John 18 · Verse 10

John 18:10

Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
John 18:10, King James Version

John 18:10 in other translations

BSBThen Simon Peter drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
WEBSimon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
ASVSimon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus.
YLTSimon Peter, therefore, having a sword, drew it, and struck the chief priest's servant, and cut off his right ear--and the name of the servant was Malchus--
DARBYSimon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, and smote the bondman of the high priest and cut off his right ear; and the bondman's name was Malchus.
BBEThen Simon Peter, who had a sword, took it out and gave the high priest's servant a blow, cutting off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.
WebsterThen Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.

What does John 18:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 18:10-11
10-11. Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus--None of the other Evangelists mention the name either of the ardent disciple or of his victim. John being "known to the high priest" (Joh 18:15), the mention of the servant's name by him is quite natural, and an interesting mark of truth in a small matter. As to the right ear, specified both here and in Luke (Lu 22:50), the man was "likely foremost of those who advanced to seize Jesus, and presented himself in the attitude of a combatant; hence his right side would be exposed to attack. The blow of Peter was evidently aimed vertically at his head" [Webster and Wilkinson].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 10,11. Mt 26:51, Mt 26:52.

The servant's name was Malchus. His name is mentioned by neither of the other evangelists, nor is it said by the other evangelists who was the disciple that gave the blow. It is probable that both Peter and the servant were alive when the other gospels were written.

(h) "Then Simon Peter" Mt 26:51, Mk 14:47, Lk 22:49,50

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Having a sword - See the note on Luk 22:36. Cut off his right ear - He probably designed to have cloven his scull in two, but God turned it aside, and only permitted the ear to be taken off; and this he would not have suffered, but only that he might have the opportunity of giving them a most striking proof of his Divinity in working an astonishing miracle on the occasion: see the notes on Mat 26:51-56 (note). The other three evangelists mention this transaction; but neither give the name of Peter nor of Malchus, probably because both persons were alive when they wrote; but it is likely both had been long dead before St. John published his history.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 18:1-12

Sin began in the garden of Eden, there the curse was pronounced, there the Redeemer was promised; and in a garden that promised Seed entered into conflict with the old serpent. Christ was buried also in a garden. Let us, when we walk in our gardens, take occasion from thence to mediate on Christ's sufferings in a garden. Our Lord Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and asked, Whom seek…

Read the full comment on John 18:1-12 →

John 18:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣίμωνSimōnSimonG4613
οὖνounthenG3767
ΠέτροςPetrosPeterG4074
ἔχωνechōnhavingG2192
μάχαιρανmachairana swordG3162
εἵλκυσενeilkusendrewG1670
αὐτὴνautēnitG846
καὶkaiandG2532
ἔπαισενepaisenhe struckG3817
τὸνtontheG3588
τοῦtouof theG3588
ἀρχιερέωςarchiereōshigh priestG749
δοῦλονdoulonservantG1401
καὶkaiandG2532
ἀπέκοψενapekopsencut offG609
αὐτοῦautouof himG846
τὸtotheG3588
ὠτάριονōtarionear
τὸto<the>G3588
δεξιόν·dexionright;G1188
ἦνēnWasG1510
δὲdenowG1161
ὄνομαonomanameG3686
τῷtōof theG3588
δούλῳdoulōservantG1401
Μάλχος.¶MalchosMalchus.G3124

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 18:10

  • Matthew 26:51-54

    And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

  • Mark 14:47

    And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

  • Luke 22:49-51

    When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

  • John 18:26

    One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him?

  • Mark 14:30

    And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

  • Luke 22:33

    And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
26; Mt 26:51-54; Mr 14:30,47; Lu 22:33,49-51

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 18:9

    That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

  • John 18:10

    Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

  • John 18:11

    Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

Read all of John 18

John 18:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces Simón Pedro, que tenía espada, sacóla, é hirió al siervo del pontífice, y le cortó la oreja derecha. Y el siervo se llamaba Malco.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Simon Pierre donc, ayant une épée, la tira et frappa l’esclave du souverain sacrificateur et lui coupa l’oreille droite; et le nom de l’esclave était Malchus.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Simon Petrus nun, der ein Schwert hatte, zog es und schlug den Knecht des Hohenpriesters und hieb ihm das rechte Ohr ab. Der Name des Knechtes aber war Malchus.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Simon ergo Petrus habens gladium eduxit eum: et percussit pontificis servum, et abscidit auriculam ejus dexteram. Erat autem nomen servo Malchus.