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John 13:6-11

Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”

Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”

World English Bible · Public Domain
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John 13:6-11 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then 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. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”

Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should also do as I have done to you. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither is one who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

    Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”

    Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”

    Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

    Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”

    For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    Then came he to Simon Peter. And Peter sayde to him: Lorde shalt thou wesshe my fete?

    Iesus answered and sayde vnto him: what I do thou wotest not now but thou shalt knowe herafter.

    Peter sayd vnto him: thou shalt not wesshe my fete whill the worlde stondeth. Iesus answered him: yf I wasshe the not thou shalt have no part with me.

    Simon Peter sayde vnto him: Lorde not my fete only: but also my handes and my heed.

    Iesus sayde to him: he that is wesshed nedeth not save to wesshe his fete and is clene every whit. And ye are clene: but not all.

    For he knewe his betrayer. Therfore sayde he: ye are not all clene.

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  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    Then came he to Simon Peter, who sayd to him, Lord, doest thou wash my feete?

    Iesus answered and sayd vnto him, What I doe, thou knowest not nowe: but thou shalt knowe it hereafter.

    Peter said vnto him, Thou shalt neuer wash my feete. Iesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou shalt haue no part with me.

    Simon Peter sayd vnto him, Lord, not my feete onely, but also the hands and the head.

    Iesus sayd to him, He that is washed, needeth not, saue to wash his feete, but is cleane euery whit: and ye are cleane, but not all.

    For hee knewe who should betray him: therefore sayd he, Ye are not all cleane.

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Cross-references (67)

  • Daniel 12:8 (v7) I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”
  • John 12:16 (v7) His disciples didn’t understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written…
  • John 14:26 (v7) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said…
  • John 15:3 (v10) You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
  • James 5:7-11 (v7) Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient…
Show all 66 cross-references
  • Ezekiel 36:25 (v8) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness, and from all your idols.
  • Acts 22:16 (v8) Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’
  • Titus 3:5 (v8) not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and…
  • Hebrews 10:22 (vv8–9) let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed…
  • John 13:10-12 (v7) Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”…
  • 2 Corinthians 7:1 (v10) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear…
  • Ephesians 5:26 (v8) that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
  • 1 Corinthians 6:11 (v8) Some of you were such, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the…
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17 (v10) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
  • Psalms 51:2 (v9) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
  • Psalms 51:7 (v9) Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
  • Daniel 12:12 (v7) Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
  • Habakkuk 2:1-3 (v7) I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer…
  • John 13:36 (v7) Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow…
  • Numbers 19:19-21 (v10) The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall purify him. He shall…
  • John 13:18 (v11) I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has…
  • John 13:26 (v11) Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the piece of…
  • Revelation 7:14 (v8) I told him, “My lord, you know.” He said to me, “These are those who came out of the great suffering.They washed their robes, and made them…
  • Psalms 26:6 (v9) I will wash my hands in innocence, so I will go about your altar, Yahweh,
  • Zechariah 13:1 (v8) “In that day there will be a spring opened to David’s house and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
  • Matthew 21:29 (v8) He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
  • Matthew 26:33 (v8) But Peter answered him, “Even if all will be made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.”
  • John 3:5 (v8) Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom.
  • John 13:2 (v11) During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
  • John 13:21 (v11) When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.”
  • Ephesians 5:26-27 (v10) that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the assembly to himself…
  • Colossians 2:18 (v8) Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly…
  • Colossians 2:23 (v8) These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the…
  • Hebrews 9:22-23 (v8) According to the law, nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. It was necessary…
  • 1 Peter 3:21 (v9) This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward…
  • Revelation 1:5 (v8) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and…
  • Leviticus 17:15-16 (v10) “ ‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, shall wash his…
  • Numbers 19:12-13 (v10) He shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean; but if he doesn’t purify himself the third…
  • Isaiah 4:4 (v8) when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from within it, by…
  • Jeremiah 32:24-25 (v7) “Behold, siege ramps have come to the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of…
  • Ezekiel 16:4-9 (v8) As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut. You weren’t washed in water to cleanse you. You weren’t salted at all,…
  • Matthew 16:22 (v8) Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.”
  • Matthew 26:24-25 (v11) The Son of Man goes, even as it is written of him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that…
  • Matthew 26:35 (v8) Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.” All of the disciples also said likewise.
  • John 2:25 (v11) and because he didn’t need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
  • John 6:64-71 (v11) But there are some of you who don’t believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who didn’t believe, and who it was who would…
  • Hebrews 10:4-10 (v8) For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “You didn’t…
  • Genesis 42:38 (v8) He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which…
  • Leviticus 16:26 (v10) “He who lets the goat go as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
  • Leviticus 16:28 (v10) He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
  • Numbers 19:7-8 (v10) Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest…
  • Jeremiah 4:14 (v9) Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long will your evil thoughts lodge within you?
  • Jeremiah 32:43 (v7) Fields will be bought in this land, about which you say, ‘It is desolate, without man or animal. It is given into the hand of the…
  • Matthew 3:11-14 (v6) I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will…
  • Matthew 27:24 (v9) So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before…
  • John 1:27 (v6) He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”
  • John 13:6 (v8) Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
  • Romans 7:20-23 (v10) But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the law that, to me, while I…
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 (v10) For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
  • Ephesians 4:22-24 (v10) that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed…
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (v10) May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our…
  • Luke 5:8 (v6) But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
  • John 17:12 (v11) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in your name. I have kept those whom you have given me. None of them is lost except the son…
  • Hebrews 9:10 (v10) being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
  • James 3:2 (v10) For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also.
  • 1 John 1:7-10 (v10) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses…

66 distinct cross-references across this passage (67 total citations).

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (21 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv6–10 6. Lord, dost thou wash my feet? This speech…

6. Lord, dost thou wash my feet? This speech expresses strong dislike of the action as foolish and unsuitable; for by asking what Christ is doing, he puts out his hand, as it were, to push him back. The modesty would be worthy of commendation, were it not that obedience is of greater value in the sight of God than any kind of honor or service, or rather, if this were not the true and only rule of humility, to yield ourselves in obedience to God, and to have all our senses regulated by his good pleasure, so that every thing which he declares to be agreeable to Him shall also be approved by us, without any scruple. We ought, therefore, above all, to observe this rule of serving God, that we shall be always ready to acquiesce, without delay, as soon as he issues any command.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v8 Unless thou suffer me to wash thee, thou shalt…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv6–11 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv6–11 Christ in the performance of this ceremony cometh to…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v6 Observe here, 1. How Simon Peter refuses to admit…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–11 Then cometh he to Simon Peter,.... After having washed…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv7–10 What I do thou knowest not now; but thou…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv6–10 Verse 6. Lord, dost THOU wash MY feet?] Every…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v7 Joh 13:7-11. Jesus said, What I do thou knowest…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv6–11 Dost thou wash my feet? - Every word here…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 10 Lord, dost thou wash my feet? My master, my…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv6–10 Peter saith . . . Lord, dost thou wash…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv6–11 6. Cometh he to Simon Peter—The language implies that…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–11 6. Then cometh he] Better, He cometh therefore, i.e.…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv6–11 (6) Then cometh he to Simon Peter.—Men who have…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 9, 10, 11 It cannot be determined with whom our Lord commenced…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv6, 8, 10 6. Lord, dost thou wash my feet? The language…
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v10 The underlying imagery is of an oriental returning from…
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v6 The objection of Peter:
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6, 10 Lord, are you going to wash my feet?
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv8–10 13:8 Based on the depth of his devotion to…
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