New International VersionThe high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked.
New Living TranslationThen the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses?
English Standard VersionAnd the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?
Berean Standard BibleAt this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?
Berean Literal BibleAnd the high priest, having torn his garments, says, "Why have we need of witnesses?
King James BibleThen the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
New King James VersionThen the high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
New American Standard BibleTearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
NASB 1995Tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
NASB 1977And tearing his clothes, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
Legacy Standard BibleAnd tearing his tunics, the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
Amplified BibleThen tearing his robe [to express his indignation], the high priest said, “What further need do we have of witnesses?
Christian Standard BibleThen the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?
Holman Christian Standard BibleThen the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses?
American Standard VersionAnd the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses?
Contemporary English VersionAt once the high priest ripped his robe apart and shouted, "Why do we need more witnesses?
English Revised VersionAnd the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses?
GOD'S WORD® TranslationThe chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, "Why do we need any more witnesses?
Good News TranslationThe High Priest tore his robes and said, "We don't need any more witnesses!
International Standard VersionThen the high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we still need witnesses?" he asked.
NET BibleThen the high priest tore his clothes and said, "Why do we still need witnesses?
New Heart English BibleThe high priest tore his clothes, and said, "What further need have we of witnesses?
Webster's Bible TranslationThen the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
Weymouth New TestamentRending his garments the High Priest exclaimed, "What need have we of witnesses after that? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAt this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “Why do we need any more witnesses?
World English BibleThe high priest tore his clothes and said, “What further need have we of witnesses? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd the chief priest, having torn his garments, says, “What need have we yet of witnesses?
Berean Literal BibleAnd the high priest, having torn his garments, says, "Why have we need of witnesses?
Young's Literal Translation And the chief priest, having rent his garments, saith, 'What need have we yet of witnesses?
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd the chief priest, having rent his tunic, says, What further need have we of witnesses. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThen the high priest rending his garments, saith: What need we any further witnesses?
Catholic Public Domain VersionThen the high priest, rending his garments, said: “Why do we still require witnesses?
New American BibleAt that the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further need have we of witnesses?
New Revised Standard VersionThen the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen the high priest tore his robe, and said, Why therefore do we need witnesses?
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishBut The High Priest ripped his tunic and he said, “Why now do we need witnesses?” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd the chief priest rent his clothes, and said: What further need have we of witnesses?
Godbey New TestamentThe high priest tearing his garments, says, Why have we yet need of witnesses?
Haweis New TestamentThen the high-priest rent his clothes, and said, What farther need have we of witnesses?
Mace New Testamentthen the high priest rent his robes, and said to the council, what occasion is there for any more witnesses?
Weymouth New TestamentRending his garments the High Priest exclaimed, "What need have we of witnesses after that?
Worrell New TestamentAnd the high priest, rending his clothes, says, "What further need have we of witnesses?
Worsley New TestamentThen the high priest rent his clothes and said, What farther need have we of witnesses?
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin… 62“I am,” said Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63At this,thehigh priesttorehisclothesand declared,“Whydo we needany morewitnesses?64You have heard the blasphemy. What is your verdict?” And they all condemned Him as deserving of death.…
Cross References Matthew 26:65At this, the high priest tore his clothes and declared, “He has blasphemed! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.
John 19:7“We have a law,” answered the Jews, “and according to that law He must die, because He declared Himself to be the Son of God.”
Leviticus 24:16Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
John 10:33“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
Acts 7:56-57“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” / At this they covered their ears, cried out in a loud voice, and rushed together at him.
Hebrews 10:28-29Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. / How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Isaiah 53:3He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
John 5:18Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
1 Kings 21:10-13But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” / So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them. / They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people. ...
Luke 22:71“Why do we need any more testimony?” they declared. “We have heard it for ourselves from His own lips.”
Deuteronomy 13:9-10Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. / Stone him to death for trying to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
John 8:58-59“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!” / At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.
2 Kings 18:37Then Hilkiah’s son Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and they relayed to him the words of the Rabshakeh.
Acts 6:11-14Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” / So they stirred up the people, elders, and scribes and confronted Stephen. They seized him and brought him before the Sanhedrin, / where they presented false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ...
Numbers 14:6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
Treasury of Scripture Then the high priest rent his clothes, and said, What need we any further witnesses? his. Isaiah 36:22 Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, thatwas over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah withtheir clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh. Isaiah 37:1 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heardit, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD. Jeremiah 36:23,24 And it came to pass,that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and castit into the fire thatwas on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire thatwas on the hearth… Jump to Previous ChiefClothesExclaimedFurtherGarmentsHighNeedPartingPriestRendingRentRobesTearingToreViolentlyWitnessesJump to Next ChiefClothesExclaimedFurtherGarmentsHighNeedPartingPriestRendingRentRobesTearingToreViolentlyWitnessesMark 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.At this, the high priest tore his clothesThe act of tearing one's clothes was a traditional expression of grief, horror, or outrage in Jewish culture, often seen in the Old Testament (e.g., Genesis 37:29, 2 Kings 18:37). The high priest's action here signifies his perceived blasphemy at Jesus' claim to divinity. This act also underscores the seriousness of the accusation against Jesus, as the high priest would only tear his garments in response to something he considered profoundly offensive or sacrilegious. The high priest, Caiaphas, was part of the Sadducees, a sect that held significant power in the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. and declared,
The high priest's declaration is a formal pronouncement, indicating the gravity of the situation. In the context of a trial, his words carry the weight of authority and are meant to influence the council's decision. This moment is pivotal in the trial of Jesus, as it marks the transition from gathering evidence to making a judgment. “Why do we need any more witnesses?
This rhetorical question implies that the high priest believes the evidence against Jesus is already sufficient. In Jewish legal proceedings, multiple witnesses were required to establish a charge (Deuteronomy 19:15). However, the high priest's question suggests that Jesus' own words, which he interprets as blasphemy, are enough to convict Him. This reflects the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, who often sought to trap Him with His own words (Mark 12:13-17). The question also highlights the predetermined nature of the trial, as the leaders were already seeking a reason to condemn Jesus (Mark 14:1-2). Persons / Places / Events 1. High PriestThe high priest during this time was Caiaphas. He was the leading religious authority in Jerusalem and played a crucial role in the trial of Jesus. His tearing of clothes was a traditional expression of outrage or grief, often used in response to blasphemy. 2. SanhedrinThis was the assembly of Jewish religious leaders, including chief priests, scribes, and elders, who were responsible for religious decisions and trials. They were gathered to judge Jesus. 3. Jesus' TrialThis event is part of the trial of Jesus, where He was accused of blasphemy and other charges. The trial was held at night, which was unusual and against Jewish legal practices. 4. JerusalemThe city where these events took place, Jerusalem was the religious and political center of Jewish life. 5. WitnessesThe high priest's statement about needing no more witnesses indicates that they believed they had sufficient evidence against Jesus, although the testimonies were inconsistent. Teaching Points Understanding Religious AuthorityThe high priest's actions remind us of the potential for religious authority to be misused. We must discern and ensure that our leaders align with biblical truth. The Significance of Jesus' TrialThis event underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the necessity of Jesus' sacrifice. It challenges us to reflect on the gravity of His mission and our response to it. Responding to InjusticeJesus' trial was marked by injustice and false accusations. As Christians, we are called to stand for truth and justice, even when it is unpopular or costly. The Role of WitnessesThe high priest's dismissal of further witnesses highlights the importance of integrity and truthfulness in our testimony about Christ. Emotional Reactions in FaithThe tearing of clothes was an emotional response. We should be cautious about letting emotions drive our decisions, especially in matters of faith and justice. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1.What is the meaning of Mark 14:63?
2.How does tearing his clothes signify the high priest's reaction to Jesus' claim?
3.What does Mark 14:63 reveal about the high priest's understanding of blasphemy?
4.How does this verse connect to Old Testament laws on blasphemy?
5.How can we ensure our reactions align with biblical truth, not emotion?
6.What steps can we take to discern truth in challenging spiritual situations?
7.Why did the high priest tear his clothes in Mark 14:63?
8.What does tearing clothes symbolize in biblical times?
9.How does Mark 14:63 reflect the reaction to Jesus' claim of divinity?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 14?
11.In Hebrews 5:5, where is the historical evidence for God directly declaring Jesus as priest in a manner consistent with Israel's established priesthood?
12.Who was high priest when David ate the showbread? (Mark 2:26 vs. 1 Samuel 21:1)
13.Why does Jesus refer to 'Abiathar the high priest' in Mark 2:26 while 1 Samuel 21 names Ahimelech instead?
14.What were the key events in Jesus' trials?What Does Mark 14:63 Mean At this• The phrase anchors us in the immediate context ofMark 14:61-62, where Jesus openly affirms, “I am,” and foretells His coming glory (Mark 14:62). • That confession fulfills messianic prophecies likePsalm 110:1 andDaniel 7:13-14, both of which the council knew well. • The moment Jesus speaks, the courtroom tension shifts: divine truth collides with human unbelief. (See alsoJohn 18:5-6, where His “I am” moment causes soldiers to draw back.)
The high priest tore his clothes• Tearing garments signified overwhelming grief or horror (Genesis 37:34;2 Samuel 13:31). • YetLeviticus 21:10 expressly forbids the high priest from tearing his sacred vestments. By ripping them, Caiaphas shows: – outward indignation while inwardly violating God’s law, – the religious system’s bankruptcy—its leader breaks the very Scriptures he claims to defend. • Caiaphas’ act dramatizes rejection of Jesus as Messiah, prefiguring the soon-to-be-torn temple veil (Mark 15:38) that will signal a new way to God.
And declared• A rushed verdict replaces calm deliberation; the judge turns prosecutor. • This scene echoesIsaiah 53:8, “By oppression and judgment He was taken away,” foreshadowing the Messiah’s unjust trial. • Caiaphas’ declaration also fulfills Jesus’ prediction that the Son of Man would “be delivered over to the chief priests” (Mark 10:33).
“Why do we need any more witnesses?”• Earlier false witnesses failed to agree (Mark 14:56). Now Caiaphas seizes Jesus’ truthful words as the supposed evidence of blasphemy. • The question is rhetorical: the council’s minds are already made up (Luke 22:71). • In calling for no further testimony, the high priest unwittingly underscores that Jesus’ own testimony is sufficient—both for condemnation in their court and for salvation to those who believe (John 12:48-50). • The irony: the One who is Truth (John 14:6) is condemned for speaking truth; the court that should uphold God’s law condemns God’s Son.
summaryMark 14:63 reveals a dramatic clash: Jesus declares His divine identity; the high priest reacts with unlawful zeal, tears his garments, and claims no more witnesses are needed. The scene exposes human rebellion against God, fulfills prophecy, and propels Jesus toward the cross, where the rejection of the religious leaders will become the very means of our redemption. (63) Then the high priest rent his clothes.--It is noticeable that St. Mark uses the word for the inner garment, St. Matthew that for the outer. Verse 63. - And the high priest rent hisclothes ( διαῥῤήξας τοὺς χιτῶνας); literally, his tunics.; St. Matthew ( Matthew 26:65) has τὰ ἱμὰτια literally, his garments. None but people of rank wore two tunics. The Greek verb here rendered "rent" implies violent dramatic action. The Jewish tunic was open under the chin, and large enough to receive the head, so that it could easily be placed over the shoulders, by inserting the head. When the wearer wished to give this sign of indignation or grief, he would seize the garment at this opening with both hands, and violently tear it asunder down to the waist. But it was unlawful for the high priest to do this in a private grief ( Leviticus 10:6). Some of the Fathers think that by this action Caiaphas involuntarily typified the rending of the priesthood from himself and from the Jewish nation.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek At this,δὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.theὉ(Ho)Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.high priestἀρχιερεὺς(archiereus)Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 749:High priest, chief priest. From arche and hiereus; the high-priest; by extension a chief priest.toreδιαρρήξας(diarrēxas)Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1284:To tear asunder, burst, rend. From dia and rhegnumi; to tear asunder.hisαὐτοῦ(autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.clothesχιτῶνας(chitōnas)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5509:A tunic, garment, undergarment. Of foreign origin; a tunic or shirt.[and] declared,λέγει(legei)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.“WhyΤί(Ti)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101:Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.do we needχρείαν(chreian)Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5532:From the base of chraomai or chre; employment, i.e. An affair; also occasion, demand, requirement or destitution.any moreἔτι(eti)Adverb
Strong's 2089:(a) of time: still, yet, even now, (b) of degree: even, further, more, in addition. Perhaps akin to etos; 'yet, ' still.witnesses?μαρτύρων(martyrōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3144:A witness (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case); by analogy, a 'martyr'.
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NT Gospels: Mark 14:63 The high priest tore his clothes (Mar Mk Mr) |
