The answer is: Servant of the High Priest

Mark 14:47

During the dramatic arrest of Jesus, the Gospel of Mark tells us that one of his disciples, in a desperate attempt to defend him, swung a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant named Malchus (Mark 14:47). This moment provides a vivid image of both the tension of the situation and the deep loyalty of Jesus’ followers.

Interestingly, the act of violence was met not with approval, but with rebuke from Jesus himself, who famously told the disciple to put the sword away, stating, "For all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52). This statement hints at a larger principle of non-violence that runs throughout Jesus' teaching—one of love and reconciliation rather than conflict.

The name Malchus, which means "king" in Hebrew, is a curious detail that some scholars have pointed out. Was this a play on the irony of the so-called "King" who was apprehended while His follower acted in a defensive, yet misguided, act of loyalty?

Ultimately, this incident echoes a recurring theme in the Gospels: the passion for doing what we believe is right often clashes with the reality of compassion and forgiveness. The Gospel writers include these details to help all readers engage with the complex emotions and choices surrounding those that surrounded Jesus—after all, aren’t our own instinctive reactions often misguided, but full of intent?