JHN 13:1-17

Jesus Washes His Disciplesʼ Feet

1Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to the end. [13:2] And during supper — the devil already having put it into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him — [13:3] Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, [13:4] rises from supper and lays aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, he tied it around himself. [13:5] Then he pours water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. [13:6] He comes therefore to Simon Peter. Peter says to him: "Lord, are you washing my feet?" [13:7] Jesus answered and said to him: "What I am doing you do not know now, but you will understand after these things." [13:8] Peter says to him: "You will never wash my feet — ever!" Jesus answered him: "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." [13:9] Simon Peter says to him: "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" [13:10] Jesus says to him: "The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for the feet, but is entirely clean — and you are clean, though not all of you." [13:11] For he knew the one who was betraying him; because of this he said: "Not all of you are clean." [13:12] When therefore he had washed their feet and taken his outer garments and reclined again, he said to them: "Do you know what I have done to you? [13:13] You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well — for I am. [13:14] If I then, your Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. [13:15] For I have given you an example, so that just as I did to you, you also should do. [13:16] Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. [13:17] If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, footwashing was a common act of hospitality, typically performed by a household servant or slave for guests arriving from dusty roads. It was a menial task, reserved for the lowest-status individuals. Jesus’ act of washing his disciples’ feet during the , the evening meal, would have been shocking. Meals were deeply symbolic, reinforcing social hierarchies, and reclining at table marked one’s status. By removing his , Jesus took on the posture of a slave, subverting cultural expectations of honor and leadership. The here signifies a pivotal, divinely ordained moment, framing this act within Jesus’ impending departure and ultimate act of service. For disciples steeped in a culture where honor and status were paramount, this gesture would have been jarring, challenging their assumptions about power and authority. Judas’ presence underscores the tension, as betrayal looms within this intimate, communal setting.

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How other translations render this

JHN 13:1

KJV: Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
BSB: 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.
Koinōnos: Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, loved them to the end.

JHN 13:2

KJV: And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
BSB: The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
Koinōnos: And during supper — the devil already having put it into the heart of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray him —

JHN 13:3

KJV: Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
BSB: Jesus knew that the Father had delivered all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was returning to God.
Koinōnos: Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,

JHN 13:4

KJV: He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
BSB: So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
Koinōnos: rises from supper and lays aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, he tied it around himself.

JHN 13:5

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.
BSB: After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciplesʼ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
Koinōnos: Then he pours water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded.

JHN 13:6

KJV: Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
BSB: He came to Simon Peter, who asked Him, “Lord, are You going to wash my feet?”
Koinōnos: He comes therefore to Simon Peter. Peter says to him: "Lord, are you washing my feet?

JHN 13:7

KJV: Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
BSB: Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Koinōnos: Jesus answered and said to him: "What I am doing you do not know now, but you will understand after these things.

JHN 13:8

KJV: Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
BSB: “Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
Koinōnos: Peter says to him: "You will never wash my feet — ever!" Jesus answered him: "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.

JHN 13:9

KJV: Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
BSB: “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”
Koinōnos: Simon Peter says to him: "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!

JHN 13:10

KJV: Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
BSB: 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.”
Koinōnos: Jesus says to him: "The one who has bathed does not need to wash except for the feet, but is entirely clean — and you are clean, though not all of you.

JHN 13:11

KJV: For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
BSB: For He knew who would betray Him. That is why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
Koinōnos: For he knew the one who was betraying him; because of this he said: "Not all of you are clean.

JHN 13:12

KJV: So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
BSB: 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?
Koinōnos: When therefore he had washed their feet and taken his outer garments and reclined again, he said to them: "Do you know what I have done to you?

JHN 13:13

KJV: Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
BSB: You call Me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, because I am.
Koinōnos: You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well — for I am.

JHN 13:14

KJV: If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
BSB: So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one anotherʼs feet.
Koinōnos: If I then, your Lord and Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

JHN 13:15

KJV: For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
BSB: I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.
Koinōnos: For I have given you an example, so that just as I did to you, you also should do.

JHN 13:16

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.
BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Koinōnos: Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

JHN 13:17

KJV: If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
BSB: If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Koinōnos: If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 13:1

hour:The word translated 'hour' here refers to a specific, appointed time or season, not merely a sixty-minute period. It carries a sense of divine timing and destiny.

JHN 13:2

supper:The term used for 'supper' refers to the main meal of the day, typically eaten in the evening, which was often a significant social and communal event.

JHN 13:4

garments,:The word translated 'garments' specifically refers to the outer cloak or mantle, a significant piece of clothing that could also serve as a blanket or for carrying items.

JHN 13:16

a servant:The word translated 'a servant' more accurately describes a slave or bondservant, someone who is legally owned and completely subject to their master's will.