He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
Parallel translations
- WEB arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
- BSB So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
- NKJV rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
- NASB *got up from supper and *laid His outer garments aside; and He took a towel and tied it around Himself.
- NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,
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 rose, laid aside His outer garments, and girded Himself with a towel. It depicts Him taking the posture and dress of a household servant.
Overview
By removing His outer clothing and wrapping a towel around His waist, Jesus assumed the role of the lowest slave who washed guests' feet. The action dramatizes His self-humbling, anticipating the deeper laying down of His life. Many see here a picture of Philippians 2:7, the Son who emptied Himself and took the form of a servant.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Cor 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
- Luke 22:27For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
- Luke 12:37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
- Phil 2:6–8Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
- Luke 17:7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
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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 13:4 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
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