John 13:4 kjv
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
John 13:4 nkjv
rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
John 13:4 niv
so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
John 13:4 esv
rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
John 13:4 nlt
So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,
John 13 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 3:35 | "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands." | Divine authority and love |
| John 13:1 | "Now before the Feast of Passover..." | Timing of the event |
| John 13:3 | "Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands..." | Jesus' divine knowledge |
| John 16:28 | "I came out from the Father and have come into the world, and again I am leaving the world and going to the Father." | His origin and destiny |
| John 17:2 | "even as you gave him authority over all flesh, that he might give eternal life to all whom you have given him." | Authority over all |
| John 8:29 | "And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him." | Constant connection with the Father |
| Phil 2:5-8 | "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant..." | Humility and servitude |
| Mic 6:8 | "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Characteristic of humble service |
| Gen 1:28 | God gave man dominion over creation. | Dominion given to man |
| Ps 8:6 | "You have given him dominion over the works of your hands..." | Dominion established |
| Col 1:16 | "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible..." | Creation through Christ |
| Heb 1:2 | "...through whom also he created the world." | Creator |
| Heb 1:3 | "...upholding the universe by the word of his power." | Sustaining power |
| 1 Cor 15:24 | "...when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying all government and all authority and power." | Ultimate authority |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." | Stewardship and service |
| Matt 11:29 | "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." | Jesus' humble example |
| Luke 22:27 | "For who is greater, one who reclines at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves." | Jesus as servant |
| John 1:1,2 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." | Divine pre-existence |
| John 1:14 | "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." | Incarnation |
| John 10:30 | "I and the Father are one." | Unity with the Father |
| John 17:4 | "I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do." | Fulfillment of mission |
John 13 verses
John 13 4 Meaning
Jesus, knowing that his Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper. This verse marks a pivotal moment in Jesus' final hours. It reveals his divine consciousness, his understanding of his mission, and his humble, sacrificial act of service. His actions are motivated by his divine origin and his ultimate return to God.
John 13 4 Context
This verse occurs during the Last Supper, a Passover meal that Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. The preceding verses (John 13:1-3) establish the scene and Jesus' awareness of his imminent death and exaltation. He knows his identity, his authority, and his mission from God. This deep understanding prompts his actions in this chapter, particularly his washing of the disciples' feet, an act of profound humility and symbolic purification. This event is set against the backdrop of the Passover festival, commemorating the liberation of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
John 13 4 Word analysis
- Jesus: The central figure, the Son of God.
- knowing: (eidos - εἰδὼς) Present active participle, meaning to have perceived, to understand or know with certainty. Jesus' knowledge is absolute, not based on speculation.
- that: Introducing the clauses of his knowledge.
- his Father: Refers to God the Father, highlighting Jesus' unique relationship and divine origin.
- had given: (dedōkenai - δεδωκέναι) Perfect active infinitive, indicating a completed action with abiding results; the Father's gifting is established and continuous.
- all things: Refers to the completeness of his authority, including all creation, dominion, and power.
- into his hands: (eis tascheiras - εἰς τὰς χεῖρας) Figurative language for having control and authority over everything.
- and that: Connecting to the previous clause of his knowledge.
- he had come: (exēlthen - ἐξῆλθεν) Simple past tense verb (from exēρχomai - ἐξέρχομαι), signifying his departure from God.
- from God: Emphasizes his divine origin, his existence with God before the Incarnation.
- and: Conjunction connecting two clauses of his knowledge.
- was going: (hugetai - ὕπαγει) Present middle indicative verb (from huagō - ὕπαγω), indicating his movement and return to God, emphasizing his continuous journey and ultimate destination.
- to God: Reaffirms his divine origin and ultimate goal.
- rose: (egertheis - ἐγερθεὶς) Aorist passive participle, meaning to rise or to get up. This act is done with divine initiative and power.
- from supper: (ek tou deipnou - ἐκ τοῦ δείπνου) From the meal, indicating the specific action taken at that moment.
Word group analysis:
- "knowing that his Father had given him all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God": This entire clause describes Jesus' complete awareness of his divine nature, authority, and redemptive mission. It is the foundational motivation for his subsequent actions, demonstrating his self-awareness and obedience to the Father's plan. This "knowing" isn't just intellectual; it's a deep, inherent comprehension of his being and purpose.
John 13 4 Bonus section
Jesus' posture of serving, exemplified by washing feet, challenges worldly notions of greatness which are often based on power and dominance. Instead, biblical greatness is characterized by humble service and love, as taught in Phil 2:5-8 and Matt 20:25-28. His perfect knowledge of the Father’s will and His own divine authority allows Him to embrace the role of a servant, a concept alien to many contemporary societal structures. This also prefigures his ultimate authority as king, which is established through his sacrificial obedience. His departure from supper signifies his movement towards the cross, fulfilling the mission he "had come from God and was going to God" to achieve.
John 13 4 Commentary
Jesus' act of rising from supper is profoundly significant because it is a conscious response to his divine knowledge. He is not merely performing an action; he is enacting his role as the Son of God, who holds absolute authority but chooses to serve. This preempts any interpretation of his humility as weakness; it is a deliberate exercise of power. His knowledge of his origin from God and his return to God underscores his unwavering focus on fulfilling the Father's will, even in the face of betrayal and suffering. The washing of feet that follows this action is a demonstration of his leadership through sacrificial love, a model for all believers.