Cock Crowing
/KOK-kroh-ing/
Summary
A division of the night watch, occurring around midnight and again near dawn, famously marking the time of Peter's denial of Christ.
☩Time Division
The Romans divided the night into four watches of three hours each. The third watch, from midnight to 3 AM, was called cock-crowing because roosters typically crow during this period. A second cock-crowing occurred near dawn.
Key verses:Mark 13:35
☩Peter's Denial
Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed twice. When Peter's third denial was followed by the rooster's crow, he remembered Jesus's words and wept bitterly, marking one of Scripture's most poignant moments of conviction.
Key verses:Matthew 26:34Matthew 26:74-75Mark 14:30Mark 14:68Mark 14:72
Related Verses7 mentions
References
- 1.American Tract Society, "Cock-Crowing," in American Tract Society Bible Dictionary (American Tract Society, 1859).
- 2.Edwin W. Rice, "Cockcrowing," in The People's Dictionary of the Bible (American Sunday-School Union, 1893).
- 3.John Kitto, "Cockcrowing," in A Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, vol. I (Mark H. Newman, 1845).