Bible Strands
Mark 14:63
At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The high priest addresses the council immediately after Jesus answers his inquiry by claiming to sit at the right hand of Power and return on the clouds. This moment occurs during the nighttime trial where the religious leaders are seeking grounds to condemn Jesus.
The words — The Greek διαρρῆξας (diarrēxas) translates literally as "having torn" and χιτῶνας (chitōnas) means "garments," denoting a sudden, violent rending of clothing. The verb λέγει (legei) simply records his spoken declaration within the narrative sequence.
The thread — The high priest’s rhetorical question about needing more witnesses directly parallels Matthew 26:65, while the physical act of tearing clothes appears elsewhere as a response to dire news, such as in Numbers 14:6.
Why it lands — The text shows the high priest treating Jesus’ claim of divine authority as an immediate legal offense requiring a formal verdict. The reader observes how a single verbal declaration directly triggers a unanimous judicial condemnation.
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 the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:65 At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
- Leviticus 21:10 The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments.
- Numbers 14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
- Isaiah 36:22 Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
- Jeremiah 36:23 And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.
- Acts 14:13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, hoping to offer a sacrifice along with the crowds.