The Meaning of Mark 14:31 Explained

Mark 14:31

KJV: But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

YLT: And he spake the more vehemently, 'If it may be necessary for me to die with thee -- I will in no wise deny thee;' and in like manner also said they all.

Darby: But he said so much exceedingly the more, If I should have to die with thee, I will in no wise deny thee. And likewise said they all too.

ASV: But he spake exceedingly vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  he spake  the more  vehemently,  If  I  should  die with  thee,  I will not  deny  thee  in any wise.  Likewise  also  said they  all. 

What does Mark 14:31 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Jesus" reply should have caused Peter to realize his weakness and seek help. Instead he dug in his heels and virtually told Jesus that he would die to prove Him wrong. He kept affirming excessively (Gr. ekperissos, used only here in the New Testament) that he would definitely not deny Jesus. Peter did not know how weak he was, a problem most disciples of Jesus share with him. He would have to learn the hard way, through failure. Peter led the other disciples in denying that they would deny Jesus. [1] Later he denied Jesus with the same vehemence with which he professed that he would not.
This pericope is a strong warning for all disciples. When facing persecution for one"s allegiance to Jesus, one should not trust in the strength of his or her commitment. He or she should trust in God who can supply the grace needed to remain faithful (cf. Mark 9:14-29).

Context Summary

Mark 14:17-31 - The Last Supper
The two disciples made their preparations, returned to Bethany, and later the whole company came in together. The simple meal, consisting of the Passover lamb, unleavened cakes, bitter herbs, and wine, proceeded in the usual way, interspersed with the singing of the Hallel, Psalms 113:1-9; Psalms 114:1-8; Psalms 115:1-18; Psalms 116:1-19; Psalms 117:1-2; Psalms 118:1-29. How well it is when we do not need the accusation, "Thou art the man," because we utter the inquiry, Is it I? Those whose hearts misgive them are not likely to commit the deed of treachery. At the institution of the Lord's Supper, Mark 14:22-25, Jesus gave thanks for the bread and the wine, Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24. We must understand His words in Mark 14:22 in the same sense as when He says, "I am the door of the sheep." Those who receive the outward elements worthily partake, at the same time, spiritually of the things which they signify. Let us never fail to remember at the Lord's Supper, that it is the sign and seal of the new covenant into which God has entered with Christ on our behalf. See Hebrews 8:1-13. For Mark 14:27 compare Zechariah 13:7. The energy of our own resolution is not enough to carry us through the supreme ordeals of trial. We need the Holy Spirit for that. Mark alone mentions the warning of the double cockcrow. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 14

1  A conspiracy against Jesus
3  Expensive perfume is poured on his head by a woman
10  Judas sells his Master for money
12  Jesus himself foretells how he will be betrayed by one of his disciples;
22  after the passover prepared, and eaten, institutes his last supper;
26  declares beforehand the flight of all his disciples, and Peter's denial
43  Judas betrays him with a kiss
46  Jesus is apprehended in the garden;
53  falsely accused and impiously condemned of the council;
65  shamefully abused by them;
66  and thrice denied by Peter

Greek Commentary for Mark 14:31

Exceeding vehemently [εκπερισσως]
This strong compounded adverb only in Mark and probably preserves Peter‘s own statement of the remark. About the boast of Peter see Matthew 26:35. [source]
I will not deny [οὐ μή σε ἀπαρνήσαμαι]
The double negative with the future forms the strongest possible assertion. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 14:31

John 13:38 Wilt thou lay down? [τησεισ]
Jesus picks up Peter‘s very words and challenges his boasted loyalty. See such repetition in John 16:16, John 16:31; John 21:17. Shall not crow Aorist active subjunctive of πωνεω — phōneō to use the voice, used of animals and men. Note strong double negative ου μη — ou mē Mark adds δις — dis (twice). John‘s report is almost identical with that in Luke 22:34. The other disciples joined in Peter‘s boast (Mark 14:31; Matthew 26:35). Till thou hast denied Future middle indicative or aorist middle subjunctive second person singular (form identical) with compound conjunction εως ου — heōs hou (until which time), “till thou deny or deniest” (futurum exactum needless). Peter is silenced for the present. They all “sat astounded and perplexed” (Dods). [source]
2 Timothy 2:11 If we be dead with him [εἰ συναπεθάνομεν]
A.V. misses the force of the aorist. Better, if we died, etc. Comp. Romans 6:8; Colossians 2:20. For the verb, comp. Mark 14:31; 2 Corinthians 7:3. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 14:31 mean?

- And emphatically he kept saying If it is needful of me to die with You no not You will I deny Likewise now also all of them were saying
δὲ ἐκπερισσῶς ἐλάλει Ἐὰν δέῃ με συναποθανεῖν σοι οὐ μή σε ἀπαρνήσομαι ὡσαύτως δὲ καὶ πάντες ἔλεγον

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐκπερισσῶς  emphatically 
Parse: Adverb
Root: περισσῶς  
Sense: beyond measure, extraordinary.
ἐλάλει  he  kept  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
δέῃ  it  is  needful 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δεῖ  
Sense: it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper.
με  of  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
συναποθανεῖν  to  die  with 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: συναποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die together.
οὐ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
ἀπαρνήσομαι  will  I  deny 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀπαρνέομαι  
Sense: to deny.
ὡσαύτως  Likewise 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὡσαύτως  
Sense: in like manner, likewise.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἔλεγον  of  them  were  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.