The servant whose right ear was cut off by Peter and miraculously restored by Christ, in Gethsemane, Mt 26:51. The seizure of the Savior immediately after two manifestations of his divinity, Lu 22:51; Joh 18:6, evinces the blindness and obstinacy of mankind in sin.

reigning, the personal servant or slave of the high priest Caiaphas. He is mentioned only by John. Peter cut off his right ear in the garden of Gethsemane (Joh 18:10). But our Lord cured it with a touch (Mt 26:51; Mr 14:47; Lu 22:51). This was the last miracle of bodily cure wrought by our Lord. It is not mentioned by John.

Malluch in Old Testament (1Ch 6:44; Ne 10:4.) The assault by Peter on the high priest's servant (slave), when in the act of arresting Jesus, is given by all the evangelists, but the name of the servant by John only (Joh 18:10,15-16). Naturally so, for John was "known to the high-priest" and his household, so that he procured admission from her that kept the door, for his close colleague Peter, and was able to state, what the other evangelists omit, that another servant who charged Peter with being Jesus' disciple "was his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off." Another incidental propriety confirming genuineness is, Jesus says to Pilate, "if My kingdom were of this world then would My servants fight"; yet none charged Him, not even Malchus's kinsman who was near, with the violence which Peter had used to Malchus. Why?

Because Jesus by a touch had healed him (Lu 22:51), and it would have wonderfully tended to elevate Jesus as one more than human in love and in power, in Pilate's estimation, had they charged Him with Peter's act. Malchus was Caiaphas the high priest's own servant, not a minister or apparitor of the council. 'There were but two swords in the disciples' hands (Lu 22:38); while the holder of one was waiting for Christ's reply to their question, "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" the holder of the other, Peter, in the same spirit as in Mt 16:22, smote with the weapon of the flesh. What a narrow escape Peter providentially had of a malefactor's and a murderer's end! The sheath is the place for the Christian's sword, except as the judicial minister of God's wrath upon evil doers (Ro 13:4).

Seeing the coming stroke Malchus threw his head to the left, so as to expose the right ear more than the other. Our Lord when His enemies held His hands said to them (not to the disciples), "suffer Me thus far," i.e. leave Me free until I have healed him. Luke (Lu 22:51) alone records this. Matthew and Mark mention the previous laying hold of Him; Luke does not, but in undesigned coincidence, marking truthfulness, implies it here. Jesus used His last moment of liberty in touching and healing afflicted man. The healing by a "touch" implies that the ear hung to its place by a small portion of flesh. Luke, the physician, appropriately is the only one who records the healing. This was Jesus' last miracle relieving human suffering. The hands so often put forth to bless and to cure were thenceforth bound and stretched on the cross, that form of His ministry in the flesh ceasing forever.

The name of the high priest's servant whose ear Peter cut off in the Garden of Gethsemane at the arrest of our Lord. St. John is the only Evangelist who mentions his name (Joh 18:10), thereby substantiating the fact that he was intimately acquainted with the high priest and his household (Joh 18:16). The incident is related in the other three Gospels (Mt 26:61; Mr 14:47; Lu 22:50). On a comparison of the four accounts, it seems that Malchus pressed forward eagerly to seize Jesus, whereupon Peter struck at him with his sword. The blow, missing its main object, almost severed the ear, but not quite, as Jesus touched it and healed it.

Luke, the physician, is the only Evangelist who mentions the hearing of the ear.

Morley Stevenson.

Mal'chus

The high priest's servant whose ear Peter cut off, but who was healed by the Lord. Joh 18:10.

Mal'chus

(king or kingdom), the name of the servant of the high priest whose right ear Peter cut off at the time of the Saviour's apprehension in the garden.

Mt 26:51; Mr 14:17; Lu 22:49,51; Joh 18:10