John 13:9 kjv
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
John 13:9 nkjv
Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!"
John 13:9 niv
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
John 13:9 esv
Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"
John 13:9 nlt
Simon Peter exclaimed, "Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!"
John 13 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 16:22-23 | Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying... | Peter's well-meaning but misguided zeal. |
| Mk 9:5-6 | Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here... | Peter's eagerness to speak without full understanding. |
| Lk 22:33 | Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death!” | Peter's confident assertion of loyalty. |
| Eph 5:26 | ...that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word | Christ's spiritual cleansing of the church. |
| Tit 3:5 | ...not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. | Salvation involves spiritual washing/renewal. |
| Heb 10:22 | ...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. | Assurance from cleansing and spiritual purity. |
| 1 Jn 1:7 | ...if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship... and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. | Continuous cleansing through Christ's blood. |
| Rev 1:5 | ...to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood... | Christ's sacrificial cleansing. |
| Ps 51:2 | Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. | Prayer for complete spiritual cleansing. |
| Isa 1:16 | Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes... | Divine call for moral and spiritual cleansing. |
| Ez 36:25 | Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. | Prophecy of divine cleansing in new covenant. |
| John 3:5 | Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." | Necessity of spiritual rebirth for salvation. |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | ...and such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. | Believers' past spiritual transformation. |
| Col 2:10 | and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. | Fullness found in Christ alone. |
| John 15:3 | You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. | Believers' inherent cleansing through Christ's word. |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus... He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death... | Jesus' ultimate example of humility and service. |
| Mk 10:43-45 | ...whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant... For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve... | Christ as the ultimate servant. |
| Rom 12:10 | Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another. | Call to humble service among believers. |
| John 14:23 | Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." | Intimacy of relationship conditional on obedience. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. | Transformation into a new identity in Christ. |
| 1 Pet 1:2 | ...elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ... | Purpose of God's calling includes cleansing. |
John 13 verses
John 13 9 Meaning
John 13:9 portrays Simon Peter's impulsive shift from resisting Jesus' foot-washing (as he deemed himself unworthy of Jesus serving him) to requesting a full immersion. After Jesus clarifies that refusal means having no part with Him, Peter, with characteristic zeal but incomplete understanding, asks for a complete washing of his entire person – feet, hands, and head – eager to secure his relationship and participation with Christ.
John 13 9 Context
John 13 opens with Jesus, knowing His hour had come to depart from the world, demonstrating the depth of His love for His disciples "to the end" (Jn 13:1). The foot-washing (Jn 13:4-5) is a profound act of humility, a reversal of social norms, as it was a task for the lowliest servant. It prefaces Jesus' final teachings and establishes a paradigm for Christian servanthood. Peter initially resists (Jn 13:6-8), seeing the act as beneath his Lord. Jesus then clarifies in verse 8 that unless He washes Peter, Peter will have "no part" with Him, signifying a deeper spiritual cleansing and relationship. This statement shifts Peter's understanding, causing his immediate, albeit overly zealous, request in verse 9 for a complete wash, highlighting Peter's impulsive nature and fervent desire for full inclusion in Christ. Historically, foot washing was a necessary custom in dusty ancient Palestine but carried a ceremonial purity implication in some Jewish thought, which Jesus transcended by redefining "clean" in spiritual terms.
John 13 9 Word analysis
- Simon Peter: Σίμων Πέτρος (Simōn Petros). This combination emphasizes his human name "Simon" (signifying "heard" or "listening," also linking to his identity before full conversion/understanding) and his apostolic name "Peter" (Πέτρος, Petros, "rock"). It underscores his role as a key disciple, yet also highlights his impetuous, often misunderstood nature that frequently swung between faith and folly.
- said to Him: Implies a direct and personal address, a characteristic of Peter's interactions with Jesus.
- Lord: Κύριε (Kyrie). This address indicates respect and recognition of Jesus' divine authority and lordship. While Peter often acknowledged Jesus as Lord, his understanding of the nature of that lordship and its implications was often limited and evolving. Here, it denotes submission to Jesus' previous warning, coupled with a deep desire not to be separated from Him.
- not my feet only: This phrase expresses Peter's shift from outright refusal (verse 8a) to a desperate longing for relationship. He takes Jesus' warning about having "no part" with Him very literally, indicating he now values the cleansing above his previous pride or understanding.
- but also my hands and my head!: These additions show Peter's characteristic overenthusiasm and impetuosity. Having recognized the dire consequence of not being washed by Christ, Peter immediately asks for more washing, believing that a full, all-encompassing bath would guarantee a complete and secure relationship with Jesus. This reveals his focus on outward action rather than internal spiritual understanding of the washing's deeper meaning. "Hands" represent action and work, "head" represents thought, identity, or leadership.
John 13 9 Bonus section
The impulsive "not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!" reveals Peter's typical trajectory of over-correcting, from prideful rejection to enthusiastic but misguided embrace. This mirrors other instances in the Gospels where Peter speaks or acts out of turn, such as rebuking Jesus after the prophecy of suffering (Matt 16:22) or attempting to build tents at the Transfiguration (Mk 9:5-6). It teaches us that true submission is not about demanding more than what is offered or necessary, but about accepting Christ's perfect provision and understanding its purpose. The washing by Christ is essential for spiritual connection; Peter's desire to be 'fully clean' in every part shows a subconscious longing for a deep and secure union, though expressed in an outward and impulsive manner, moving the narrative towards Jesus' clarification about true, daily cleansing.
John 13 9 Commentary
John 13:9 succinctly captures Peter's zealous and often dramatic character. His quick pivot from "You shall never wash my feet!" to "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" highlights a fundamental truth about human interaction with divine grace. When faced with the critical importance of a relationship with Christ (symbolized by the washing, and underscored by Jesus' "no part with Me" statement), Peter overreacts in an attempt to ensure he gains everything. This impulsive demand for a complete external cleansing (hands, head) beyond the specific foot-washing points to a common misunderstanding: mistaking ceremonial overabundance for spiritual completeness. Jesus' subsequent explanation (John 13:10) clarifies that those already "bathed" (symbolizing initial salvation/regeneration) only need specific cleansing (the feet, representing daily spiritual impurities incurred in the walk of life). Peter's desire for full immersion, while born of genuine devotion, reveals an incomplete grasp of the difference between foundational cleansing (salvation) and ongoing sanctification. It underscores the importance of a discerning heart that understands the nature of God's provision.