Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”
Parallel translations
- KJV Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
- BSB Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
- NKJV Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
- NASB Jesus *said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet; otherwise he is completely clean. And you are clean—but not all of you.”
- NLT Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says the one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet and is wholly clean, though not all of them are. It distinguishes the once-for-all cleansing of salvation from daily cleansing, while hinting at Judas.
Overview
Many Christians read the 'bath' as the decisive cleansing of regeneration, complete and not repeated, while the foot-washing pictures the ongoing cleansing from daily sin (cf. 1 John 1:9). The believer's standing before God is settled, yet daily fellowship requires continual confession. The ominous 'but not all of you' points to Judas, who was never truly cleansed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 21
- John 15:3You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
- 2 Cor 7:1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- 2 Cor 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
- Num 19:19–21The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day. On the seventh day, he shall purify him. He shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening.
- Eph 5:26–27that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
- Lev 17:15–16“‘Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening: then he shall be clean.
- Num 19:12–13He shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean; but if he doesn’t purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.
- Num 19:7–8Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the evening.
- 1 Th 5:23May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 2 Cor 5:21For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
- Lev 16:28He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
- Eph 4:22–24that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;
- Rom 7:20–23But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
- Lev 16:26“He who lets the goat go for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
- Jas 3:2For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
- 1 Jn 1:7–10But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
- Heb 9:10being only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.
- Matt 6:12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
- Eccl 7:20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth, who does good and doesn’t sin.
- Song 4:7You are all beautiful, my love. There is no spot in you.
- Jer 50:20In those days, and in that time,” says Yahweh, “the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there will be none; also the sins of Judah, and they won’t be found; for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
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