Bible Commentaries
John 13

Verse 1

Now. Not the same word as in John 12:27 , John 12:31 , expressing a point of time, but a particle (Greek. de) introducing a new subject.

before. Greek. pro. App-104 . The preparation day, the 14th day of Nisan, our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset, the day of the Crucifixion. See App-156 ,

feast. See on Matthew 26:17 and Numbers 28:17 .

Passover . Aramaean pascha. See App-94 .

when Jesus knew = Jesus ( App-98 . X), knowing (Greek. oida, App-132 .)

hour . See John 2:4 ; John 7:30 ; John 8:20 ; John 12:23 , John 12:27 ; John 17:1 ; and contrast Luke 22:53 .

depart . Greek. metabaino = pass over from one place to another. Used by John in three other places: John 5:24 ; John 7:3 , and 1 John 3:14 .

out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

world . Greek. kosmos. App-129 .

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .

the Father . App-98 . See John 1:14 .

loved . Greek. agapao. App-135 .

in . Greek. en. App-104 .

unto . Greek. eis. App-104 .

end = furthest extent, referring not so much to a period of time, the end of His life, as to His readiness to descend to the humblest service in their behalf.

Verse 2

supper . The last supper recorded. See App-157 .

being ended. In view of John 13:26 , Alford's translation, "supper having been served, "is preferable to Authorized Version and Revised Version renderings. It means "supper being laid". Washing would naturally precede the meal Compare Luke 7:44 .

the devil. See notes on Matthew 4:1-11 .Luke 4:1-18 , and App-19 and App-116 .

now = already.

into . Greek. eis. App-104 .

Judas . See John 6:71 .

Verse 3

had given . &c. These statements of His divine origin, authority, and coming glory, are made so as to enhance the amazing condescension of the service to which He humbled Himself to do the office of a bond-slave.

come = come forth. Compare John 8:42 ; John 16:30 ; John 17:8 .

from . Greek apo. App-104 .

God. App-98 .

went = is going away.

to = unto. Greek. pros. As in John 13:1 .

Verse 4

riseth . App-178 . from. Greek. ek. App-104 .

supper = supper table (as we should say), i.e., after they had taken their places.

garments , i.e. the outer garment. Greek. himation, translated "robe "in John 19:2 , John 19:6 . This was removed for working, and for sleeping was often used as a coverlet. When removed, leaving only the chiton or tunic, the man was said to be naked.

towel . Greek. lention, a linen cloth (Latin. linteum).

Verse 5

After that = Then.

poureth = putteth, same word as in John 13:2 .

wash . Greek. nipto. App-136 .

wipe. Greek. ekmasso. Occurs elsewhere, John 11:2 ; John 12:3 .Luke 7:38 , Luke 7:44 .

Verse 6

Then. = Therefore.

Simon Peter . App-141 . Peter. No word for Peter. Some substitute ekeinos (he, - emphatic), but L T Trm. A WI R reject it.

Lord. Greek. kurios. App-98 .

thou . . . my . The pronouns are emphatic.

Verse 7

not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

now. Greek. arti = just now.

know = get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .

hereafter = after (Greek. meta. App-104 .) these things.

Verse 8

never = by no means (Greek. ou me. App-105 )

unto the age (Greek. eis ton aiona. App-151 ).

If. Greek. ean, with subj. App-118 .

not . Greek me. App-105 .

no = not ( App-105 .) any.

with . Greek. meta. App-104 .

Verse 10

washed = bathed. Greek. louo. App-186 . Note the distinction between washing the whole body, and washing only a part of it. Compare 1 Corinthians 6:11 .

clean . Greek. katharos. Occurs twenty-seven times, translated ten times "clean", sixteen "pure", and once "clear "(Revelation 21:18 ) = free from impurity or dross. Used here of the eleven (Compare John 15:8 ), but not of Judas into whose heart Satan had "cast "the impure thought of John 13:2 .

Verse 11

should betray Him = the one who is betraying Him.

therefore = on account of (Greek. dia. App-104 .)

Verse 12

So after = When therefore.

what = what [it is].

Verse 13

call Me = address Me as. Greek. phoneo, always used of calling with the voice (phone). Compare John 11:28 ; John 12:17 ; and compare kaleo, Luke 6:46 ; Luke 15:19 .

Master (Greek. didaskalos) = Teacher. See App-98 and compare Matthew 26:25 , Matthew 26:49 .

Lord . App-98 .

ye say well. Would that Christians today would treat Him with the same respect which He here commends, instead of calling Him by the name of His humiliation, Jesus, by which He was never addressed by disciples, only by demons (Matthew 8:29 . Mark 1:24 ; Mark 5:6 . Luke 8:28 ) and those who only knew Him as a prophet (Mark 10:47 . Luke 18:38 ). The Holy Spirit uses "Jesus" in the Gospel narratives.

Verse 14

If then = Therefore if ( App-118 . a) L

your = the.

ought , &c. By Figure of speech Synecdoche ( App-6 ) the act of feet-washing is put for the whole circle of offices of self-denying love. Literal feet-washing was not known before the fourth cent. A.D.

Verse 15

example . Greek. hupodeigma. Occurs Hebrews 4:11 ; Hebrews 8:5 ; Hebrews 9:23 , &c.

Verse 16

Verily, verily . The eighteenth occurance of this solemn expression. See John 1:51 . Three more occurances in this chapter: John 13:20 , John 13:21 , John 13:38 .

servant = bond-servant. Greek. doulos. Once applied to the Lord (Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:7 ). Frequent in Paul's epistles. lord. 'Greek. kurios. App-98 .

neither . Greek. oude.

he that is sent = an apostle. Greek apostolos. Occurs 81 times, always translated "apostle", except here, 2 Corinthians 8:23 , and Philippians 2:25 .

sent . Greek. pempo. App-174 .

Verse 18

of =

concerning. Greek peri. App-104 .

He that, &c. Quoted from Psalms 41:9 .

bread . Greek. the bread, i.e. My bread. In a pastoral letter of an Egyptian bishop about 600 A. n. on a Coptic ostracon this verse is quoted from the Septuagint, "He that eateth My bread", &c. (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 216).

against . Greek. epi. App-104 .

Verse 19

Now = From now. Greek. ap ' ( App-104 .) anti. Compare John 14:7 and Matthew 26:29 .

believe . App-150 .

I am . Omit "He", and Compare John 8:28 , John 8:58 ; John 18:5-6 .

Verse 21

troubled . See John 11:33 .

Spirit . App-101 .

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

Verse 22

looked . Greek. blepo. App-133 .

on = towards. Greek. eis. App-104 .

splice = is speaking.

Verse 23

leaning = reclining. Greek. anakeimai, generally translated "sat at meat"; Compare John 13:28 . Reclining on the divan, his head towards the Lord's bosom, John was in the favoured position, on the Lord's right hand, Judas being on His left.

on = in (Greek. en, as in John 13:1 ).

bosom. Greek. kolpos. Compare the other five occurnces: John 1:18 . Luke 6:38 ; Luke 16:22 , Luke 16:23 .Acts 27:39 (creek).

Verse 24

beckoned = signed or nodded. Greek neuo. Only here and Acts 24:10 . that he should ask who it should be. L T Tr. A H R read, "and saith to him,`Say who it is '".

Verse 25

lying = lying back. Not the same word as "leaning" in John 13:23 . Peter was beyond Judas, and leaning back signed to John behind the Lord.

on . Greek. epi. App-104 .

breast . Greek. stethos. Not the same word as "bosom" in John 13:23 . Occurs only here; John 21:20 . Luke 18:13 ; Luke 23:48 . Revelation 15:6 .

Verse 26

sop . Greek. psomion, a morsel. Only occurances here and verses: John 13:27 , John 13:30 . It was a mark of honour for the host to give a portion to one of the guests. The Lord had appealed to the conscience of Judas in John 13:21 , now He appeals to his heart.

Verse 27

after . Greek. meta. App-104 .

Satan . The only occurance of this title in John. Before this clause in the Greek is the word tote, then, marking the point of time; it is strangely ignored in the Authorized Version It is significant that the rejection of the Lord's last appeal hardened Judas, so that his heart became open to the entrance of Satan. Up to this moment Judas had been possessed by the evil thought, now he is obsessed by the evil one.

Then = Therefore. The Lord knew what had taken place, and that further appeal was useless. He dismisses him to the work he is set upon. See the terrible words in Psalms 41:6 , "His heart gathereth iniquity to itself; he goeth abroad, he telleth", exactly what Judas did.

Verse 28

no man at the table = no one (Greek. oudeis) of those reclining (Greek. anakeimai). See John 13:23 .

for what intent = with a view to (Greek. pros. App-104 .) what.

spake this unto him = spake to him.

Verse 29

thought = were thinking.

bag . See note on John 12:6 .

had said = saith.

against = for. Greek. eis. App-104 .

the feast : i.e. the feast beginning at the close of Passover, when the high day, 15th of Nisan, began ( App-156 ).

poor . Greek. ptochos. See 12. s and App-127 .

Verse 30

he = That One. Greek. ekeinos, emphatic. immediately. Greek eutheos, a very common word in Mark's Gospel. Occurance in John only here, John 5:9 ; John 6:21 and John 18:27 . L T Tr. A WI R read euthus, as in John 13:32 .

night : i.e. about the third hour of the night, 9pm, Tuesday night. See App-165 .

Verse 31

Therefore, when = When therefore.

he was gone out = he went out.

Now . Greek. nun. See John 12:27 .

the Son of man . App-98 .

glorified. A characteristic word in this Gospel. See John 11:4 ; John 12:16 , John 12:23 , John 12:28 ; John 17:1 , &c.

Verse 32

If. App-118 . [L Tr. A) WH R omit the conditional clause.

straightway . Greek. euthus. See note on John 13:30 .

Verse 33

Little children . Greek teknion. App-108 . Only occurance here, Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:19 (where the reading is doubtful), and in John's first Epistle.

a little while. Compare John 7:33 , John 7:34 ; John 14:19 ; John 16:16-19 .

as = even as.

the Jews . The Lord uses this expression only here, John 4:22 ; John 18:20 ; John 18:36 .

cannot come = are not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) able to come. The third time He said these words. Compare John 7:34 ; John 8:21 .

Verse 34

new. Greek. kainos. See note on Matthew 9:17 .

Verse 35

By = In. Greek. en. App-104 .

love . Greek agape. App-135 .

one to another = among (Greek. en) yourselves. Compare the only other place in the Gospels where en allelois occurs (Mark 9:50 ).

Verse 36

Me. All the texts omit.

Verse 37

now = just now. Greek. arti.

lay down , &c. Compare John 10:11 , John 10:15 ; John 15:13 . 1 John 3:16 .

life . Greek. psuche. App-110 .

for Thy sake = on behalf of (Greek. huper. App-104 .) Thee.

Verse 38

answered him . All the texts read, "answereth". The = A.

not = by no means. Greek. ou me. App-105 .

crow. Greek. phoneo. Same word as in John 13:13 .

denied = utterly denied (Greek. aparneumai), always of denying a person, as in Mat 26:84 , Matthew 26:35 , Matthew 26:75 .Mark 14:30 , Mark 14:31 , Mark 14:72 .Luke 22:34 Luke 22:61 ; but L T Tr. A WH R read arneomai, the milder

form , without the intensive prefix.