13:38a

Will you lay down your life for Me?: This is a rhetorical question. It was used to rebuke Peter. Jesus rebuked Peter for being so confident of his own loyalty and courage. He knew that Peter thought that he was more committed to Jesus than he really was. And although Peter was afraid to die with Jesus then, in his old age he would die for him.

There are two ways to translate this rebuke:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Are you really ready to die for me? (Good News Translation)
-or-
Die for me? (New Living Translation (2004))

• Use a statement. It is best not to say explicitly whether or not Peter would lay down his life for Jesus. For example:

Let us see whether you will lay down your life for me.
-or-
You are not ready to die for me.

13:38b

Truly, truly, I tell you: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible has translated literally as Truly, truly, I tell you introduces an important statement and means “pay attention to what I will say next.” See how you translated this clause in 13:16. For example:

I tell you for certain (Contemporary English Version)

before the rooster crows: This phrase refers to a time very early the following morning. The time would be before the cocks crowed (made the sound of a chicken).

the rooster: The word rooster means “male chicken.”

Jesus was not referring to a particular rooster that he already mentioned. So in some languages it may be more natural to say:

a rooster

crows: This word describes the loud early-morning call of a male chicken. If your readers do not know about cocks’ behavior, it may be necessary to indicate the time of day. For example:

calls/cries out ⌊in the morning⌋
-or-
screams ⌊before dawn⌋ ⌊tomorrow⌋

you will deny Me three times: This clause indicates that three times Peter would say he did not know Jesus. For example:

you will deny three times that you even know me (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you will say three times that you don’t even know me (Contemporary English Version)

three times: Peter would tell three different people he did not know Jesus. There were three separate incidents/conversations. So it may be necessary to say:

on three occasions

General Comment on 13:38

In some languages it may be natural to use a direct quote for Peter’s denial of Jesus. For example:

you will say three times, “I deny ⌊knowing⌋ him.”

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