Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Mark 14:71 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 71. 71But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse moves Mark 14:66-72's connected sequence forward at Mark 14:71 through the report, “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak”.
Read It With
- Mark 14:66-72
Read Mark 14:71 with 14:66-72. This verse moves Mark 14:66-72's connected sequence forward at Mark 14:71 through the report, “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak”. The complete unit's controlling movement is: In the courtyard Peter denies association with Jesus three times under escalating recognition; the cock crows twice, Jesus' word is remembered, and Peter weeps.
Why This Verse Appears Here
This verse moves Mark 14:66-72's connected sequence forward at Mark 14:71 through the report, “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak”. This specific contribution advances Mark 14:66-72 toward its narrated or taught result.
Follow the Context
- Mark 14:66-72 is one coherent narrated or teaching movement titled “Peter Denies Jesus and Breaks Down.” Its opening change of scene, speaker, audience, journey stage, or controversy and its closing response distinguish it from the adjacent unit.
- In the courtyard Peter denies association with Jesus three times under escalating recognition; the cock crows twice, Jesus' word is remembered, and Peter weeps.
- Peter's failure fulfills the warning while leaving repentance and restoration beyond Mark's immediate scene. The servant girl's questions are not blameworthy causes of his denial.
What This Verse Is Not Saying
Peter's failure does not prove that fear or trauma makes restoration impossible.
What Remains True
This verse moves Mark 14:66-72's connected sequence forward at Mark 14:71 through the report, “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak”. Its faithful force remains governed by God's kingdom, Jesus' cross-defined authority, truthful discipleship, and protection of vulnerable people.
How It Can Shape Life
- When teaching Mark 14:71, explain this exact role inside Mark 14:66-72, state the material uncertainty or first-century control, and refuse the unit's first harmful misuse.
Teach It Back
Explain Mark 14:71's specific contribution to Mark 14:66-72: moves Mark 14:66-72's connected sequence forward at Mark 14:71 through the report, “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak”. Include the surrounding movement, one uncertainty or ethical boundary, and what the verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Mark 14:66-72 — Peter Denies Jesus and Breaks DownSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
The preferred reading follows Mark's immediate narrative and whole-book movement while keeping the material alternative visible: Peter's failure fulfills the warning while leaving repentance and restoration beyond Mark's immediate scene. The servant girl's questions are not blameworthy causes of his denial.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact KJV wording, paragraph flags, supplied-word markup, and coverage.
Exact location: Mark 14:66-72, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, sentence relations, and material variants checked independently of the KJV.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT official repository, data/sblgnt/text/Mark.txt, 14:66-72
Open the Mark Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — Mark with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level translation, syntax, older-English clarification, variants, background, and alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible Mark PDF, printed pp. 1868–1901, 14:66-72 and attached translator/textual notes
Open the official NET Mark PDF ↗