John 13:23

“One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining in Jesus’ bosom.”

John 13:23 · direct translation from the Greek
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With the Greek beneath

23

John 13:23, word by word

Oneεἷςheis

one

The quantity one, or a single one within a group.

Where else “heis” appears
his disciplesμαθητῶνmathētōn

disciple

A follower of Jesus.

Where else “mathētōn” appears
JesusἸησοῦςIēsous

Jesus

Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).

Where else “Iēsous” appears
lovedἠγάπαēgapa

love

Love: to seek the good of the other, even of someone who does not deserve it.

Where else “ēgapa” appears
wasἦνēn

be

To be: says who or what something is.

Where else “ēn” appears
recliningἀνακείμενοςanakeimenos

recline at table

Recline at table, eat.

Where else “anakeimenos” appears
bosomκόλπῳkolpōi

bosom

The chest where one is held; "Abraham's", "the Father's": close intimacy.

Where else “kolpōi” appears

Translation note

At the meal people reclined on the left elbow; the one to the right of Jesus was close to his chest. “Bosom” (kolpos) is the same word as in 1:18.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Jesus foretells the betrayal

Matthew 26:20-25Mark 14:17-21Luke 22:21-23

See them side by side

John 13:21-30

21Having said these things, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I tell you, one of you will hand me over.” 22The disciples were looking at one another, at a loss as to whom he was speaking about. 23One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining in Jesus’ bosom. 24So Simon Peter nods to this man to ask who it might be of whom he was speaking. 25So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus’ chest, says to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answers, “It is the one for whom I will dip the piece of bread and give it to him.” So having dipped the piece of bread, he gives it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27And after the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. So Jesus says to him, “What you are doing, do quickly.” 28But no one of those reclining at table knew why he had said this to him. 29For some thought that, since Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30So after receiving the piece of bread, he went out at once. And it was night.

Matthew 26:20-25

20When evening came, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples. 21And as they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you that one of you will hand me over.” 22And being deeply grieved, they began to say to him each one, “It is not I, is it, Lord?” 23And he answered, “The one who has dipped his hand in the bowl with me, this one will hand me over. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over! It would have been good for him if that man had not been born.” 25And Judas, who was handing him over, answered, “It is not I, is it, Rabbi?” He says to him, “You have said it.”

Mark 14:17-21

17And when evening came, he comes with the Twelve. 18And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you that one of you will hand me over, the one who is eating with me.” 19They began to be grieved and to say to him one by one, “Surely not I?” 20And he said to them, “One of the Twelve, the one who is dipping with me into the bowl. 21For the Son of Man goes as it is written about him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over! It would have been good for him if that man had not been born.”

Luke 22:21-23

21But look, the hand of the one who is handing me over is with me on the table. 22For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is handed over!” 23And they began to discuss among themselves which of them then it might be who was going to do this.

The context

22The disciples were looking at one another, at a loss as to whom he was speaking about.

23 · This verse (above)

24So Simon Peter nods to this man to ask who it might be of whom he was speaking.

Read all of John 13

To study John 13 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does Jesus do during the supper, what does he answer Peter when he resists, and what does he ask of them all? (vv. 4-15)

  2. 2. What it means

    Jesus gives a new commandment: to love one another as he has loved them (v. 34). What does his washing of their feet show about that love?

  3. 3. How I live it

    Jesus says, “I have given you an example” (v. 15). Whom could you serve today with a simple gesture, without being asked?

How to use it