John 13 · Verse 5

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.
John 13:5, King James Version

John 13:5 in other translations

BSBAfter that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
WEBThen he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
ASVThen he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
YLTafterward he putteth water into the basin, and began to wash the feet of his disciples, and to wipe with the towel with which he was being girded.
DARBYthen he pours water into the washhand basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, and to wipe them with the linen towel with which he was girded.
BBEThen he put water into a basin and was washing the feet of the disciples and drying them with the cloth which was round him.
WebsterAfter 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.

What does John 13:5 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.

Read the full comment on John 13:4-5 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 5. Began to wash, &c. It was uniformly the office of a servant to wash the feet of guests, 1Sam 25:41. It became a matter of necessity where they travelled without shoes, and where they reclined on couches at meals. It should be remembered here that the disciples were not sitting at the table, as we do, but were lying with their feet extended from the table, so that Jesus could easily have access to them. Mt 23:6.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Poureth water into a bason, etc. - This was the office of the meanest slaves. When David sent to Abigail, to inform her that he had chosen her for wife, she arose and said: Behold, let thy handmaid be a Servant, to Wash the Feet of the Servants of my lord, 1Sam 25:41. Some of the ancients have supposed that our Lord began with washing the feet of Judas, to inspire him with sentiments of compunction and remorse, to melt him down with kindness, and to show all his disciples how they should act towards their enemies. Dr. Lightfoot supposes he washed the feet of Peter, James, and John only; but this is not likely: the verb αρχεσθαι in the sacred writings, signifies, not only to commence, but to finish an act, Act 1:1; and in the Septuagint, Gen 2:3. There is every reason to believe that he washed the feet of all the twelve. See on Joh 13:9 (note).

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 13:5 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.

εἶταeitaAfter thatG1534
βάλλειballeiHe poursG906
ὕδωρhudōrwaterG5204
εἰςeisintoG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
νιπτῆραniptērabasinG3537
καὶkaiandG2532
ἤρξατοērxatoHe beganG757
νίπτεινnipteinto washG3538
τοὺςtoustheG3588
πόδαςpodasfeetG4228
τῶνtōnof theG3588
μαθητῶνmathētōndisciplesG3101
καὶkaiandG2532
ἐκμάσσεινekmasseinto wipe [them]G1591
τῷtōwith theG3588
λεντίῳlentiōtowelG3012
ᾧhōwith whichG3739
ἦνēnHe wasG1510
διεζωσμένος.¶diezōsmenoshaving girded himself.G1241

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

Cross references for John 13:5

  • Luke 7:44

    And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

  • Psalms 51:2

    Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

  • 1 Timothy 5:10

    Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

  • Genesis 18:4

    Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

  • Genesis 19:2

    And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

  • Acts 22:16

    And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

  • 2 Kings 3:11

    But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may enquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

  • Leviticus 14:8

    And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

  • Titus 3:3-5

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

  • Revelation 7:14

    And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

  • 1 Samuel 25:41

    And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:11

    And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
poureth.
19:34; 2Ki 3:11; Eze 36:25; Zec 13:1; Eph 5:26; 1Jo 5:6
to wash.
8; Ex 29:4; Le 14:8; 2Ki 5:10-13; Ps 51:2; Isa 1:16; Ac 22:16
1Co 6:11; Tit 3:3-5; Heb 10:22; 1Jo 1:7; Re 1:5; 7:14
feet.
10,12-14; Ge 18:4; 19:2; 1Sa 25:41; Lu 7:38,44; 1Ti 5:10

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

Context

  • 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.

  • John 13:6

    Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Read all of John 13

John 13:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Luego puso agua en un lebrillo, y comenzó á lavar los pies de los discípulos, y á limpiarlos con la toalla con que estaba ceñido.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Puis il verse de l’eau dans le bassin, et se met à laver les pieds des disciples, et à les essuyer avec le linge dont il était ceint.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Dann gießt er Wasser in das Waschbecken und fing an, die Füße der Jünger zu waschen und mit dem leinenen Tuch abzutrocknen, mit welchem er umgürtet war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Deinde mittit aquam in pelvim, et cœpit lavare pedes discipulorum, et extergere linteo, quo erat præcinctus.