The big picture
John 13 opens in verse 1 with “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 19 with “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am…”, and closes in verse 38 with “Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto…” Repeated or prominent terms include Jesus, feet, Lord, verily, Peter. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
John · King James Version · 38John 13:1-8
1–8: Before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come…
John 13:1–8 opens with “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should…” and reaches “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, returning to the table, identifying betrayal, and giving the new commandment, with particular weight carried by Jesus, wash, feet.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world…” Naming Father and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;” Naming Father keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
John 13:1-8
King James Version1Now 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.
2And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him;
3Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5After 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.
6Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
John 13:9-16
9–16: Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands…
John 13:9–16 opens with “Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” and reaches “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, returning to the table, identifying betrayal, and giving the new commandment, with particular weight carried by feet, Lord, clean.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.” Naming Peter keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
John 13:9-16
King James Version9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
John 13:17-24
17–24: If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
John 13:17–24 opens with “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” and reaches “Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, returning to the table, identifying betrayal, and giving the new commandment, with particular weight carried by receiveth, verily, Jesus.
Context that brings the passage to life
“If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include happy, know. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.” The line’s distinctive content terms include believe, tell. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
John 13:17-24
King James Version17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
18I 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.
19Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21When 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.
22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
John 13:25-32
25–32: He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
John 13:25–32 opens with “He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?” and reaches “If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, returning to the table, identifying betrayal, and giving the new commandment, with particular weight carried by Jesus, glorified, dipped.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.” Naming Jesus and Satan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
John 13:25-32
King James Version25He then lying on Jesus’ breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
John 13:33-38
33–38: Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and…
John 13:33–38 opens with “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the…” and reaches “Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, returning to the table, identifying betrayal, and giving the new commandment, with particular weight carried by follow, love, Jesus.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
John 13:33-38
King James Version33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36Simon 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.
37Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
John 13:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
John 13:19 forms a natural hinge: “Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.”
The final note
John 13:38 leaves the reader with “Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Jesus, feet, Lord, verily, Peter, wash help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.