John 13:4

John 13:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
• English Standard Version (ESV)rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
• New King James Version (NKJV)rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
• New Living Translation (NLT)So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,

Context of John 13:4

2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

John 13:4 word by word

ἐγείρεται ἐκ τοῦ δείπνου καὶ τίθησιν τὰ ἱμάτια, καὶ λαβὼν λέντιον διέζωσεν ἑαυτόν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He risethἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• supperὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• supperδεῖπνονdeipnon · dinnerG1173
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• laid asideτίθημιtithēmi · to placeG5087
• garmentsἱμάτιονhimation · clothingG2440
• tookλαμβάνωlambanō · to takeG2983
• a towelλέντιονlention · towelG3012
• and girdedδιαζώννυμιdiazōnnumi · to tie aroundG1241
• himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438

Cross-references for John 13:4

• Luke 12:37It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
• Luke 17:7“Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?
• Luke 22:27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
• 2 Corinthians 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
• Philippians 2:6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

Commentaries on John 13:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He riseth from supper - Not from eating, as Bishop Pearce has well observed, but from his place at table; probably the dishes were not as yet laid down, though the guests were seated. According to the custom of the Jews and other Asiatics, this washing must have taken place before the supper. See on John 13:2; (note). Laid aside his garments - That is, his gown or upper coat, with the girdle wherewith it was girded close to his tunic or under coat; and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4He riseth from supper - Evidently while they were eating. See John 13:2. Laid aside his garments - His outer garment. See the notes at Matthew 5:40. This was his mantle or robe, which is said to have been without seam. It was customary to lay this aside when they worked or ran, or in the heat of summer. Took a towel and girded himself - This was the manner of a servant or slave. See the notes at Luke 17:8.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 13:4

• Feet
• Foot
• Jesus, the Christ
• Towel

In the dictionaries

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

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