John 13:23

John 13:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
• New International Version (NIV)One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Context of John 13:23

21After Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, one of you will betray Me and hand Me over.” 22The disciples began looking at one another, puzzled and disturbed as to whom He could mean. One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved (esteemed), was leaning against Jesus’ chest. 24So Simon Peter motioned to him (John) and [quietly] asked [him to ask Jesus] of whom He was speaking. 25Then leaning back against Jesus’ chest, he (John) asked Him [privately], “Lord, who is it?”

John 13:23 word by word

Ἦν ἀνακείμενος εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• there wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• leaningἀνάκειμαιanakeimai · to reclineG345
• onἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• Jesus’ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Jesus’ἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• bosomκόλποςkolpos · bosomG2859
• oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
• of hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• lovedἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25

Cross-references for John 13:23

• John 13:25Then leaning back against Jesus’ chest, he (John) asked Him [privately], “Lord, who is it?”
• John 1:18No one has seen God [His essence, His divine nature] at any time; the [One and] only begotten God [that is, the unique Son] who is in the intimate presence of the Father, He has explained Him [and interpreted and revealed the awesome wonder of the Father].
• John 21:20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His chest at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray You?”
• 2 Samuel 12:3But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb Which he had purchased and nourished; And it grew up together with him and his children. It ate his food, drank from his cup, it lay in his arms, And was like a daughter to him.
• John 11:3So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, he [our brother and Your friend] whom You love is sick.”
• John 19:26So Jesus, seeing His mother, and the disciple whom He loved (esteemed) standing near, said to His mother, “[Dear] woman, look, [here is] your son!”
• John 20:2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple (John), whom Jesus loved (esteemed), and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him!”
• John 21:7Then that disciple (John) whom Jesus loved (esteemed) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer tunic (for he was stripped for work) and threw himself into the sea [and swam ashore].
• Revelation 1:16In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword [of judgment]; and His face [reflecting His majesty and the Shekinah glory] was like the sun shining in [all] its power [at midday].

Commentaries on John 13:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom - The Jews of those days, at their suppers, reclined, supported by their left arm, on couches placed round the table, as the Greeks and Romans did. On each couch there were two or three persons; and the head of one of them came near to the bosom of him who reclined above him on the same couch. The person here mentioned was John, the writer of this history, who, being more tenderly loved by Christ than the rest, had…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Leaning on Jesus‘ bosom - This does not mean that he was at that time actually lying on his bosom, but that he occupied a situation next to him at the table, so that his head naturally fell back on his bosom when he spoke to him. See the notes at Matthew 23:6. Whom Jesus loved - This was doubtless John himself. The evangelists are not accustomed to mention their own names when any mark of favor or any good deed is recorded. They did not seek publicity or…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-30Verses 18-30 Our Lord had often spoken of his own sufferings and death, without such trouble of spirit as he now discovered when he spake of Judas. The sins of Christians are the grief of Christ. We are not to confine our attention to Judas. The prophecy of his treachery may apply to all who partake of God's mercies, and meet them with ingratitude. See the infidel, who only looks at the Scriptures with a desire to do away their authority and destroy their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23The disciple whom Jesus loved is appears: at the cross (19:26–27), at the tomb (20:2–9), and and at the resurrection (21:1, 20–23). He also wrote the Gospel of John (21:24–25). Some scholars believe that Lazarus was in fact the disciple whom Jesus loved (see 11:3, 5, 36). The person referred to here was among the 12 apostles, so most people identify the disciple whom Jesus loved as the apostle John. was reclining at His side: They were likely reclining at…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2623-26. there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved--Thus modestly does our Evangelist denote himself, as reclining next to Jesus at the table. Peter ... beckoned to him to ask who it should be of whom he spake--reclining probably at the corresponding place on the other side of Jesus.Read the comment

Topics related to John 13:23

• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Judas (Jude)

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Aside
• Clean
• Commandment
• Example
• Bosom
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Love

Commentaries on John 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings