John 13
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
John chapter 13 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
16 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from 2 Fathers — Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Augustine of Hippo.
John 13
1Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.Πρὸ δὲ τῆς ἑορτῆς τοῦ Πάσχα, εἰδὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἐλήλυθεν αὐτοῦ ἡ ὥρα ἵνα μεταβῇ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ἀγαπήσας τοὺς ἰδίους τοὺς ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ, εἰς τέλος ἠγάπησεν αὐτούς.
2And after supper, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,Καὶ δείπνου γενομένου, τοῦ διαβόλου ἤδη βεβληκότος εἰς τὴν καρδίαν Ἰούδα Σίμωνος Ἰσκαριώτου ἵνα αὐτὸν παραδῷ,
3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,εἰδὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι πάντα δέδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ πατὴρ εἰς τὰς χεῖρας, καὶ ὅτι ἀπὸ Θεοῦ ἐξῆλθε καὶ πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν ὑπάγει,
4He rose from supper and laid aside His garments, and having taken a towel, He girded Himself.ἐγείρεται ἐκ τοῦ δείπνου, καὶ τίθησι τὰ ἱμάτια, καὶ λαβὼν λέντιον διέζωσεν ἑαυτόν.
5Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to dry them with the towel with which He was girded.Εἶτα βάλλει ὕδωρ εἰς τὸν νιπτῆρα, καὶ ἤρξατο νίπτειν τοὺς πόδας τῶν μαθητῶν, καὶ ἐκμάσσειν τῷ λεντίῳ ᾧ ἦν διεζωσμένος.
6Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”Ἔρχεται οὖν πρὸς Σίμωνα Πέτρον· καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ ἐκεῖνος, Κύριε, σύ μου νίπτεις τοὺς πόδας;
7Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”Ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, Ὃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ, σὺ οὐκ οἶδας ἄρτι, γνώσῃ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα.
8Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”Λέγει αὐτῷ Πέτρος, Οὐ μὴ νίψῃς τοὺς πόδας μου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα. Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἐὰν μὴ νίψω σε, οὐκ ἔχεις μέρος μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ.
9Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”Λέγει αὐτῷ Σίμων Πέτρος, Κύριε, μὴ τοὺς πόδας μου μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τὴν κεφαλήν.
10Jesus said to him, “He that is bathed need only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”Λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ὁ λελουμένος οὐ χρείαν ἔχει ἢ τοὺς πόδας νίψασθαι, ἀλλ᾽ ἔστι καθαρὸς ὅλος· καὶ ὑμεῖς καθαροί ἐστε, ἀλλ᾽ οὐχὶ πάντες.
11For He knew who would betray Him; for this reason He said, “You are not all clean.”ᾜδει γὰρ τὸν παραδιδόντα αὐτόν· διὰ τοῦτο εἶπεν, Οὐχὶ πάντες καθαροί ἐστε.
12So when He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, He reclined again, and said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?Ὅτε οὖν ἔνιψε τοὺς πόδας αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔλαβε τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ, ἀναπεσὼν πάλιν, εἶπεν αὐτοῖς, Γινώσκετε τί πεποίηκα ὑμῖν;
13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say correctly, for so I am.Ὑμεῖς φωνεῖτέ με, Ὁ διδάσκαλος, καὶ Ὁ Κύριος· καὶ καλῶς λέγετε, εἰμὶ γάρ.
14Therefore if I, your Lord and your Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.Εἰ οὖν ἐγὼ ἔνιψα ὑμῶν τοὺς πόδας, ὁ Κύριος καὶ ὁ διδάσκαλος, καὶ ὑμεῖς ὀφείλετε ἀλλήλων νίπτειν τοὺς πόδας.
15For I gave you an example, that just as I did to you, you also should do.Ὑπόδειγμα γὰρ ἔδωκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα καθὼς ἐγὼ ἐποίησα ὑμῖν, καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιῆτε.
16Most assuredly I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than he who sent him.Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, Οὐκ ἔστι δοῦλος μείζων τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ, οὐδὲ ἀπόστολος μείζων τοῦ πέμψαντος αὐτόν.
17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.Εἰ ταῦτα οἴδατε, μακάριοί ἐστε ἐὰν ποιῆτε αὐτά.
18“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know those whom I chose; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’Οὐ περὶ πάντων ὑμῶν λέγω· ἐγὼ οἶδα οὓς ἐξελεξάμην· ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα ἡ γραφὴ πληρωθῇ, Ὁ τρώγων μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ τὸν ἄρτον ἐπῆρεν ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ τὴν πτέρναν αὐτοῦ.
19From now on I tell you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe that I AM.Ἀπ᾽ ἄρτι λέγω ὑμῖν πρὸ τοῦ γενέσθαι, ἵνα, ὅταν γένηται, πιστεύσητε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι.
20Most assuredly I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, Ὁ λαμβάνων ἐάν τινα πέμψω, ἐμὲ λαμβάνει· ὁ δὲ ἐμὲ λαμβάνων, λαμβάνει τὸν πέμψαντά με.
21When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in His spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”Ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐταράχθη τῷ πνεύματι, καὶ ἐμαρτύρησε καὶ εἶπεν, Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι εἷς ἐξ ὑμῶν παραδώσει με.
22Therefore the disciples were looking at one another, perplexed about whom He was speaking.Ἔβλεπον οὖν εἰς ἀλλήλους οἱ μαθηταί, ἀπορούμενοι περὶ τίνος λέγει.
23Now there was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved.Ἦν δὲ ἀνακείμενος εἷς τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, ὃν ἠγάπα ὁ Ἰησοῦς·
24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to inquire who it might be about whom He was speaking.νεύει οὖν τούτῳ Σίμων Πέτρος πυθέσθαι τίς ἂν εἴη περὶ οὗ λέγει.
25Then, leaning back thus on Jesus' chest, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”Ἐπιπεσὼν δὲ ἐκεῖνος οὕτως ἐπὶ τὸ στῆθος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ, λέγει αὐτῷ, Κύριε, τίς ἐστιν;
26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.Ἀποκρίνεται ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἐκεῖνός ἐστιν ᾧ ἐγὼ βάψας τὸ ψωμίον ἐπιδώσω. Καὶ ἐμβάψας τὸ ψωμίον, δίδωσιν Ἰούδᾳ Σίμωνος Ἰσκαριώτῃ.
27And after the piece of bread, then Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”Καὶ μετὰ τὸ ψωμίον, τότε εἰσῆλθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνον ὁ Σατανᾶς. Λέγει οὖν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ὃ ποιεῖς, ποίησον τάχιον.
28But no one reclining at the table knew for what purpose He said this to him.Τοῦτο δὲ οὐδεὶς ἔγνω τῶν ἀνακειμένων πρὸς τί εἶπεν αὐτῷ.
29For some were thinking, since Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things of which we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.Τινὲς γὰρ ἐδόκουν, ἐπεὶ τὸ γλωσσόκομον εἶχεν ὁ Ἰούδας, ὅτι λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ἀγόρασον ὧν χρείαν ἔχομεν εἰς τὴν ἑορτήν· ἢ τοῖς πτωχοῖς ἵνα τι δῷ.
30Therefore having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.Λαβὼν οὖν τὸ ψωμίον ἐκεῖνος, εὐθέως ἐξῆλθεν· ἦν δὲ νύξ.
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in Him.Ὅτε ἐξῆλθε, λέγει ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Νῦν ἐδοξάσθη ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ.
32If God has been glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately.Εἰ ὁ Θεὸς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν αὐτῷ, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς δοξάσει αὐτὸν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, καὶ εὐθὺς δοξάσει αὐτόν.
33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you.Τεκνία, ἔτι μικρὸν μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν εἰμι. Ζητήσετέ με, καὶ καθὼς εἶπον τοῖς Ἰουδαίοις ὅτι Ὅπου ὑπάγω ἐγώ, ὑμεῖς οὐ δύνασθε ἐλθεῖν, καὶ ὑμῖν λέγω ἄρτι.
34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, that you also love one another.Ἐντολὴν καινὴν δίδωμι ὑμῖν, ἵνα ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους· καθὼς ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς, ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀγαπᾶτε ἀλλήλους.
35By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”Ἐν τούτῳ γνώσονται πάντες ὅτι ἐμοὶ μαθηταί ἐστε, ἐὰν ἀγάπην ἔχητε ἐν ἀλλήλοις.
36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but later you will follow Me.”Λέγει αὐτῷ Σίμων Πέτρος, Κύριε, ποῦ ὑπάγεις; Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Ὅπου ὑπάγω, οὐ δύνασαί μοι νῦν ἀκολουθῆσαι, ὕστερον δὲ ἀκολουθήσεις μοι.
37Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”Λέγει αὐτῷ Πέτρος, Κύριε, διὰ τί οὐ δύναμαί σοι ἀκολουθῆσαι ἄρτι; Τὴν ψυχήν μου ὑπὲρ σοῦ θήσω.
38Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Most assuredly I say to you, the rooster shall by no means crow till you deny Me three times.Ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Τὴν ψυχήν σου ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ θήσεις; Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, οὐ μὴ ἀλέκτωρ φωνήσῃ ἕως οὗ ἀπαρνήσῃ με τρίς.
The Fathers on John 13
Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Augustine of Hippo comment on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On John 13:1Saint John Chrysostom“Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.”
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On John 13:1–5Saint Augustine of Hippo1. The Lord's Supper, as set forth in John, must, with His assistance, be unfolded in a becoming number of Lectures, and explained with all the ability He is pleased to grant us. “Now, before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father,...
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On John 13:12Saint John Chrysostom“And He took His garments, and having sat down again, said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?” And what follows.
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On John 13:10–15Saint Augustine of Hippo1. We have already, beloved, as the Lord was pleased to enable us, expounded to you those words of the Gospel, where the Lord, in washing His disciples' feet, says, “He that is once washed needs not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.” Let us now look at what follows. “And ye,” He says, “are clean, but not...
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On John 13:20Saint John Chrysostom“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send, receiveth Me: and He that receiveth Me, receiveth Him that sent Me.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of John →
On John 13:16–20Saint Augustine of Hippo1. We have just heard in the holy Gospel the Lord speaking, and saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord, nor the apostle [he that is sent] greater than he that sent him: if you know these things, blessed shall you be if you do them.” He said this, therefore, because He had...
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On John 13:36Saint John Chrysostom“Simon Peter said unto Him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go thou canst not follow Me now, but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.”
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On John 13:36–38Saint Augustine of Hippo1. While the Lord Jesus was commending to the disciples that holy love wherewith they should love one another, “Simon Peter says unto Him, Lord, where are You going?” So, at all events, said the disciple to his Master, the servant to his Lord, as one who was prepared to follow. Just as for the same reason the Lord,...
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On John 13:6–10Saint Augustine of Hippo1. When the Lord was washing the disciples' feet, “He comes to Simon Peter; and Peter says unto Him, Lord, dost Thou wash my feet?” For who would not be filled with fear at having his feet washed by the Son of God? Although, therefore, it was a piece of the greatest audacity for the servant to contradict his Lord, the...
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On John 13:6–10Saint Augustine of HippoIn what way the Church should fear to defile her feet, while proceeding on her way to Christ. 1. I Have not been unmindful of my debt, and acknowledge that the time of payment has now come. May He give me wherewith to pay, as He gave me cause to incur the debt. For He has given me the love, of which it is said, “Owe...
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On John 13:21Saint Augustine of Hippo1. It is no light question, brethren, that meets us in the Gospel of the blessed John, when he says: “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.” Was it for this reason that Jesus was troubled, not in flesh, but in...
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On John 13:21–26Saint Augustine of Hippo1. This short section of the Gospel, brethren, we have in this lesson brought forward for exposition, as thinking that we ought also to say something of the Lord's betrayer, as now plainly enough disclosed by the dipping and holding out to him of the piece of bread. Of that indeed which precedes, (namely), that Jesus,...
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On John 13:26–31Saint Augustine of Hippo1. I Know, dearly beloved, that some may be moved, as the godly to inquire into the meaning of, and the ungodly to find fault with, the statement, that it was after the Lord had given the bread, that had been dipped, to His betrayer that Satan entered into him. For so it is written: “And when He had dipped the bread,...
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On John 13:31–32Saint Augustine of Hippo1. Let us give our mind's best attention, and, with the Lord's help, seek after God. The language of the divine hymn is: “Seek God and your soul shall live.” Let us search for that which needs to be discovered, and into that which has been discovered. He whom we need to discover is concealed, in order to be sought...
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On John 13:33Saint Augustine of Hippo1. It becomes us, dearly beloved, to keep in view the orderly connection of our Lord's words. For after having previously said, but subsequently to Judas' departure, and his separation from even the outward communion of the saints, “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him;”— whether He said so as...
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On John 13:34–35Open John 13 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint Augustine of Hippo1. The Lord Jesus declares that He is giving His disciples a new commandment, that they should love one another. “A new commandment,” He says, “I give unto you, that you love one another.” But was not this already commanded in the ancient law of God, where it is written, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”?...
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