The Meaning of Mark 14:63 Explained

Mark 14:63

KJV: Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

YLT: And the chief priest, having rent his garments, saith, 'What need have we yet of witnesses?

Darby: And the high priest, having rent his clothes, says, What need have we any more of witnesses?

ASV: And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  the high priest  rent  his  clothes,  and saith,  What  need  we  any further  witnesses? 

What does Mark 14:63 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 14:53-72 - A Mockery Of Justice
A commission of the chief priests awaited the result of the treachery of Judas at the house of Caiaphas. They had made up their minds what to do, but the form of a trial was necessary. The false witnesses were obviously unable to establish a sufficient case, and our Lord maintained a dignified silence. It was too much for Caiaphas, and he put his prisoner on his oath. Our Lord made no attempt to parry the issue or turn aside from the challenge, but replied: I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. See Psalms 110:1; Daniel 7:13. Then followed a shameful scene, Mark 14:65. But our Lord was as self-restrained in the use of His mighty powers as if He had been one of the most helpless of men. The graphic story of the denial, which took place at the time of the trial in the servants' hall, was probably given to the evangelist by Peter himself. What a contrast between the strength of the Master and the weakness of the disciple! Yet Peter was forgiven and made the Apostle of the Pentecost! We may have hope! [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Mark 14:63 mean?

- And the high priest having torn the garments of him says What any more need have we of witnesses
δὲ ἀρχιερεὺς διαρρήξας τοὺς χιτῶνας αὐτοῦ λέγει Τί ἔτι χρείαν ἔχομεν μαρτύρων

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀρχιερεὺς  the  high  priest 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀρχιερεύς  
Sense: chief priest, high priest.
διαρρήξας  having  torn 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: διαρήγνυμι 
Sense: to break asunder, burst through, rend asunder.
χιτῶνας  garments 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: χιτών  
Sense: a tunic, an undergarment, usually worn next to the skin, a garment, a vestment.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
λέγει  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ἔτι  any  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
χρείαν  need 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: χρεία  
Sense: necessity, need.
ἔχομεν  have  we 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: ἔχω  
Sense: to have, i.e. to hold.
μαρτύρων  of  witnesses 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: μάρτυς 
Sense: a witness.