John 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.
John 13:5 nkjv
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
John 13:5 niv
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:5 esv
Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:5 nlt
and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples' feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.
John 13 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 13:5 | ...and began to wash the disciples' feet... | Jesus' act of humility and service |
| Phil 2:5-8 | ...Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God... humbled himself by becoming obedient... | Jesus as the model of servant hood |
| Luke 22:24-27 | ...the one who is the greatest among you should be like the least... | Jesus teaching about greatness in service |
| Titus 3:5 | ...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. By the washing of rebirth and renewal... | Spiritual cleansing and renewal |
| 1 Peter 4:8-10 | ...Above all, love each other deeply... Use whatever gift you have received to serve others... | Love and service as core Christian values |
| Gen 18:4 | ...Abraham said, "Sir, please let a little water be brought to wash your feet..." | Washing feet as a sign of hospitality |
| Deut 21:6 | ...The elders of the town nearest the body shall wash the old man's hands... | Ritual washing to declare innocence |
| Ps 51:2, 7 | ...Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin... "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be whiter than snow." | Petition for divine cleansing |
| Is 4:4 | ...after the Lord has washed away the filth of Daughter Zion... | Prophecy of future cleansing |
| Is 61:6 | ...and you will be called priests of the Lord, men lauded as ministers of our God. | Priestly role and service |
| Ezek 36:25-27 | "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean... I will give you a new heart..." | Promise of spiritual cleansing and new life |
| Matt 20:26-28 | ...whoever wants to be first among you must be your servant—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve... | Jesus' teaching on service and leadership |
| Mark 10:43-45 | ...But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. | Reiterates the call to servant leadership |
| Gal 3:27-28 | ...For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile... | Unity and equality in Christ |
| Eph 5:25-26 | ...Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word... | Christ's sacrificial love and the church's cleansing |
| Heb 10:22 | ...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith has brought us into his cleansing presence... | Access to God through cleansing |
| 1 John 1:7, 9 | ...But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin... If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. | Confession and purification through Christ's blood |
| Rev 1:5 | ...to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood—... | Freedom from sin through Christ's sacrifice |
| Rev 7:14 | ...“These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." | Cleansing and righteousness through the Lamb's blood |
John 13 verses
John 13 5 Meaning
Jesus took water and washed the disciples' feet, symbolizing a profound act of servant leadership and spiritual cleansing. This action revealed the depth of His love and His humility, setting an example for His followers.
John 13 5 Context
In John chapter 13, Jesus is celebrating the Passover meal with His disciples the night before His crucifixion. It's a deeply emotional and significant moment. This act of washing their feet takes place after Judas has left to betray Jesus. The Passover meal itself commemorated the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt, a foundational event in their history, marked by the blood of a lamb that protected them from the death angel. This intimate setting underscores the seriousness and prophetic nature of Jesus' actions. The disciples were likely discussing who among them was the greatest, a common theme that Jesus addresses through His humility.
John 13 5 Word Analysis
- καὶ (kai): And. A conjunction, connecting actions or ideas.
- νίψασθαι (niphasthai): To wash oneself. In this context, it implies washing the feet, a task usually done by a servant.
- The verb comes from the Greek "nipto," which can mean to wash a part of the body. This is distinct from "louo," which means to wash the entire body.
- Culturally, washing feet was a customary act of hospitality and humility in the ancient Near East, performed by a servant for guests upon their arrival. It symbolized welcoming and reverence, acknowledging the dust and grime from travel.
- τοὺς (tous): The. Definite article, referring to specific disciples.
- πόδας (podas): Feet. Accusative plural of "pous."
- The feet were considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body, so this act of washing them was particularly lowly.
- τῶν (ton): Of the. Genitive plural of the definite article.
- μαθητῶν (mathēton): Disciples. Genitive plural of "mathētēs," meaning learner or follower.
- αὐτοῦ (autou): His. Possessive pronoun, referring to Jesus.
Words Group Analysis:
- "καὶ νίψασθαι τοὺς πόδας τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ": This phrase "And began to wash the disciples' feet" encapsulates the central action. Jesus, the Master, assumes the role of a servant and washes the feet of His own disciples, the ones He had chosen and loved. This act directly challenged the hierarchical norms of the time and established a new paradigm for leadership and service within His kingdom.
John 13 5 Bonus Section
The act of foot washing resonates with Old Testament passages that describe cleansing and purification rituals, like sprinkling with water or washing with lye (Jeremiah 2:22). However, Jesus’ act is unique because it’s initiated by the divine master, not performed on the divine master, and is personal rather than ritualistic in the Levitical sense. It underscores a transformation from external ritual to internal disposition and relational practice. The early church, understanding this command, practiced foot washing as a formal expression of humility and love, often associating it with baptism as a symbol of complete cleansing and recommitment to Christ's teachings (similar to how baptism symbolizes washing away of sins). It is a potent symbol of Jesus' anticipatory work on the cross.
John 13 5 Commentary
Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet was an acted parable, demonstrating that true leadership is found in humble service. It wasn't merely about physical cleanliness but a spiritual cleansing, symbolizing His atoning sacrifice that would purify them from sin. This act was intended to prepare them for ministry and teach them to serve one another with the same selfless love that He displayed. It serves as a perpetual reminder that in God's economy, the greatest are those who serve.