In biblical times, the term "cock" refers to a rooster, a bird known for its crowing at dawn. The cock is most notably mentioned in the New Testament in connection with the Apostle Peter's denial of Jesus Christ. This event is a significant moment in the Passion narrative, illustrating themes of human weakness, repentance, and forgiveness.

Biblical References:

1. Peter's Denial:
The most prominent mention of a cock in the Bible is found in the accounts of Peter's denial of Jesus. Jesus foretold that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed. This prophecy is recorded in all four Gospels, highlighting its importance in the narrative of Christ's Passion.

· Matthew 26:34 : "Truly I tell you," Jesus declared, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."
· Mark 14:30 : "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times."
· Luke 22:34 : But Jesus replied, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me."
· John 13:38 : Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

The fulfillment of this prophecy is a poignant moment in the Gospels, as Peter, despite his earlier protestations of loyalty, denies knowing Jesus three times. The crowing of the cock serves as a stark reminder of Jesus' words and Peter's failure.

· Matthew 26:74-75 : At that moment a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
· Mark 14:72 : Immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he broke down and wept.
· Luke 22:60-62 : And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
· John 18:27 : Again, Peter denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed.

2. Symbolism and Interpretation:
The crowing of the cock is often interpreted as a symbol of awakening and vigilance. In the context of Peter's denial, it serves as a call to awareness and repentance. The event underscores the frailty of human resolve and the need for divine grace. Peter's subsequent repentance and restoration by Jesus (John 21:15-19) highlight the themes of forgiveness and redemption.

3. Cultural and Historical Context:
In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, the crowing of a cock was a familiar sound marking the approach of dawn. It was a natural time marker for the people of the ancient Near East. The use of the cock's crow in the narrative would have resonated with contemporary audiences as a vivid and relatable detail.

The account of the cock's crowing in relation to Peter's denial remains a powerful narrative within the Christian tradition, serving as a reminder of human fallibility and the hope of redemption through Christ.

Against Atheism and Infidelity.
... In the tragedy of Hamlet, where the ghost vanishes upon the cock's crowing, he takes
occasion to mention its crowing all hours of the night about Christmas time ...
/.../sect viii against atheism and.htm

Hymn at Cock-Crow
... I. HYMN AT COCK-CROW. Awake! the shining day is born! The herald cock proclaims
the morn: And Christ, the soul's Awakener, cries, Bidding us back to life arise. ...
/.../prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/i hymn at cock-crow.htm

Notes
... 2 The allusions to the cock in this and the following poem (ii.37-55) were doubtless
inspired by the lines of Ambrose in his morning hymn beginning Aeterne ...
//christianbookshelf.org/prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/notes.htm

The Legend of La Brea {331A}
... Saw in vision such a cock's head In the path"and it was white! Saw Brinvilliers
{334} in his pottage: Faltered, cold and damp with fright. ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/the legend of la brea.htm

Held Steady by Great Love.
... He remembered afterwards that just then the crowing of a cock fell upon his ear. ...
And even as he spoke the air was caught again with the cock's shrill cry. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks about jesus/held steady by great love.htm

The Northern Mountains
... that if asked by an Obeah-man to swear to his good character, they could not well
refuse, under penalty of finding some fine morning a white cock's head"sign ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xi the northern mountains.htm

Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
... vineyards, and also ruined and desolate houses, but especially dirty places, were
their favourite habitation, and the night-time, or before cock-crowing, their ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/appendix xii the baptism of.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the pilgrims progress.htm

Christ a Complete Saviour:
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm

Cock's (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Cock's (7 Occurrences). Matthew 26:34 Jesus said
to him, Truly I say to you that this night, before the ...
/c/cock's.htm - 8k

Cry (431 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:34 Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this night, before the
hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of ...
/c/cry.htm - 46k

Weeping (237 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:75 And the word of Jesus came back to Peter, when he said, Before the
hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of ...
/w/weeping.htm - 37k

Weep (97 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:75 And the word of Jesus came back to Peter, when he said, Before the
hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of ...
/w/weep.htm - 37k

Peter's (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Mark 14:72 And in the same minute,
the cock gave a second cry. And it came to Peter's mind ...
/p/peter's.htm - 9k

Cockatrice (3 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The mediaeval name (a corruption of "crocodile") of
a fabulous serpent supposed to be produced from a cock's egg. ...
/c/cockatrice.htm - 10k

Cockle (1 Occurrence)

/c/cockle.htm - 8k

Truly (468 Occurrences)
... Matthew 26:34 Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this night, before the
hour of the cock's cry, you will say three times that you have no knowledge of ...
/t/truly.htm - 36k

Overcome (300 Occurrences)
... Help my unbelief!" (See NIV). Mark 14:72 And in the same minute, the cock
gave a second cry. And it came to Peter's mind how Jesus ...
/o/overcome.htm - 36k

Minute (19 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Mark 14:72 And in the same minute, the cock gave a second cry. And
it came to Peter's mind how Jesus had said to him, Before ...
/m/minute.htm - 13k

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