Malchus
“King or counselor”
Summary
Malchus was the servant of the high priest Caiaphas whose right ear was cut off by Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane and was immediately healed by Jesus.
☩The Incident
When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter drew a sword and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was likely stepping forward with others to bind Jesus when Peter struck at him. The blow was probably intended to be more severe, but reached only the ear, perhaps because Malchus threw his head to the left, exposing his right ear. Jesus immediately touched the ear and healed him—His last miracle of healing before the crucifixion. Jesus then rebuked Peter, saying 'Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?'
☩Significance
John alone names the servant Malchus and the disciple Peter, likely because John was known to the high priest's household. Luke the physician alone records the healing—an appropriate detail for a medical writer to preserve. A kinsman of Malchus later questioned Peter in the high priest's courtyard, contributing to his third denial. The healing may explain why Peter was not charged with assault—it would have been counterproductive to accuse Jesus' followers of violence when He had miraculously healed the injured party.
Related Verses5 mentions
References
- 1.George Morrish, "Malchus," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Malchus," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Malchus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Malchus," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).