Bible Strands
Matthew 26:74
At that he began to curse and swear to them, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter speaks to bystanders who have identified him by his Galilean accent, immediately following his second denial and preceding his third. The words — ἤρξατο (ērxato) means "he began," and καταθεματίζειν (katathematizein) means "to curse," describing Peter's escalating verbal rejection. The thread — The event mirrors Mark 14:71, contrasts with the command in Matthew 10:28 to fear God rather than human threats, and aligns with Revelation 3:19's principle that divine discipline accompanies love. Why it lands — The text records Peter's denial followed immediately by the rooster's crow, requiring a reader to confront the reality of human failure and the urgency of repentance.
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 began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
Cross-references
- Revelation 3:19 Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
- Mark 14:71 But he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak!”
- John 18:27 Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.
- Acts 23:12 When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!
- Judges 21:18 But we cannot give them our daughters as wives.” For the Israelites had sworn, “Cursed is he who gives a wife to a Benjamite.”
- 1 Samuel 14:24 Now the men of Israel were in distress that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
- Matthew 10:32 Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.
- Matthew 27:25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”