Focused Passage

John 13:1-17

The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love

Jesus loves his own to the end, enacts humble cleansing through foot washing, exposes betrayal, announces glory after Judas departs into the night, commands his disciples to love one another, and foretells Peter's denial.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 It was now just before the Passover Feast, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the very end.

2 The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.

4 So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.

5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”

11 For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you?

13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.

14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.

15 I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

[It was] now δὲ G1161 Conjunction just before Πρὸ G4253 Preposition the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular vvv τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular Passover πάσχα G3957 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular Feast ἑορτῆς G1859 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular knew εἰδὼς G1492 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular hour ὥρα G5610 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular had come ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction leave μεταβῇ G3327 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . ἐκ G1537 Preposition this τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular world κόσμου G2889 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [and return] to πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Father Πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Having loved ἀγαπήσας G25 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [His] τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural own ἰδίους G2398 Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural who [were] τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular world κόσμῳ G2889 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular He loved ἠγάπησεν G25 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular them αὐτούς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural to εἰς G1519 Preposition [the] very end τέλος G5056 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular

BSB notes

  • Or He showed them the full extent of His love.
Verse 2

Original words

- καὶ G2532 Conjunction The evening meal δείπνου G1173 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular was underway γινομένου G1096 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Genitive Neuter Singular [and] the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular devil διαβόλου G1228 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular {had} already ἤδη G2235 Adverb put βεβληκότος G906 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular heart καρδίαν G2588 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of Judas Ἰούδας G2455 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular [the son] of Simon Σίμωνος G4613 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular Iscariot Ἰσκαριώτου G2469 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular to ἵνα G2443 Conjunction betray παραδοῖ G3860 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular [Jesus] αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 3

Original words

[Jesus] knew εἰδὼς G1492 Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Father Πατὴρ G3962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular had delivered ἔδωκεν G1325 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural into εἰς G1519 Preposition [His] τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural hands χεῖρας G5495 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction He had come ἐξῆλθεν G1831 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction was returning ὑπάγει G5217 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεὸν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 4

Original words

[So] He got up ἐγείρεται G1453 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular from ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular supper δείπνου G1173 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction laid aside τίθησιν G5087 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [His] τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural outer garments ἱμάτια G2440 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - λαβὼν G2983 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular wrapped διέζωσεν G1241 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a towel λέντιον G3012 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular {around} His {waist} ἑαυτόν G1438 Reflexive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Verse 5

Original words

After that εἶτα G1534 Adverb He poured βάλλει G906 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular water ὕδωρ G5204 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular a basin νιπτῆρα G3537 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction began ἤρξατο G756 Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular to wash νίπτειν G3538 Verb - Present Infinitive Active the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural vvv τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural disciples’ μαθητῶν G3101 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction dry [them] ἐκμάσσειν G1591 Verb - Present Infinitive Active with the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular towel λεντίῳ G3012 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular that G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular was ἦν G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular around Him διεζωσμένος G1241 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 6

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction He came Ἔρχεται G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition Simon Σίμωνα G4613 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρον G4074 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular who asked λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular vvv σύ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular are You going to wash νίπτεις G3538 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 7

Original words

Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction . . . εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular {do} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb realize οἶδας G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular now ἄρτι G737 Adverb what G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular am doing ποιῶ G4160 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction vvv μετὰ G3326 Preposition later ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural you will understand γνώσῃ G1097 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Singular
Verse 8

Original words

Never Οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb shall You wash νίψῃς G3538 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural - εἰς G1519 Preposition - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular - αἰῶνα G165 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular told Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Ἀπεκρίθη G611 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Unless Ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb I wash νίψω G3538 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular you σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular you have ἔχεις G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular no οὐκ G3756 Adverb part μέρος G3313 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular with μετ’ G3326 Preposition Me ἐμοῦ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Verse 9

Original words

[Then,] Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular Simon Σίμων G4613 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular replied Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular not μὴ G3361 Adverb only μόνον G3440 Adverb my μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction [my] τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural hands χεῖρας G5495 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction [my] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular head κεφαλήν G2776 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular as well καὶ G2532 Conjunction
Verse 10

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular told Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Whoever G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular has already bathed λελουμένος G3068 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular - ἔχει G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - οὐκ G3756 Adverb needs χρείαν G5532 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular only εἰ G1487 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb to wash νίψασθαι G3538 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle [his] τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural [and] ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction - ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular he will be completely ὅλος G3650 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular clean καθαρὸς G2513 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular And καὶ G2532 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural are ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural clean καθαροί G2513 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural though ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction not οὐχὶ G3780 Adverb all [of you] πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 11

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction He knew ᾔδει G1492 Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular who τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular would betray παραδιδόντα G3860 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular Him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular That is why διὰ G1223 Preposition . . . τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction Not Οὐχὶ G3780 Adverb all πάντες G3956 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural of you ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural are clean καθαροί G2513 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Verse 12

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction When [Jesus] Ὅτε G3753 Adverb had washed ἔνιψεν G3538 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular their αὐτῶν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction put on ἔλαβεν G2983 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural outer garments ἱμάτια G2440 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction He reclined with them ἀνέπεσεν G377 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular again πάλιν G3825 Adverb [and] asked εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Do you know Γινώσκετε G1097 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular I have done πεποίηκα G4160 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular for you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Verse 13

Original words

You ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural call φωνεῖτέ G5455 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Teacher Διδάσκαλος G1320 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction rightly καλῶς G2573 Adverb [so] λέγετε G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural because γάρ G1063 Conjunction I am εἰμὶ G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Verse 14

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction if εἰ G1487 Conjunction I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular [your] G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριος G2962 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Teacher Διδάσκαλος G1320 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular have washed ἔνιψα G3538 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural also καὶ G2532 Conjunction should ὀφείλετε G3784 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural wash νίπτειν G3538 Verb - Present Infinitive Active - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural one another’s ἀλλήλων G240 Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural feet πόδας G4228 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Verse 15

Original words

- γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I have set ἔδωκα G1325 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural an example ὑπόδειγμα G5262 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural - καὶ G2532 Conjunction should do ποιῆτε G4160 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural as καθὼς G2531 Adverb I ἐγὼ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular have done ἐποίησα G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular for you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Verse 16

Original words

Truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural no οὐκ G3756 Adverb servant δοῦλος G1401 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular greater than μείζων G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular master κυρίου G2962 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular nor [is] οὐδὲ G3761 Conjunction a messenger ἀπόστολος G652 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular greater than μείζων G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative the [one who] τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular sent πέμψαντος G3992 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular him αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Cited in John 15:20
Verse 17

Original words

If εἰ G1487 Conjunction you know οἴδατε G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural these things ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural you will be ἐστε G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural blessed μακάριοί G3107 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural if ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction you do ποιῆτε G4160 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural them αὐτά G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Neuter 3rd Person Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.