John 13:23

Contemporary English Version

Jesus' favorite disciple was sitting next to him at the meal,

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
One of the followers was next to Jesus and was leaning close to him. This was the one Jesus loved very much.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Ther was one of his disciples which leaned on Iesus bosome whom Iesus loved.

Hebrew Names Version
One of his talmidim, whom Yeshua loved, was at the table, leaning against Yeshua' breast.

International Standard Version
One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus kept loving, was sitting very close to him.John 19:26; 20:2;">[xr]

New American Standard Bible
Lying back on Jesus' chest was one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

New Century Version
One of the followers sitting next to Jesus was the follower Jesus loved.

Update Bible Version
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom, one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

English Standard Version
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side,

World English Bible
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus' breast.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Now there was lying in the bosom of Jesus, one of the disciples whom Jesus loved.

Weymouth's New Testament
There was at table one of His disciples--the one Jesus loved-- reclining with his head on Jesus's bosom.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And so oon of hise disciplis was restynge in the bosum of Jhesu, whom Jhesu louede.

English Revised Version
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Berean Standard Bible
One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at His side.

Amplified Bible
One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved (esteemed), was leaning against Jesus' chest.

American Standard Version
There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Bible in Basic English
There was at table one of his disciples, the one dear to Jesus, resting his head on Jesus' breast.

Complete Jewish Bible
One of his talmidim, the one Yeshua particularly loved, was reclining close beside him.

Darby Translation
Now there was at table one of his disciples in the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus loved.

Etheridge Translation
Now there was of his disciples one who reclined on his bosom; he whom Jeshu loved.

Murdock Translation
And there was one of his disciples, who was reclining on his bosom, he whom Jesus loved;

King James Version (1611)
Now there was leaning on Iesus bosome one of his disciples, whom Iesus loued.

New Living Translation
The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.

New Life Bible
One follower, whom Jesus loved, was beside Jesus.

New Revised Standard
One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him;

Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe there was one of his disciples, which leaned on Iesus bosome, whom Iesus loued.

George Lamsa Translation
Now there was one of his disciples who was leaning on his bosom, the one whom Jesus loved.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
One of Jesus' disciples was reclining in his bosom, one whom Jesus loved:

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Revised Standard Version
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying close to the breast of Jesus;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
There was one of Iesus disciples, leanyng on Iesus bosome, [euen he] whom Iesus loued.

Good News Translation
One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was sitting next to Jesus.

Christian Standard Bible®
One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was reclining close beside Jesus.

King James Version
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Lexham English Bible
One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining close beside Jesus.

Literal Translation
But there was one of His disciples reclining at the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus loved.

Young's Literal Translation
And there was one of his disciples reclining (at meat) in the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus was loving;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But there was one amoge his disciples, that leaned at the table on Iesus bosome, who Iesus loued:

Mace New Testament (1729)
now the favourite disciple of Jesus sat next to him at table.

New English Translation
One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor.

New King James Version
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Simplified Cowboy Version
The cowboy who Jesus loved scooted over real close to Jesus and held on to him.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Legacy Standard Bible
There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Contextual Overview

¹⁸ I am not talking about all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But what the Scriptures say must come true. And they say, "The man who ate with me has turned against me!" ¹⁹ I am telling you this before it all happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe who I am. ²⁰ I tell you for certain that anyone who welcomes my messengers also welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. ²¹ After Jesus had said these things, he was deeply troubled and told his disciples, "I tell you for certain that one of you will betray me." ²² They were confused about what he meant. And they just stared at each other. ²³ Jesus' favorite disciple was sitting next to him at the meal, ²⁴ and Simon motioned for that disciple to find out which one Jesus meant. ²⁵ So the disciple leaned toward Jesus and asked, "Lord, which one of us are you talking about?" ²⁶ Jesus answered, "I will dip this piece of bread in the sauce and give it to the one I was talking about." Then Jesus dipped the bread and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ Right then Satan took control of Judas. Jesus said, "Judas, go quickly and do what you have to do."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

leaning: John 13:25, John 1:18, John 21:20, 2 Samuel 12:3

whom: John 11:3, John 11:5, John 11:36, John 19:26, John 20:2, John 21:7, John 21:24, Revelation 1:16-18

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:3 - loved 1 Kings 4:5 - the king's Song of Solomon 8:5 - leaning Daniel 10:11 - a man Matthew 10:2 - John Luke 16:22 - Abraham's Acts 1:13 - Peter Acts 3:1 - Peter Revelation 1:17 - I fell

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom,.... Not pressing upon that part of Christ's body, which would have been irreverent in John, and troublesome to Christ; but leaning at table upon his bed or couch, on which he lay; and which was next to, and just before Christ; so that he was very near unto, and seemed to lie in the bosom of Christ; as such are said to do, who sit next at table to another. The posture of the Jews at table, was either "sitting" or "lying", and a difference they make between these two;

"if, say they d, היו יושבין, "they sat" to eat everyone asked a blessing for himself; but if הסיבו, "they lay down", one asked a blessing for them all.''

This lying down was not on their backs, nor on their right side, but on their left; for they say e, that

"lying down on the back, is not called הסיבה, "lying down"; and lying on the right side, is not called lying down.''

And the reason given is f, because they have need of the right hand to eat with; but as they elsewhere g observe,

"they used to eat lying along, leaning on the left side, their feet to the ground, and every man on a single couch.''

Would you know the order in which they, lay, take the account as they have given it h;

"when there were but two couches, the principal person lay first, and the second to him above him; and when there were three, the principal person lay in the middle, the second to him above him, and the third below him; and if he would talk with him, he raised himself upright, and sitting upright he talked with him; that is, as the gloss explains it, if the principal person was desirous to talk with him that was second to him, he must raise himself up from his lying down, and sit upright; for all the white he is leaning, he cannot talk with him, because he that is second to him, is behind the head of the principal person, and the face of the principal person is turned to the other side; and it is better for the second to sit below him, that he may hear his words, whilst he is leaning.''

The form in which Christ and his disciples sat or lay at table, we may conceive was this i; a table was placed in the middle and as many beds or couches round it, as there were persons; Christ the principal and most worthy person lay first, with his head toward the table, his face somewhat turned from it, leaning on his left elbow upon the couch; in this posture lay Jesus, upon the first couch; in the same posture lay John, in the next to him, and just before him; the hinder part of his head being towards, and near the breast and bosom of Jesus; whence he is said to lean upon it: now to lie next to the principal person, was a very great honour, as well as a mark of great affection; and for John to lie next to Jesus, and as it were to lean on his bosom, showed how much he was respected and honoured by him; and therefore John modestly conceals his name, and only says,

one of his disciples whom Jesus loved; Christ, as the Son of God, and surety of his people, loved his true disciples, as he does all his elect, alike; not one more than the other; but as man, he had a particular affection for this disciple, and therefore admitted him near his person, and was very familiar with him.

d Misn. Beracot, c. 6. sect. 6. e T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 108. 1. f Gloss in ib. g Gloss in T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 46. 2. & Bartenora in Misn. Beracot, c. 6. sect. 6. h T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 46. 2. i Vid. Alstorphium delectis veterum, p. 109, 110.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Leaning on Jesus’ bosom - This does not mean that he was at that time actually lying on his bosom, but that he occupied a situation next to him at the table, so that his head naturally fell back on his bosom when he spoke to him. See the notes at Matthew 23:6.

Whom Jesus loved - This was doubtless John himself. The evangelists are not accustomed to mention their own names when any mark of favor or any good deed is recorded. They did not seek publicity or notoriety. In this case the appellation is more tender and honorable than any mere name. John was admitted to special friendship, perhaps, because the natural disposition of our Saviour was more nearly like the amiableness and mildness of John than any of the other disciples (Robert Hall). The highest honor that can be conferred on any man is to say that Jesus loved him. Yet this is an honor which all may possess, but which none can inherit without his spirit and without loving him. It is an honor which cannot be won by wealth or learning, by beauty or accomplishments, by rank or earthly honors, but only by the possession of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price, 1 Peter 3:4; compare Romans 8:9.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 23. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom — The Jews of those days, at their suppers, reclined, supported by their left arm, on couches placed round the table, as the Greeks and Romans did. On each couch there were two or three persons; and the head of one of them came near to the bosom of him who reclined above him on the same couch. The person here mentioned was John, the writer of this history, who, being more tenderly loved by Christ than the rest, had always that place at table which was nearest to his Lord.