Mark 14:47
New International Version
Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

New Living Translation
But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

English Standard Version
But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Berean Standard Bible
And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Berean Literal Bible
And a certain one of those standing by, having drawn the sword, struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

King James Bible
And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

New King James Version
And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

New American Standard Bible
But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

NASB 1995
But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

NASB 1977
But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Legacy Standard Bible
But one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Amplified Bible
But one of the bystanders [Simon Peter] drew his sword and struck [Malchus] the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Christian Standard Bible
One of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And one of those who stood by drew his sword, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his ear.

American Standard Version
But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

Contemporary English Version
Someone standing there pulled out a sword. He struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

English Revised Version
But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One of those standing there pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest's servant.

Good News Translation
But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck at the High Priest's slave, cutting off his ear.

International Standard Version
But one of those standing there drew his sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

Majority Standard Bible
And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

NET Bible
One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the high priest's slave, cutting off his ear.

New Heart English Bible
But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Webster's Bible Translation
And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Weymouth New Testament
But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck a blow at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

World English Bible
But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and a certain one of those standing by, having drawn the sword, struck the servant of the chief priest, and took off his ear.

Berean Literal Bible
And a certain one of those standing by, having drawn the sword, struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

Young's Literal Translation
and a certain one of those standing by, having drawn the sword, struck the servant of the chief priest, and took off his ear.

Smith's Literal Translation
And a certain one of them standing by, having drawn a sword, struck the chief priest's servant, and took away his ear.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
An one of them that stood by, drawing a sword, struck a servant of the chief priest, and cut off his ear.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then a certain one of those standing near, drawing a sword, struck a servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

New American Bible
One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.

New Revised Standard Version
But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But one of those who stood by drew a sword, and struck it at the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
One of those who were standing drew a sword and hit the servant of The High Priest and took off his ear.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And one of those who were standing by, drew a sword, and struck the servant of the chief priest, and cut off his ear.

Godbey New Testament
And a certain one of those standing by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Haweis New Testament
And one particular person of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Mace New Testament
but one of those that stood by, drew his sword against a servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

Weymouth New Testament
But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck a blow at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his ear.

Worrell New Testament
And one of those standing by, having drawn his sword, smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

Worsley New Testament
And one of those that were present, drawing a sword, struck at the high priest's servant, and took off his ear.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Betrayal of Jesus
46Then the men seized Jesus and arrested Him. 47And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48Jesus asked the crowd, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would an outlaw?…

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.

Luke 22:50-51
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. / But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.

John 18:10-11
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. / “Put your sword back in its sheath!” Jesus said to Peter. “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given Me?”

John 18:36
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”

Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.

Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.

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?”

Matthew 26:52-54
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. / Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? / But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

Luke 22:49
Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

John 18:4-6
Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?” / “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them. / When Jesus said, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

2 Samuel 20:9-10
“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him. / Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

1 Kings 2:34
So Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up, struck down Joab, and killed him. He was buried at his own home in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 17:51
David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

2 Kings 11:15
And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”

Nehemiah 4:17-18
who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other. / And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me.


Treasury of Scripture

And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

Matthew 26:51-54
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear…

Luke 22:49-51
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? …

John 18:10,11
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…

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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.














But one of the bystanders
This phrase introduces an unnamed individual among those present during Jesus' arrest. The Greek word for "bystanders" (παρεστηκώς, parestēkōs) suggests someone standing nearby, possibly a disciple. In the broader Gospel narrative, this person is identified as Peter (John 18:10). The anonymity in Mark's account may emphasize the impulsive nature of the act, reflecting human frailty and the tendency to react with violence when threatened.

drew his sword
The act of drawing a sword signifies a readiness for combat and defense. The Greek word for "sword" (μάχαιρα, machaira) refers to a short sword or large knife, commonly used in the ancient world for both practical and military purposes. This action contrasts sharply with Jesus' teachings on peace and non-violence, highlighting the tension between human instincts and divine instruction.

and struck the servant of the high priest
The servant, identified in John 18:10 as Malchus, represents the authority and power of the religious leaders who opposed Jesus. The Greek word for "struck" (πατάσσω, patassō) implies a forceful blow, indicating the severity of the action. This moment underscores the chaos and confusion of the arrest scene, as well as the disciples' misunderstanding of Jesus' mission.

cutting off his ear
The specific detail of cutting off the ear (ὠτάριον, ōtarion) is significant. In the cultural and historical context, the ear symbolizes hearing and obedience. This act of violence, therefore, metaphorically represents a disruption in communication and understanding between Jesus and the religious authorities. It also foreshadows the spiritual deafness of those who fail to comprehend Jesus' message.

Verse 47. - But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear (ἀφεῖλεν αὐτοῦ τὸ ὠτίον). We learn from St. John (John 18:10) that this was Peter. St. John also is the only evangelist who mentions the name (Malchus) of the high priest's servant. Malchus would probably be prominent amongst them. St. Luke (Luke 22:51) is the only evangelist who mentions the healing of the wound by our Lord.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
δέ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

one
εἷς (heis)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1520: One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

bystanders
παρεστηκότων (parestēkotōn)
Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3936: Or prolonged paristano from para and histemi; to stand beside, i.e. to exhibit, proffer, recommend, substantiate; or to be at hand, aid.

drew
σπασάμενος (spasamenos)
Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4685: To draw (as a sword), pull. A primary verb; to draw.

[his]
τὴν (tēn)
Article - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sword
μάχαιραν (machairan)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3162: A sword. Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment.

[and] struck
ἔπαισεν (epaisen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3817: To strike, smite, sting. A primary verb; to hit; specially, to sting.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

servant
δοῦλον (doulon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.

of the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

high priest,
ἀρχιερέως (archiereōs)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 749: High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest.

cutting off
ἀφεῖλεν (apheilen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 851: To take away, smite off. From apo and haireomai; to remove.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

ear.
ὠτάριον (ōtarion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5621: An ear. Diminutive of ous; an earlet, i.e. One of the ears, or perhaps the lobe of the ear.


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NT Gospels: Mark 14:47 But a certain one of those who (Mar Mk Mr)
Mark 14:46
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