Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”
- BSB Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
- NKJV Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
- NASB Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not realize right now, but you will understand later.”
- NLT Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”
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 tells Peter he cannot understand now but will understand later. It points to a meaning that only the cross and resurrection would make clear.
Overview
Jesus acknowledges that the full significance of the foot-washing, especially as it pictures His cleansing death, lies beyond Peter's present grasp. Understanding would come after the passion and the Spirit's later teaching (cf. 14:26; 2:22). The verse counsels trust in Christ even when His ways are not yet understood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Dan 12:8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
- John 12:16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
- John 14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
- Jas 5:7–11Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
- John 13:10–12Jesus 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.
- Dan 12:12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
- John 13:36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
- Hab 2:1–3I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
- Jer 32:24–25Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.
- Jer 32:43And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
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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 13:7 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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