim, establishing the concrete reality of the arrest before Jesus’ command to sheath the sword and his submission to the Father’s cup.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:51 At this, one of Jesus’ companions drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
- Mark 14:47 And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
- Luke 22:49 Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”
- John 18:26 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?”
- Mark 14:30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.”
- Luke 22:33 “Lord,” said Peter, “I am ready to go with You even to prison and to death.”