If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
Parallel translations
- WEB If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
- KJV If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
- BSB So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
- NASB So if I, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
- NLT And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.
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
Since the Lord and Teacher washed their feet, the disciples ought to wash one another's feet. It applies Jesus' example as a call to humble, mutual service.
Overview
Jesus draws the practical lesson: if the greater serves the lesser, His followers must serve one another. Whether or not literal foot-washing is practiced, the abiding principle is humble, self-giving love within the community. The verse overturns worldly notions of status, making lowly service the mark of those who follow Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- 1 Pet 5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Acts 20:35In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
- Rom 12:16Be of the same mind one toward another. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own conceits.
- Gal 5:13For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
- Luke 22:26–27But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.
- Mark 10:43–45But it shall not be so among you, but whoever wants to become great among you shall be your servant.
- 1 Pet 4:1Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;
- Heb 5:8–9though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered.
- Matt 20:26–28It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
- 1 Cor 8:13Therefore if food causes my brother to stumble, I will eat no meat forever more, that I don’t cause my brother to stumble.
- Phil 2:2–8make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;
- 2 Cor 8:9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
- Rom 15:1–3Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
- Gal 6:1–2Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
- 2 Cor 10:1Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
- 1 Cor 9:19–22For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
- Heb 12:2looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- Rom 12:10In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 13:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.