John 13 18

John 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.

John 13:18 nkjv

"I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.'

John 13:18 niv

"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: 'He who shared my bread has turned against me.'

John 13:18 esv

I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.'

John 13:18 nlt

"I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, 'The one who eats my food has turned against me.'

John 13 verses

John 13 18 Meaning

This verse reveals Jesus' profound foreknowledge of His impending betrayal by one of His own disciples. He makes it clear that while He knows who He has chosen for their apostolic roles, not all are pure. The betrayal by one with whom He shared intimate fellowship is not an unforeseen event but a preordained necessity to fulfill specific Old Testament Scripture, demonstrating God's sovereign plan at work even through human treachery.

John 13 18 Context

John chapter 13 opens with Jesus, knowing His hour had come to depart, performing the humble act of washing His disciples' feet. This act teaches servanthood and signifies cleansing from daily impurities. Jesus, being fully aware of Judas Iscariot's treacherous intent (Jn 13:2, 13:11), nevertheless washes his feet. Following this profound demonstration of humility and after the initial explanation to Peter, Jesus then makes the shocking declaration in verse 18. This statement serves to distinguish Judas, to prepare the other disciples for the imminent betrayal, and to assert His divine control over the events, emphasizing that no part of His suffering or Judas's betrayal happens outside of God's sovereign, pre-ordained plan and scriptural fulfillment. It sets the stage for the revelation of the betrayer and the ensuing Upper Room Discourse.

John 13 18 Word analysis

• I speak not of you all: (οὐ περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν λέγω, ou peri pantōn hymōn legō)
  • Significance: Jesus intentionally excludes one or more from the general purity He alluded to earlier (Jn 13:10, "You are clean, but not every one of you"). It sets a clear distinction among the disciples, implying there's an exception to the clean.
• I know whom I have chosen: (ἐγὼ οἶδα τίνας ἐξελεξάμην, egō oida tinas exelexamēn)
  • I know (οἶδα, oida): Emphasizes Jesus' perfect and exhaustive knowledge. This is divine omniscience, not mere human insight. He knows hearts, motives, and future actions.
  • Whom I have chosen (ἐξελεξάμην, exelexamēn - "I chose"): Refers to Jesus' active selection of the twelve apostles. This election was for a specific role and function in His earthly ministry, not necessarily an election unto salvation. Judas was chosen for the apostleship, to be one of the twelve sent ones. This highlights that Judas’s presence among them, and his eventual betrayal, was part of God’s determined plan, foreseen and accommodated.
• but that the scripture may be fulfilled: (ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ, all' hina hē graphē plērōthē)
  • Purpose clause (ἵνα, hina): This strong conjunction indicates the purpose for which Jesus speaks, connecting His statement and the betrayal directly to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It signals that divine intention undergirds human actions, even sinful ones.
  • the scripture (ἡ γραφή, hē graphē): Refers to the Old Testament, which Jesus continually affirmed as God's infallible Word, anticipating His life and death.
  • may be fulfilled (πληρωθῇ, plērōthē): To bring to full effect, to complete. This underscores the theological principle that God's plan is unwavering and cannot be thwarted. Human sin, such as Judas's betrayal, does not derail God's purpose but paradoxically serves to advance it, albeit without excusing human culpability.
• He that eateth bread with me: (ὁ τρώγων μου τὸν ἄρτον, ho trōgōn mou ton arton - "the one who eats My bread")
  • Significance: In the ancient Near East, sharing a meal was a profound symbol of intimacy, trust, and covenantal relationship. Eating bread together signified deep fellowship and loyalty. This phrase heightens the treachery because the betrayer was not an outsider, but an intimate associate.
• hath lifted up his heel against me: (ἐπῆρεν ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ τὴν πτέρναν αὐτοῦ, epēren ep' eme tēn pternan autou - "lifted up his heel against me")
  • Direct quote from Ps 41:9: This makes the prophecy unmistakably clear.
  • Imagery: "Lifting the heel" is a metaphor for a treacherous kick or a sudden, violent act of contempt. It suggests malice, aggression, and a deliberate act of betrayal. Some interpretations also link it to kicking down one who has stumbled, adding to the callousness. The image is one of an enemy triumphing over another.
  • Combined phrase: "He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me" captures the profound shock and sorrow of betrayal from within one's most trusted circle, emphasizing the depths of Judas's perfidy as prophesied.

John 13 18 Bonus section

• The reference to Psalm 41:9 being fulfilled by Judas's betrayal draws a significant parallel to Ahithophel's betrayal of King David in 2 Samuel 16. David, a type of Christ, experienced profound betrayal from his trusted counselor, prefiguring Christ's own experience. This not only authenticates Christ as the promised Messiah but also highlights the deep pain of treachery.
• The phrase "lifted up his heel" can also carry the connotation of contempt or an outright hostile gesture. It's not just withdrawing support but an active, aggressive move, indicating a desire to bring down or stomp on.
• Despite Jesus "choosing" Judas, the Scriptures indicate Judas was "the son of destruction" (Jn 17:12). This presents the complex interplay between divine sovereignty and human free will, where Judas freely chose his actions, yet these actions were simultaneously incorporated into God's immutable plan, leading to scriptural fulfillment. Judas's choice was his own, yet God, in His omniscience, wove it into His perfect tapestry.

John 13 18 Commentary

John 13:18 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating divine foreknowledge, sovereign purpose, and the chilling reality of intimate betrayal. Jesus's declaration highlights His absolute control, reassuring His true disciples that even the darkest events unfolding are within the scope of God's redemptive plan. It assures them that His foreknowledge of Judas's perfidy was complete, differentiating the one lost from the faithful, without alleviating Judas's personal responsibility. This verse serves as a reminder that God’s grand narrative for redemption unfolds precisely as He wills, often utilizing and overruling the wicked intentions of humankind to achieve His perfect will. It reassures believers that no act of betrayal or wickedness can thwart God’s purpose, but rather contributes to its fulfillment, just as Judas's act led directly to the cross, the ultimate expression of God's love.