What Does Mark 14:63 Mean in the King James?

Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

Mark 14:63 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

As the high priest tears his clothes, he breaks the command that specifically forbids a high priest to tear his clothes.

THE MEANING

The high priest makes judgment visible before calling for another witness. His gesture does not establish the charge; it reveals a breach in the very office he inhabits, since the high priest is told not to rend his clothes. The verse sets his display of authority beside the standard that governs it.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A high priest’s display of outrage does not prove he is upholding the sacred order; his torn clothes reveal the breach.

THE ROOT

διαρρήξας

diarrēxas

GROWS FROM

⁨ῥήγνυμι⁩ (rhēgnymi), in ⁨διαρρήγνυμι⁩ (diarrēgnymi)

To break, burst, or tear; the compound describes tearing apart.

“rent” in this verse is diarrēxas. Mark’s form, ⁨διαρρήξας⁩ (diarrēxas, “having torn apart”), comes from ⁨διαρρήγνυμι⁩ (diarrēgnymi, “to tear apart”), built on ⁨ῥήγνυμι⁩ (rhēgnymi, “to break, burst, tear”). The Greek of Joel 2:13 uses that same compound for rending the heart rather than the garments, giving the tear an inward direction as well as an outward one.

ALSO GROWS

rhēgnymi: To break, burst, tear.

ῥήγνυμι

This is the underlying rupture carried by “rent”: something whole is split.

diarrēgnymi: To tear apart, rend.

διαρρήγνυμι

The same compound appears in Joel 2:13 for rending the heart rather than the garments.

THE PATTERN

When authority judges another, its own conduct becomes part of the evidence.

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

2 Samuel 12:7 · KJVNathan turns the judgment David has pronounced toward the king himself, making the judge’s own conduct visible.

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 7:2 · KJVThe standard a person applies to another also measures the one who applies it.

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Romans 2:1 · KJVThe act of judging exposes the judge when their own actions break the standard they enforce.

THE THREAD

And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes;

Leviticus 21:10 · KJV

Leviticus names the high priest and bars him from rending his clothes. Mark places the judge’s own breach beside the charge he declares, exposing a fracture inside the authority making the judgment.

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