^13:16I tell you the solemn truth,³⁷ the slave³⁸ is not greater than his master, nor is the one who is sent as a messenger³⁹ greater than the one who sent him. ^13:17If you understand⁴⁰ these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

The Announcement of Jesus’ Betrayal

^13:18“What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture,⁴¹ ‘The one who eats my bread⁴² has turned against me.’⁴³^13:19I am telling you this now,⁴⁴ before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe⁴⁵ that I am he.⁴⁶^13:20I tell you the solemn truth,⁴⁷ whoever accepts⁴⁸ the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”⁴⁹

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Footnotes

37 Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
38 See the note on the word “slaves” in .
39 Or “nor is the apostle” (“apostle” means “one who is sent” in Greek).
40 Grk “If you know.”
41 Grk “But so that the scripture may be fulfilled.”
42 Or “The one who shares my food.”
43 Or “has become my enemy”; Grk “has lifted up his heel against me.” The phrase “to lift up one’s heel against someone” reads literally in the Hebrew of Ps 41 “has made his heel great against me.” There have been numerous interpretations of this phrase, but most likely it is an idiom meaning “has given me a great fall,” “has taken cruel advantage of me,” or “has walked out on me.” Whatever the exact meaning of the idiom, it clearly speaks of betrayal by a close associate. See E. F. F. Bishop, “ ‘He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me’—Jn xiii.18 (Ps xli.9),” 70 (1958–59): 331–33. A quotation from Ps 41:9.
44 Or (perhaps) “I am certainly telling you this.” According to §12.3 ἀπʼ ἄρτι (ap’ arti) should be read as ἀπαρτί (aparti), meaning “exactly, certainly.”
45 Grk “so that you may believe.”
46 Grk “that I am.” R. E. Brown (John [], 2:) argues for a nonpredicated ἐγώ εἰμι (egō eimi) here, but this is far from certain.
47 Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”
48 Or “receives,” and so throughout this verse.
49 The one who sent me refers to God.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’

“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

“Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master, and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

“I’m not speaking about all of you; I know those I have chosen. But the Scripture must be fulfilled: The one who eats my bread has raised his heel against me. I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am he. Truly I tell you, whoever receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives him who sent me.”

NLTNew Living Translation

I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I Am the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Truly, truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand these things, you are blessed if you do them.

“I am not speaking about all of you. I know whom I have chosen, but in order that the scripture would be fulfilled, ‘The one who eats my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’ From now on I am telling you before it happens, in order that when it happens you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly I say to you, the one who receives anyone I send receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me.”

KJV 1900King 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. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

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