John 13 · Verse 4

John 13:4

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
John 13:4, King James Version

John 13:4 in other translations

BSBSo He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
WEBarose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist.
ASVriseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself.
YLTdoth rise from the supper, and doth lay down his garments, and having taken a towel, he girded himself;
DARBYrises from supper and lays aside his garments, and having taken a linen towel he girded himself:
BBEGot up from table, put off his robe and took a cloth and put it round him.
WebsterHe riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

What does John 13:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 13:4-5
4-5. He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments--outer garments which would have impeded the operation of washing. and took a towel and girded himself--assuming a servant's dress.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 4. He riseth from supper. Evidently while they were eating. See Jn 13:2.

Laid aside his garments. His outer garment. Mt 5:40. This was his mantle or robe, which is said to have been without seam. It was customary to lay this aside when they worked or ran, or in the heat of summer.

Took a towel and girded himself. This was the manner of a servant or slave. Lk 17:8

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 He riseth from supper - Not from eating, as Bishop Pearce has well observed, but from his place at table; probably the dishes were not as yet laid down, though the guests were seated. According to the custom of the Jews and other Asiatics, this washing must have taken place before the supper. See on Joh 13:2 (note). Laid aside his garments - That is, his gown or upper coat, with the girdle wherewith it was girded close to his tunic or under coat; and, instead of this girdle, he tied a towel about him: 1. that he might appear in the character of a servant; and 2. that he might have it in readiness to dry their feet after he had washed them.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 13:1-17

Our Lord Jesus has a people in the world that are his own; he has purchased them, and paid dear for them, and he has set them apart for himself; they devote themselves to him as a peculiar people. Those whom Christ loves, he loves to the end. Nothing can separate a true believer from the love of Christ. We know not when our hour will come, therefore what we have to do in constant preparation for it, ought never to…

Read the full comment on John 13:1-17 →

John 13:4 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐγείρεταιegeiretaiHe risesG1453
ἐκekfromG1537
τοῦtoutheG3588
δείπνουdeipnousupperG1173
καὶkaiandG2532
τίθησινtithēsinlays asideG5087
τὰtatheG3588
ἱμάτια,himatiagarments,G2440
καὶkaiAndG2532
λαβὼνlabōnhaving takenG2983
λέντιονlentiona towelG3012
διέζωσενdiezōsenHe girdedG1241
ἑαυτόν.he'autonHimself.G1438

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 13:4

  • 2 Corinthians 8:9

    For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

  • Luke 22:27

    For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

  • Luke 12:37

    Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

  • Philippians 2:6-8

    Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

  • Luke 17:7

    But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
laid aside.That is, his gown, or upper coat, [himatia,] with the girdle by which it was girdled close to his tunic, or inner coat; and instead of his girdle, he tied a towel about him, that he might have it in readiness to dry their feet,and that he might appear as a servant. Indeed the whole action was a servile one; and never performed by a superior to an inferior.
Lu 12:37; 17:7; 22:27; 2Co 8:9; Php 2:6-8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 13:3

    Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

  • John 13:4

    He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

  • John 13:5

    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.

Read all of John 13

John 13:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Levántase de la cena, y quítase su ropa, y tomando una toalla, ciñóse.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		se lève du souper et met de côté ses vêtements; et ayant pris un linge, il s’en ceignit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		von dem Abendessen auf und legt die Oberkleider ab; und er nahm ein leinenes Tuch und umgürtete sich.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		surgit a cœna, et ponit vestimenta sua, et cum accepisset linteum, præcinxit se.