*got up from supper and *laid His outer garments aside; and He took a towel and tied it around Himself.
Parallel translations
- WEB arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
- KJV He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- Luke 22:27For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
- Luke 12:37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them.
- Phil 2:6–8who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
- Luke 17:7But who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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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