John 13:5

John 13:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
• New International Version (NIV)After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Context of John 13:5

3The Father had put everything in Jesus’ control. Jesus knew that. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God. 4So he got up from the table, removed his outer clothes, took a towel, and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that he had tied around his waist. 6When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered Peter, “You don’t know now what I’m doing. You will understand later.”

John 13:5 word by word

εἶτα βάλλει ὕδωρ εἰς τὸν νιπτῆρα καὶ ἤρξατο νίπτειν τοὺς πόδας τῶν μαθητῶν καὶ ἐκμάσσειν τῷ λεντίῳ ᾧ ἦν διεζωσμένος.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• After thatεἶταeita · thenG1534
• he pourethβάλλωballō · to throw: pourG906
• waterὕδωρhudōr hudatos · waterG5204
• intoεἰςeis · towardG1519
• a basonὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• a basonνιπτήρniptēr · wash basinG3537
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• beganἄρχομαιarchomai · to rule/beginG756
• to washνίπτωniptō · to washG3538
• the disciples’μαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• feetπούςpous · footG4228
• to wipeἐκμάσσωekmassō · to wipe offG1591
• with the towelλέντιονlention · towelG3012
• wherewithὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• girdedδιαζώννυμιdiazōnnumi · to tie aroundG1241

Cross-references for John 13:5

• John 19:34However, one of the soldiers stabbed Jesus’ side with his spear, and blood and water immediately came out.
• 2 Kings 3:11But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord whom we could ask?” One of the officials of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha, the son of Shaphat, is here. He used to be Elijah’s assistant.”
• Ezekiel 36:25I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols.
• Zechariah 13:1⌞The Lord declares,⌟ “On that day a fountain will be opened for David’s family and for those who live in Jerusalem to wash away ⌞their⌟ sin and stain.
• Ephesians 5:26He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water along with spoken words.
• 1 John 5:6This Son of God is Jesus Christ, who came by water and blood. He didn’t come with water only, but with water and with blood. The Spirit is the one who verifies this, because the Spirit is the truth.
• John 13:8Peter told Jesus, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus replied to Peter, “If I don’t wash you, you don’t belong to me.”
• Exodus 29:4“Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and wash them.
• Leviticus 14:8“The one to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash. Then he will be clean. After that he may go into the camp. However, for seven days he will live outside his tent.
• 2 Kings 5:10Elisha sent a messenger to him. He said, “Wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and your skin will be healthy and clean.”
• Psalms 51:2Wash me thoroughly from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin.
• Isaiah 1:16“Wash yourselves! Become clean! Get your evil deeds out of my sight. Stop doing evil.
• Acts 22:16What are you waiting for now? Get up! Be baptized, and have your sins washed away as you call on his name.’
• 1 Corinthians 6:11That’s what some of you were! But you have been washed and made holy, and you have received God’s approval in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
• Hebrews 10:22We have been sprinkled ⌞with his blood⌟ to free us from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with clean water. So we must continue to come ⌞to him⌟ with a sincere heart and strong faith.
• 1 John 1:7But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin.

Commentaries on John 13:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Poureth water into a bason, etc. - This was the office of the meanest slaves. When David sent to Abigail, to inform her that he had chosen her for wife, she arose and said: Behold, let thy handmaid be a Servant, to Wash the Feet of the Servants of my lord, 1 Samuel 25:41. Some of the ancients have supposed that our Lord began with washing the feet of Judas, to inspire him with sentiments of compunction and remorse, to melt him down with kindness, and to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Began to wash … - It was uniformly the office of a servant to wash the feet of guests, 1 Samuel 25:41. It became a matter of necessity where they traveled without shoes, and where they reclined on couches at meals. It should be remembered here that the disciples were not sitting at the table, as we do, but were lying with their feet extended from the table, so that Jesus could easily have access to them. See the notes at Matthew 23:6.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Foot washing was common in Greek and Jewish cultures as a daily routine. It was also a common gesture when hosting guests (see Luke 7:36–50). It was a humble task designated for servants. When Jesus began to wash the disciples’ feet, he assumed the role of a servant.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments--outer garments which would have impeded the operation of washing. and took a towel and girded himself--assuming a servant's dress.Read the comment

Topics related to John 13:5

• Ablution
• Feet
• Foot
• Jesus, the Christ
• Towel

In the dictionaries

• Aside
• Basin
• Clean
• Commandment
• Example
• Basin; Bason
• Foot
• Humility
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of

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