The Meaning of Matthew 26:35 Explained

Matthew 26:35

KJV: Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

YLT: Peter saith to him, 'Even if it may be necessary for me to die with thee, I will not deny thee;' in like manner also said all the disciples.

Darby: Peter says to him, If I should needs die with thee, I will in no wise deny thee. Likewise said all the disciples also.

ASV: Peter saith unto him, Even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Peter  said  unto him,  Though  I  should  die  with  thee,  yet  will I  not  deny  thee.  Likewise  also  said  all  the disciples. 

What does Matthew 26:35 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 26:26-35 - A Self-Confident Disciple Warned
The Passover looked back to the dread hour of the Exodus; the Supper links Calvary with the Second Advent. In partaking of it we should not confine ourselves to either retrospect or anticipation, but should endeavor to feed our souls with the very spirit and heart of our dear Lord, so as to absorb His divine strength, sweetness and love. We need to feed on His flesh and drink of His blood after a mystical fashion, so that He may become the Life of our life. The word new is not the same as in Matthew 9:17, but contrasts, with the present order of things, something entirely different. The former things will have passed away-such was our Lord's anticipation!
The new covenant is further explained in Hebrews 8:1-13. It is good to recite its provisions when we sit at the Table. It is as though God and the believer drink of the cup in pledge of that blessed understanding between them. See how our Shepherd eagerly warns one of the sheep that was dear to Him and for which He had pleaded often, Luke 22:31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 26

1  Jesus foretells his own death
3  The rulers conspire against him
6  The woman anoints his feet
14  Judas bargains to betray him
17  Jesus eats the Passover;
26  institutes his holy supper;
30  foretells the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial;
36  prays in the garden;
47  and being betrayed by a kiss,
57  is carried to Caiaphas,
69  and denied by Peter

Greek Commentary for Matthew 26:35

Even if I must die with thee [κν δεηι με συν σοι αποτανειν]
Third-class condition. A noble speech and meant well. His boast of loyalty is made still stronger by ου μη σε απαρνησομαι — ou mē se aparnēsomai The other disciples were undoubtedly embarrassed by Peter‘s boast and lightheartedly joined in the same profession of fidelity. [source]
Though I should die [κἂν δέῃ με ἀποθανεῖν]
The A. V. misses the force of δέῃ : “Thoughit should be necessary for me to die.” Wyc., “If it shall behove me to die. ” Rev., excellently, “Even if I must die. ” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 26:35

Matthew 26:75 Peter remembered [εμνηστη ο Πετρος]
A small thing, but magna circumstantia (Bengel). In a flash of lightning rapidity he recalled the words of Jesus a few hours before (Matthew 26:34) which he had then scouted with the proud boast that “even if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee” (Matthew 26:35). And now this triple denial was a fact. There is no extenuation for the base denials of Peter. He had incurred the dread penalty involved in the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:33 of denial by Jesus before the Father in heaven. But Peter‘s revulsion of feeling was as sudden as his sin. [source]
Mark 14:31 Exceeding vehemently [εκπερισσως]
This strong compounded adverb only in Mark and probably preserves Peter‘s own statement of the remark. About the boast of Peter see Matthew 26:35. [source]
John 13:38 Wilt thou lay down? [τησεισ]
Jesus picks up Peter‘s very words and challenges his boasted loyalty. See such repetition in John 16:16, John 16:31; John 21:17. Shall not crow Aorist active subjunctive of πωνεω — phōneō to use the voice, used of animals and men. Note strong double negative ου μη — ou mē Mark adds δις — dis (twice). John‘s report is almost identical with that in Luke 22:34. The other disciples joined in Peter‘s boast (Mark 14:31; Matthew 26:35). Till thou hast denied Future middle indicative or aorist middle subjunctive second person singular (form identical) with compound conjunction εως ου — heōs hou (until which time), “till thou deny or deniest” (futurum exactum needless). Peter is silenced for the present. They all “sat astounded and perplexed” (Dods). [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 26:35 mean?

Says to Him - Peter Even if it were necessary for me with You to die no not You will I deny Likewise also all the disciples said
Λέγει αὐτῷ Πέτρος Κἂν δέῃ με σὺν σοὶ ἀποθανεῖν οὐ μή σε ἀπαρνήσομαι ὁμοίως καὶ πάντες οἱ μαθηταὶ εἶπαν

Λέγει  Says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
Κἂν  Even  if 
Parse: Adverb
Root: κἄν  
Sense: and if.
δέῃ  it  were  necessary  for 
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δεῖ  
Sense: it is necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper.
με  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀποθανεῖν  to  die 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἀποθνῄσκω  
Sense: to die.
οὐ  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: οὐ  
Sense: no, not; in direct questions expecting an affirmative answer.
ἀπαρνήσομαι  will  I  deny 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀπαρνέομαι  
Sense: to deny.
ὁμοίως  Likewise 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὁμοίως  
Sense: likewise, equally, in the same way.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
μαθηταὶ  disciples 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
εἶπαν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.