Veritable King James Version
1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
2During supper, when the devil had already put it 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 had come from God and was going back to God,
4rose from supper. He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist.
5Then He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around Him.
6He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?”
7Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”
8Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with Me.”
9Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!”
10Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”
11For He knew who was to betray Him; that was why He said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12When He had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?
13You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.
14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
16Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Feast of the Passover” (heortēs tou pascha) specifies timing, translated as “Feast of the Passover.”
“His hour had come” (elēlythei autou hē hōra) divine timing, translated as “His hour had come” (cf. 2:4).
“Loved them to the end” (ēgapēsen autous eis telos) complete love, translated as “loved them to the end.”
“Devil...put it into the heart” (diabolos edōkei eis tēn kardian) temptation, translated as “put it into the heart.”
“Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son” (Iouda Simōnos Iskariōtou) full name, retained.
“Laid aside His outer garments” (titheisin ta himatia) servant posture, translated as “laid aside His outer garments.”
“Wash the disciples’ feet” (niptein tous podas tōn mathētōn) humble act, translated literally.
“Lord, do You wash my feet?” (kyrie sy mou nipteis tous podas) surprise, translated directly.
“What I am doing” (ho egō poiō) symbolic, translated as “what I am doing.”
“You shall never wash my feet” (ou mē nipseis mou tous podas eis ton aiōna) emphatic refusal, translated as “You shall never wash my feet.”
“No share with Me” (meros met’ emou ouk echeis) fellowship, translated as “no share with Me.”
“Not my feet only but also my hands and my head” (mē tous podas mou monon alla kai tas cheiras kai tēn kephalēn) overreaction, translated literally.
“The one who has bathed...completely clean” (ho leloumenos...katharos holos) ritual metaphor, translated as “the one who has bathed...completely clean.”
“Not every one of you” (ouchi pantes) Judas implied, translated as “not every one of you.”
“Teacher and Lord” (didaskalos kai kyrios) titles, capitalized as “Teacher and Lord.”
“Servant...master...messenger...one who sent” (doulos...kyrios...apostolos...ho pempsas) hierarchy, translated clearly.
“Blessed are you if you do them” (makarioi este ean poiēte auta) blessing on obedience, translated as “blessed are you if you do them.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You,” “Lord,” “Teacher” capitalized per VKJV deity convention (ho Iēsous, autos, egō).
“He,” “him,” “his” for Judas/Peter/servant (auton, masculine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them” for disciples (*autoi*, *autois*) gender-neutral as group.
“The one,” “anyone,” “a servant” (ho, ean tis, doulos, masculine) gender-neutral in translation for individuals.
18“I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am He. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the one who sent Me.”
21After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in His spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.”
22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom He spoke.
23One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side,
24so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom He was speaking.
25So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”
26Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
27Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
28Now no one at the table knew why He said this to him.
29Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
30So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“I know whom I have chosen” (oida tinas exelexamēn, perfect)divine election, translated as “I know whom I have chosen.”
“Scripture will be fulfilled” quotes Psalm 41:9 (ho esthiōn mou ton arton epēren ep’ eme tēn pternan autou), translated as “fulfilled.”
“He who ate my bread...lifted his heel” metaphorical betrayal, translated literally for imagery.
“I am telling you this now...that you may believe” (prolegō hymin nun...hina pisteusēte) foreknowledge, translated as “telling you this now...may believe.”
“I am He” (egō eimi) divine claim, translated as “I am He.”
“Whoever receives...receives Me” (ho lambanōn...lambanei eme) chain of reception, translated as “receives.”
“Troubled in His spirit” (etaraxen tō pneumati) emotional, translated as “troubled in His spirit.”
“One of you will betray Me” (heis ex hymōn paradōsei me) prediction, translated as “one of you will betray Me.”
“Whom Jesus loved” (hon ēgapa ho Iēsous) beloved disciple, translated as “whom Jesus loved.”
“Reclining at table at Jesus’ side” (anakeimenos en tō kolpō tou Iēsou) intimate position, translated as “reclining at table at Jesus’ side.”
“Motioned to him” (neuei toutō) gesture, translated as “motioned to him.”
“Morsel of bread...dipped it” (psōmion...bapsas) act, translated as “morsel of bread...dipped it.”
“Satan entered into him” (eisēlthen eis ekeinon ho satanas) possession, translated as “Satan entered into him.”
“What you are going to do, do quickly” (ho poieis poiēson tachion) command, translated as “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
“Moneybag” (glōssokomon) purse, translated as “moneybag.”
“It was night” (ēn de nyx) symbolic darkness, translated as “it was night.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You,” “Lord” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“He,” “him,” “his” for Judas/disciple/servant (*auton*, masculine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them,” “one of you” (*autoi*, *tis ex hymōn*) gender-neutral for disciples.
31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.
32If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him at once.
33Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek Me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’
34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow afterward.”
37Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for You.”
38Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied Me three times.”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“When he had gone out” (hote oun exēlthen) Judas' exit, translated as “when he had gone out.”
“Now is the Son of Man glorified” (nyn edoxasthē ho huios tou anthrōpou) hour fulfillment, translated as “now is...glorified.”
“God is glorified in Him” (theos edoxasthē en autō) mutual glory, translated literally.
“Little children” (teknia, diminutive) affectionate address, translated as “Little children.”
“Yet a little while” (eti mikron chronon) brevity, translated as “yet a little while.”
“New commandment” (entolēn kainēn) love command, translated as “new commandment.”
“Love one another” (agapate allēlous) repeated for emphasis, translated as “love one another.”
“By this all people will know” (en toutō gnōsontai pantes) sign of discipleship, translated as “by this all people will know.”
“Lay down my life” (psychēn mou hyper sou thēsō) boast, translated as “lay down my life.”
“Rooster will not crow” (alektōr ou mē phōnēsē) denial prediction, translated as “rooster will not crow.”
“Denied Me three times” (aparnēsē me tris) thrice, translated as “denied Me three times.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You,” “God” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“He,” “him” for Judas/Peter (*auton*, masculine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them,” “all people” (*autoi*, *pantes*) gender-neutral for disciples/people.
“One another” (*allēlous*) gender-neutral for mutual love.
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