John 13
English Standard Version
Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet
13 Now (A)before (B)the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that (C)his hour had come (D)to depart out of this world to the Father, (E)having loved (F)his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when (G)the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing (H)that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that (I)he had come from God and (J)was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, (K)tied it around his waist. 5 Then he (L)poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 (M)Jesus answered him, “What I am doing (N)you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 (O)Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, (P)“If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, (Q)except for his feet,[a] but is completely clean. And (R)you[b] are clean, (S)but not every one of you.” 11 (T)For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and (U)put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, (V)“Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 (W)You call me (X)Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, (Y)you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, (Z)that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AA)a servant[c] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, (AB)blessed are you if you do them. 18 (AC)I am not speaking of all of you; I know (AD)whom I have chosen. But (AE)the Scripture will be fulfilled,[d] (AF)‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 (AG)I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, (AH)whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
One of You Will Betray Me
21 After saying these things, (AI)Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, (AJ)“Truly, truly, I say to you, (AK)one of you will betray me.” 22 (AL)The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 (AM)One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table (AN)at Jesus' side,[e] 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus[f] of whom he was speaking. 25 (AO)So that disciple, (AP)leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, (AQ)“It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread (AR)when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, (AS)he gave it to Judas, (AT)the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, (AU)Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, (AV)“What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, (AW)because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need (AX)for the feast,” or that he should (AY)give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. (AZ)And it was night.
A New Commandment
31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, (BA)“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and (BB)God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, (BC)God will also glorify him in himself, and (BD)glorify him at once. 33 Little children, (BE)yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just (BF)as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 (BG)A new commandment (BH)I give to you, (BI)that you love one another: (BJ)just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 (BK)By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus Foretells Peter's Denial
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” (BL)Jesus answered him, “Where I am going (BM)you cannot follow me now, (BN)but you will follow afterward.” 37 (BO)Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, (BP)the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.
Footnotes
- John 13:10 Some manuscripts omit except for his feet
- John 13:10 The Greek words for you in this verse are plural
- John 13:16 Or bondservant, or slave (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)
- John 13:18 Greek But in order that the Scripture may be fulfilled
- John 13:23 Greek in the bosom of Jesus
- John 13:24 Greek lacks Jesus
John 13
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
13 Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father.(A) Having loved His own who were in the world,(B) He loved them to the end.[a]
2 Now by the time of supper, the Devil(C) had already put it into the heart of Judas,(D) Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray(E) Him. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands,(F) that He had come from God,(G) and that He was going back to God.(H) 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe,(I) took a towel, and tied it around Himself.(J) 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.
6 He came to Simon Peter,(K) who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t understand now, but afterward you will know.”(L)
8 “You will never wash my feet—ever!” Peter said.
Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with Me.”
9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head.”
10 “One who has bathed,” Jesus told him, “doesn’t need to wash anything except his feet, but he is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him. This is why He said, “You are not all clean.”
The Meaning of Footwashing
12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined[b] again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.(M) 15 For I have given you an example(N) that you also should do just as I have done for you.
16 “I assure you: A slave is not greater than his master,[c](O) and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.(P) 18 I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen.(Q) But the Scripture(R) must be fulfilled:(S) The one who eats My bread[d] has raised his heel against Me.(T)[e]
19 “I am telling you now before it happens,(U) so that when it does happen you will believe(V) that I am He.(W) 20 I assure you: Whoever receives anyone I send receives Me, and the one who receives(X) Me receives Him who sent Me.”
Judas’s Betrayal Predicted
21 When(Y) Jesus had said this, He was troubled in His spirit(Z) and testified,(AA) “I assure you: One of you will betray Me!”
22 The disciples started looking at one another—uncertain which one He was speaking about. 23 One of His disciples, the one Jesus loved,(AB) was reclining close beside Jesus.[f] 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about. 25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus replied, “He’s the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it.”(AC) When He had dipped the bread,(AD) He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son.[g] 27 After Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan(AE) entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, “What you’re doing, do quickly.”
28 None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this. 29 Since Judas(AF) kept the money-bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,”(AG) or that he should give something to the poor. 30 After receiving the piece of bread, he went out immediately. And it was night.(AH)
The New Command
31 When(AI) he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man(AJ) is glorified, and God is glorified(AK) in Him.(AL) 32 If God is glorified in Him,[h] God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once.
33 “Children, I am with you a little while longer.(AM) You will look for Me, and just as I told the Jews, ‘Where I am going you cannot come,’(AN) so now I tell you.
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love(AO) for one another.”
Peter’s Denials Predicted
36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going?”
Jesus answered, “Where I am going(AP) you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”
37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life(AQ) for You!”(AR)
38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.
Footnotes
- John 13:1 = completely or always
- John 13:12 At important meals the custom was to recline on a mat at a low table and lean on the left elbow.
- John 13:16 Or lord
- John 13:18 Other mss read eats bread with Me
- John 13:18 Ps 41:9
- John 13:23 Lit reclining at Jesus’ breast; that is, on His right; Jn 1:18
- John 13:26 Other mss read Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son
- John 13:32 Other mss omit If God is glorified in Him
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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