JHN 13:18-30

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

18"I do not speak concerning all of you — I know whom I chose. But it is so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'The one who was eating my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' [13:19] From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am he. [13:20] Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who receives whomever I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me." [13:21] Having said these things, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and he testified and said: "Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me." [13:22] The disciples were looking at one another, at a loss about whom he was speaking. [13:23] Now one of his disciples — the one whom Jesus loved — was reclining at Jesus' side. [13:24] Simon Peter therefore nods to this one and says to him: "Tell us who it is he is speaking about." [13:25] That one therefore, leaning back against the chest of Jesus, says to him: "Lord, who is it?" [13:26] Jesus therefore answers: "It is the one for whom I will dip the morsel and give it to him." So dipping the morsel, he takes it and gives it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. [13:27] And after the morsel, then Satan entered into him. Jesus therefore says to him: "What you do, do quickly." [13:28] But no one of those reclining knew why he said this to him. [13:29] Some were thinking — since Judas had the money bag — that Jesus was saying to him: "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor. [13:30] So receiving the morsel, he immediately went out. And it was night.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, sharing a meal was a deeply symbolic act, signifying trust, fellowship, and covenant loyalty. The verb (trōgō), used here for eating, conveys a visceral, intimate act, emphasizing the betrayal’s personal and shocking nature. Judas’s betrayal would have been particularly scandalous in this honor-shame culture, as he violated the sacred bond of table fellowship. Jesus’s reference to lifting up the heel (Ps 41:9) evokes treachery from someone close, a theme familiar to Jewish listeners steeped in Scripture. The mention of (glōssokomon), the money box, ties Judas to the role of treasurer, a position of trust, heightening the betrayal’s gravity. Jesus’s emotional turmoil (, etarachthe) reflects the cultural expectation of a leader’s composed demeanor, underscoring the depth of his distress. The disciples’ confusion aligns with the honor-shame dynamic, as betrayal by one of their own would bring collective dishonor. This moment would have resonated with Jewish and Greco-Roman audiences alike, who valued loyalty and abhorred treachery.

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How other translations render this

JHN 13:18

KJV: I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
BSB: I am not speaking about all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the Scripture: ‘The one who shares My bread has lifted up his heel against Me.’
Koinōnos: I do not speak concerning all of you — I know whom I chose. But it is so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'The one who was eating my bread has lifted up his heel against me.

JHN 13:19

KJV: Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
BSB: I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
Koinōnos: From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it does happen you may believe that I am he.

JHN 13:20

KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me.”
Koinōnos: Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who receives whomever I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.

JHN 13:21

KJV: When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
BSB: After Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit and testified, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will betray Me.”
Koinōnos: Having said these things, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and he testified and said: "Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me.

JHN 13:22

KJV: Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
BSB: The disciples looked at one another, perplexed as to which of them He meant.
Koinōnos: The disciples were looking at one another, at a loss about whom he was speaking.

JHN 13:23

KJV: Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
BSB: One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.
Koinōnos: Now one of his disciples — the one whom Jesus loved — was reclining at Jesus' side.

JHN 13:24

KJV: Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
BSB: So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about.
Koinōnos: Simon Peter therefore nods to this one and says to him: "Tell us who it is he is speaking about.

JHN 13:25

KJV: He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
BSB: Leaning back against Jesus, he asked, “Lord, who is it?”
Koinōnos: That one therefore, leaning back against the chest of Jesus, says to him: "Lord, who is it?

JHN 13:26

KJV: Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
BSB: Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.” Then He dipped the morsel and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
Koinōnos: Jesus therefore answers: "It is the one for whom I will dip the morsel and give it to him." So dipping the morsel, he takes it and gives it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.

JHN 13:27

KJV: And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
BSB: And when Judas had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”
Koinōnos: And after the morsel, then Satan entered into him. Jesus therefore says to him: "What you do, do quickly.

JHN 13:28

KJV: Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
BSB: But no one at the table knew why Jesus had said this to him.
Koinōnos: But no one of those reclining knew why he said this to him.

JHN 13:29

KJV: For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
BSB: Since Judas kept the money bag, some thought that Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.
Koinōnos: Some were thinking — since Judas had the money bag — that Jesus was saying to him: "Buy what we need for the feast," or that he should give something to the poor.

JHN 13:30

KJV: He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
BSB: As soon as he had received the morsel, Judas went out into the night.
Koinōnos: So receiving the morsel, he immediately went out. And it was night.

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

Translator's notes

JHN 13:18

eating:The word translated 'eating' here implies a more forceful, almost gnawing or crunching action, rather than simply consuming food.

JHN 13:21

was troubled:The term used here for 'was troubled' suggests a deep inner agitation or disturbance, like water being stirred up from its depths, not just a mild discomfort.

JHN 13:23

the:The word translated 'the' in this phrase refers to the 'bosom' or 'lap,' indicating a place of intimate closeness and affection, often where one would recline or be held.

JHN 13:29

money bag:The word translated 'money bag' originally referred to a small box or case, often used for carrying reeds for musical instruments, and later adapted for holding money or valuables.