Bible Strands
John 13:16
Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples during the Last Supper, speaking immediately after washing their feet and instructing them to follow His example. The words — ἀμὴν (amēn) and μείζων (meizōn) anchor the statement, with the former functioning as a solemn "Truly" and the latter defining the comparative "greater" applied to the servant and master. The thread — This principle appears in Matthew 10:24, Luke 6:40, and John 15:20, where Jesus reiterates that a disciple is not above his teacher and a servant is not above his master. Why it lands — The text states that no servant surpasses his master and no messenger surpasses his sender, which requires the reader to accept a subordinate role and follow the leader's example without demanding equal status or exemption from the leader's path.
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
King James Version
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Cross-references
- Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
- John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
- Matthew 10:24 A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
- John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
- John 3:3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”