John 13:15

Contemporary English Version

I have set the example, and you should do for each other exactly what I have done for you.

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
I did this as an example for you. So you should serve each other just as I served you.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For I have geven you an ensample that ye shuld do as I have done to you.

Hebrew Names Version
For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

International Standard Version
For I have given you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.Matthew 11:29; Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
"For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you.

New Century Version
I did this as an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

Update Bible Version
For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

English Standard Version
For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.

World English Bible
For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I have given you an example, that ye also may do as I have done to you.

Weymouth's New Testament
For I have set you an example in order that you may do what I have done to you.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for Y haue youun `ensaumple to you, `that as I haue do to you, so do ye.

English Revised Version
For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you.

Berean Standard Bible
I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you.

Amplified Bible
"For I gave you [this as] an example, so that you should do [in turn] as I did to you.

American Standard Version
For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you.

Bible in Basic English
I have given you an example, so that you may do what I have done to you.

Complete Jewish Bible
For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you.

Darby Translation
for I have given you an example that, as I have done to you, ye should do also.

Etheridge Translation
For this pattern have I given you, that as I have done to you, you also should do.

Murdock Translation
For I have given you this example, that ye might do, as I have done to you.

King James Version (1611)
For I haue giuen you an example, that yee should doe, as I haue done to you.

New Living Translation
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.

New Life Bible
I have done this to show you what should be done. You should do as I have done to you.

New Revised Standard
For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I haue giuen you an example, that ye should doe, euen as I haue done to you.

George Lamsa Translation
For I have given you this as an example, so that just as I have done to you, you should also do.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, an example, have I given you, - that, just as, I, did unto you, ye also, should be doing.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I have given you an example, that as I have done to you, so you do also.

Revised Standard Version
For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I haue geuen you an ensample, that ye shoulde do as I haue done to you.

Good News Translation
I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you.

Christian Standard Bible®
For I have given you an example,

King James Version
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Lexham English Bible
For I have given you an example, that just as I have done for you, you also do.

Literal Translation
For I gave you an example, that as I did to you, you also should do.

Young's Literal Translation
`For an example I gave to you, that, according as I did to you, ye also may do;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I haue geue you an ensample, that ye shulde do as I haue done vnto you.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for I have given you example, that you might behave to one another, as I have to you.

THE MESSAGE
Washing His Disciples' Feet Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal. Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, "Master, you wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You don't understand now what I'm doing, but it will be clear enough to you later." Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet—ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing." "Master!" said Peter. "Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!" Jesus said, "If you've had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you're clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you're clean. But not every one of you." (He knew who was betraying him. That's why he said, "Not every one of you.") After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. Then he said, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher' and ‘Master,' and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other's feet. I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. If you understand what I'm telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. "I'm not including all of you in this. I know precisely whom I've selected, so as not to interfere with the fulfillment of this Scripture: The one who ate bread at my table Turned on his heel against me. "I'm telling you all this ahead of time so that when it happens you will believe that I am who I say I am. Make sure you get this right: Receiving someone I send is the same as receiving me, just as receiving me is the same as receiving the One who sent me." After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. "One of you is going to betray me." The disciples looked around at one another, wondering who on earth he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one Jesus loved dearly, was reclining against him, his head on his shoulder. Peter motioned to him to ask who Jesus might be talking about. So, being the closest, he said, "Master, who?" Jesus said, "The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I've dipped it." Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him. "What you must do," said Jesus, "do. Do it and get it over with." No one around the supper table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that since Judas was their treasurer, Jesus was telling him to buy what they needed for the Feast, or that he should give something to the poor. Judas, with the piece of bread, left. It was night. When he had left, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is seen for who he is, and God seen for who he is in him. The moment God is seen in him, God's glory will be on display. In glorifying him, he himself is glorified—glory all around! "Children, I am with you for only a short time longer. You are going to look high and low for me. But just as I told the Jews, I'm telling you: ‘Where I go, you are not able to come.' "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other." Simon Peter asked, "Master, just where are you going?" Jesus answered, "You can't now follow me where I'm going. You will follow later." "Master," said Peter, "why can't I follow now? I'll lay down my life for you!" "Really? You'll lay down your life for me? The truth is that before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times."

New English Translation
For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you.

New King James Version
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Simplified Cowboy Version
I have just handed you directions on how to gather the pastures. So do what I have done to you.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

Legacy Standard Bible
For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

Contextual Overview

¹ It was before Passover, and Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and to return to the Father. He had always loved his followers in this world, and he loved them to the very end. ² Even before the evening meal started, the devil had made Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, decide to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that he had come from God and would go back to God. He also knew that the Father had given him complete power. ⁴ So during the meal Jesus got up, removed his outer garment, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ He put some water into a large bowl. Then he began washing his disciples' feet and drying them with the towel he was wearing. ⁶ But when he came to Simon Peter, that disciple asked, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" ⁷ Jesus answered, "You don't really know what I am doing, but later you will understand." ⁸ "You will never wash my feet!" Peter replied. "If I don't wash you," Jesus told him, "you don't really belong to me." ⁹ Peter said, "Lord, don't wash just my feet. Wash my hands and my head." ¹⁰ Jesus answered, "People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet. And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

given: Matthew 11:29, Romans 15:5, *marg. Ephesians 5:2, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:6

Reciprocal: Judges 19:21 - they washed Matthew 3:15 - for Matthew 23:11 - General Luke 10:37 - Go John 10:4 - he goeth 1 Corinthians 9:19 - I made 2 Corinthians 4:5 - and Galatians 5:13 - but Galatians 6:2 - the law Philippians 2:5 - General 2 Thessalonians 3:9 - to make

Cross-References

Genesis 12:7
but the Lord appeared to Abram and promised, "I will give this land to your family forever." Abram then built an altar there for the Lord .

Genesis 13:1
Abram and Sarai took everything they owned and went to the Southern Desert. Lot went with them.

Genesis 13:2
Abram was very rich. He owned many cattle, sheep, and goats, and had a lot of silver and gold.

Genesis 13:3
Abram moved from place to place in the Southern Desert. And finally, he went north and set up his tents between Bethel and Ai,

Genesis 13:4
where he had earlier camped and built an altar. There he worshiped the Lord .

Genesis 13:8
Abram said to Lot, "We are close relatives. We shouldn't argue, and our men shouldn't be fighting one another.

Genesis 13:9
There is plenty of land for you to choose from. Let's separate. If you go north, I'll go south; if you go south, I'll go north."

Genesis 13:12
Abram stayed in the land of Canaan. But Lot settled near the cities of the valley and put up his tents not far from Sodom,

Genesis 15:18
At that time the Lord made an agreement with Abram and told him: I will give your descendants the land east of the Shihor River on the border of Egypt as far as the Euphrates River.

Genesis 18:18
since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all other nations on earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I have given you an example,.... Christ is an example to his people, in many things; not in his miraculous performances and mediatorial work, but in the exercise of grace, of meekness, humility, love, patience, and the like; and in the discharge of duty, in submission to ordinances, and in attending on them; and in the several duties, both to them that are without, and to them that are within; and also in his sufferings and death; not that he died merely as an example, but likewise in the room and stead of his people; but here he is spoken of, as an example, in a particular instance:

that ye should do as I have done to you; wash one another's feet, as he had washed theirs; which is not to be understood literally and singly of this action, as though this was an ordinance binding upon all persons, in all places, and to be attended to at certain stated times, as has been the practice of some: it was so understood by the church at Milain, and there practised; and this custom was continued and defended by St. Ambrose, even though not received by the church of Rome; in some places the bishop used to wash the feet of those that were baptized, which in process of time being thought sufficient, instead of baptism, was forbidden by the council at Eliberis. In imitation of this, the pope every year, on Thursday in the passion week, washes the feet of twelve men; and it is an anniversary ceremony performed by the kings of England and France, to wash the feet of twelve poor people, in commemoration of this action of Christ's: but our Lord is not to be understood literally, nor of anything that was to be done once a year, but of what was daily and constantly to be practised; and which was to be done not by one only, to all the rest, but what they were mutually to do; what they were to do to one another; for the thing signified, reaches to, and is obligatory upon all Christians. Our Lord's meaning is, that as he had, by this action, given them an example of humility, condescension, and love; so they should exercise these graces, and perform such kind offices to one another, and to all their fellow Christians.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Ye also ought to wash ... - Some have understood this literally as instituting a religious rite which we ought to observe; but this was evidently not the design; because:

1. There is no evidence that Jesus intended it as a religious observance, like the Lord’s Supper or the ordinance of baptism.
2. It was not observed by the apostles or the primitive Christians as a religious rite.
3. It was a rite of hospitality among the Jews, a common, well-known thing, and performed by servants.
4. It is the manifest design of Jesus here to inculcate a lesson of humility; to teach them by his example that they ought to condescend to the most humble offices for the benefit of others. They ought not to be proud, and vain, and unwilling to occupy a low place, but to regard themselves as the servants of each other, and as willing to befriend each other in every way. And especially as they were to be founders of the church, and to be greatly honored, he took this occasion of warning them against the dangers of ambition, and of teaching them, by an example that they could not forget, the duty of humility.