John 18:27
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
Original Language Analysis
πάλιν
again
G3825
πάλιν
again
Strong's:
G3825
Word #:
1 of 9
(adverbially) anew, i.e., (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 9
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Πέτρος
Peter
G4074
Πέτρος
Peter
Strong's:
G4074
Word #:
5 of 9
a (piece of) rock (larger than g3037); as a name, petrus, an apostle
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 9
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
Historical Context
Roman timekeeping divided night into four watches; the 'cockcrowing' (ἀλεκτοροφωνία, alektorophōnia) marked the third watch (midnight-3am) or the transition to the fourth watch (3am-6am). Roosters typically crow multiple times before dawn, but this particular cry's timing fulfilled prophecy precisely, demonstrating God's sovereignty over nature's rhythms.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the rooster's immediate crow demonstrate that God's word will be fulfilled even when it exposes our failures?
- What comfort can you find in Peter's restoration after such catastrophic failure—how does this shape your understanding of divine grace?
- Why does John omit Peter's weeping while the Synoptics emphasize it—what does this teach about repentance being more than emotional response?
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Analysis & Commentary
Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew—The simple, stark Greek: Ἠρνήσατο οὖν πάλιν Πέτρος, καὶ εὐθέως ἀλέκτωρ ἐφώνησεν (Ērnēsato oun palin Petros, kai eutheōs alektōr ephōnēsen). The adverb εὐθέως (eutheōs, 'immediately') signals divine orchestration—the rooster's crow fulfilled Jesus's specific prediction (13:38).
This third denial completes Peter's fall from 'I will lay down my life for thee' (13:37) to triple rejection. Yet John omits Peter's bitter weeping (recorded in Matthew 26:75, Luke 22:62), focusing instead on chronology. The rooster's crow marks dawn approaching—darkness giving way to light, just as Peter's denial will yield to restoration (John 21).