John 13:23

Wycliffe Bible

And so oon of hise disciplis was restynge in the bosum of Jhesu, whom Jhesu louede.

Parallel Translations

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

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

King James Version
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,

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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]

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;

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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;

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;

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

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

Contextual Overview

¹⁸ Y seie not of `alle you, Y woot whiche Y haue chosun; but that the scripture be fulfillid, He that etith my breed, schal reise his heele ayens me. <sup>19</sup> Treuly, Y seie to you bifor it be don, that whanne it is don, ye bileue that Y am. <sup>20</sup> Treuli, treuli, Y seie to you, he that takith whom euere Y schal sende, resseyueth me; and he that resseyueth me, resseyueth hym that sente me. <sup>21</sup> Whanne Jhesus hadde seid these thingis, he was troblid in spirit, and witnesside, and seide, Treuli, treuli, Y seie to you, that oon of you schal bitraye me. <sup>22</sup> Therfor the disciplis lokiden togidere, doutynge of whom he seide. <sup>23</sup> And so oon of hise disciplis was restynge in the bosum of Jhesu, whom Jhesu louede. <sup>24</sup> Therfor Symount Petre bikeneth to hym, `and seith to hym, Who is it, of whom he seith? ²⁵ And so whanne he hadde restid ayen on the brest of Jhesu, he seith to hym, Lord, who is it? ²⁶ Jhesus answerde, He it is, to whom Y schal areche a sop of breed. And whanne he hadde wet breed, he yaf to Judas of Symount Scarioth. ²⁷ And aftir the mussel, thanne Sathanas entride in to hym. And Jhesus seith to hym, That thing that thou doist, do thou swithe.

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.