John 13:16

John 13:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
• New International Version (NIV)Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

Context of John 13:16

14So if I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you must wash each other’s feet. 15I’ve given you an example that you should follow. I can guarantee this truth: Slaves are not superior to their owners, and messengers are not superior to the people who send them. 17If you understand all of this, you are blessed whenever you follow my example. 18“I’m not talking about all of you. I know the people I’ve chosen ⌞to be apostles⌟. However, I’ve made my choice so that Scripture will come true. It says, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’

John 13:16 word by word

ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· οὐκ ἔστιν δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ οὐδὲ ἀπόστολος μείζων τοῦ πέμψαντος αὐτόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
• I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• The servantδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• greaterμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• than hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
• neitherοὐδέoude · norG3761
• he that is sentἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• than he that sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992

Cross-references for John 13:16

• John 3:3Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.”
• John 15:20Remember what I told you: ‘A servant isn’t greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they did what I said, they will also do what you say.
• Matthew 10:24“A student is not better than his teacher. Nor is a slave better than his owner.
• Luke 6:40A student is no better than his teacher. But everyone who is well-trained will be like his teacher.

Commentaries on John 13:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16The servant is not greater than his lord - Christ has ennobled the acts of humility by practising them himself. The true glory of a Christian consists in being, in his measure, as humble as his Lord. Neither he that is sent - Ϛ Nor an apostle. As I think these words were intended for the suppression of all worldly ambition and lordly conduct in the apostles and their successors in the ministry, therefore I think the original word Ϛ, should be translated…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16The servant is not … - This was universally true, and this they were to remember always, that they were to manifest the same spirit that he did, and that they were to expect the same treatment from the world. See the notes at Matthew 10:24-25.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16no servant is greater than his master: This saying was popular and appears in a number of passages (see also 15:20; Matthew 10:24; Luke 6:40). Here, Jesus meant that the servant should follow the master's example of sacrifice.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1716-17. The servant is not greater than his lord, &c.--an oft-repeated saying (Mt 10:24, &c.). If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them--a hint that even among real Christians the doing of such things would come lamentably short of the knowing.Read the comment

Topics related to John 13:16

• Example
• Humility
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian
• Servant

In the dictionaries

• Aside
• Clean
• Commandment
• Example
• Humility
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of
• Lord's Supper; (eucharist)
• Love
• Parousia

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