Bible Strands

John 13:12

When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments, He reclined with them again and asked, “Do you know what I have done for you?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus reclines with the disciples after washing their feet and putting on His outer garments. He addresses the group directly to question their awareness of His recent action.

The words — ἔνιψεν (enipsen) means He had washed, and ἔλαβεν (elaben) means He took, describing the physical sequence of the footwashing and the return to His seat.

The thread — The narrative follows John 13:4 where Jesus laid aside His garments to serve, and points forward to John 13:7 where Jesus states the disciples will later understand. The pattern of divine action serving as a sign appears in Ezekiel 24:24.

Why it lands — The text states a question about recognition before any explanation is given. It requires readers to assess their own understanding of Jesus' service rather than assume automatic comprehension.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ὍτεHoteWhenοὖνounthereforeἔνιψενenipsenHe had washedτοὺςtoustheπόδαςpodasfeetαὐτῶνautōnof themκαὶkaiandἔλαβενelabentakenτὰtatheἱμάτιαhimatiagarmentsαὐτοῦautouof Himκαὶkaiandἀνέπεσενanepesenhe reclinedπάλιν,palinagain,εἶπενeipenHe saidαὐτοῖς·autoisto them;γινώσκετεginōsketeDo you knowτίtiwhatπεποίηκαpepoiēkaI have doneὑμῖν;huminto you?

King James Version

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Cross-references