Matthew 26:34

ἐν. τ. τ. ν., repetition of statement in Matthew 26:31, with added emphasis (ἀμὴν, etc.), and = never? This night I tell you. πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι : more exact specification of the time to make the statement more impressive = before the dawn. ἀλέκτωρ, poetic form for ἀλεκτρυών. This fowl not mentioned in O. T.; probably introduced into Palestine after the exile, possibly from Babylon (Benzinger, pp. 38, 94). Not allowed to be kept in Jerusalem according to Lightfoot, but this is contradicted by others (Schöttgen, Wünsche). In any case the prohibition would not apply to the Romans. Though no hens had been in Jerusalem, Jesus might have spoken the words to mark the time of night. τρὶς, thrice, suggestive of denial in aggravated form; on which, not on the precise number of times, as an instance of miraculous prediction, stress should be laid.