John 13:9
in John 13“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
KJV
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
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This verse in John 13
Commentary
16 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Not my feet only ... - Peter, with characteristic readiness and ardor, saw now that everything depended on this. His whole salvation, the entire question of his attachment to his Master, was involved. If to refuse to have his feet washed was to be regarded as evidence that he had no part with Jesus, he was not only willing, but desirous that it should be done; not only anxious that his feet should be cleansed, but his hands and his head - that is, that he should be cleansed entirely, thoroughly.
This site's exposition
my hands and my head
on John 13:9-11
Peter swings the other way, asking for hands and head. The answer separates two washings, the bath already taken and the feet that pick up the road. Though not all of you stands in verse 10, and verse 11 names the betrayer.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
For when terrified at the thought of losing part in Christ, "Simon Peter saith unto Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Since, then, Thou threatenest me with the loss of a part in Thee, unless I submit to the washing of my feet, deprive me not of such a blessing, and give me not only my feet to be washed, but my hands and my head. But "Jesus saith unto him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit." Here the question naturally arises, how, if a man is washed and clean every whit, he has any necessity to have his feet washed.
For if they had undergone the human baptism of John, and were longing for that of the Lord, then since the Lord Himself had defined baptism to be one; (saying to Peter, who was desirous of being thoroughly bathed, "He who hath once bathed hath no necessity to wash a second time; " which, of course, He would not have said at all to one not baptized; ) even here we have a conspicuous proof against those who, in order to destroy the sacrament of water, deprive the apostles even of John's baptism.
What then saith that hot and burning one? "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Vehement in deprecation, he becometh yet more vehement in acquiescence; but both from love. For why said He not wherefore He did this, instead of adding a threat? Because Peter would not have been persuaded. For had He said, "Suffer it, for by this I persuade you to be humbleminded," Peter would have promised it ten thousand times, in order that his Master might not do this thing. But now what saith He? He speaketh of that which Peter most feared and dreaded, the being separated from Him; for it is he who continually asks, "Whither goest Thou?" Wherefore also he said, "I will give even my life for Thee." And if, after hearing, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter," he still persisted, much more would he have done so had he learnt (the meaning of the action). Therefore said He, "but thou shalt know hereafter," as being aware, that should he learn it immediately he would still resist. And Peter said not, "Tell me, that I may suffer Thee," but (which was much more vehement) he did not even endure to learn, but withstands Him, saying, "Thou shalt never wash my feet." But as soon as He threatened, he straightway relaxed his tone. But what meaneth, "Thou shalt know after this"? "After this?" When? "When in My Name thou shall have cast out devils; when thou shalt have seen Me taken up into Heaven, when thou shalt have learnt from the Spirit that I sit on His right hand, then shall thou understand what is being done now."
A commentator
Cyril of AlexandriaCommentary on the Gospel of John, Book 9 · Written before 444.
proposed
He who lately exhibited to us so strongly his opposition to what Christ was doing, and who expressly refused to allow the washing of his feet, now offers not them only, but also hands and head as well.
Now, whether they were baptized in any manner whatever, or whether they continued unbathed to the end-so that even that saying of the Lord touching the "one bath" does, under the person of Peter, merely regard us-still, to determine concerning the salvation of the apostles is audacious enough, because on them the prerogative even of first choice, and thereafter of undivided intimacy, might be able to confer the compendious grace of baptism, seeing they (I think) followed Him who was wont to promise salvation to every believer.
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
Peter, having heard such a fearful threat, was as firm in his resistance as he was equally, and even more, strong in expressing his agreement; for he offers even his head for washing. In both cases he is guided by love: he resists the washing …
Simon Peter says to him. Here the fourth point is touched upon, namely Peter's obedience, after the threat was made to him. Hence above he was called Peter: "Peter says to him"; but in this response it says: "Simon Peter says to him," that is, …
Then the Evangelist shows the action was appropriate. First, the words of Peter are given; and then Christ's answer. Peter's words indicate his intense love for Christ. Before, when our Lord said to him, What I am doing you do not know now, he had …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Simon Peter saith unto him,....
Note, A divorce from Christ, and an exclusion from having a part in him, is the most formidable evil in the eyes of all that are enlightened, for the fear of which they will be persuaded to any thing. And for fear of this we should be earnest with God in prayer, that he will wash us, will justify and sanctify us.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Lord, dost thou wash my feet?--Our language cannot bring out the intensely vivid contrast between the "Thou" and the "my," which, by bringing them together, the original expresses, for it is not good English to say, "Lord, Thou my feet dost wash?" But every word of this question is emphatic.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
The verses we have now read conclude the story of our Lord's washing the feet of His disciples, the night before He was crucified. It is a story full of touching interest, which for some wise reason no Evangelist records except John. The wonderful condescension of Christ, in doing such a menial action, can hardly fail to strike any reader. The mere fact that the Master should wash the feet of the servants might well fill us with surprise. But the circumstances and sayings which arose out of the action are just as interesting as the action itself.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
The verses we have now read conclude the story of our Lord's washing the feet of His disciples, the night before He was crucified. It is a story full of touching interest, which for some wise reason no Evangelist records except John. The wonderful condescension of Christ, in doing such a menial action, can hardly fail to strike any reader. The mere fact that the Master should wash the feet of the servants might well fill us with surprise. But the circumstances and sayings which arose out of the action are just as interesting as the action itself. Let us see what they were. We should notice, firstly, the hasty ignorance of the Apostle Peter. One moment we find him refusing to allow his Master to do such a servile work as He is about to do—"Do you wash my feet?" "You shall never wash my feet." Another moment we find him rushing with characteristic impetuosity into the other extreme—"Lord, wash not my feet only, but my hands and my head." But throughout the transaction we find him unable to take in the real meaning of what his eyes behold. He sees, but he does not understand. Let us learn from Peter's conduct that a man may have plenty of faith and love, and yet be sadly destitute of clear knowledge. We must not set down men as graceless and godless because they are dull, and stupid, and blundering in their religion. The heart may often be quite right when the head is quite wrong. We must make allowances for the corruption of the understanding, as well as of the will. We must not be surprised to find that the brains as well as the affections of Adam's children have been hurt by the fall. It is a humbling lesson, and one seldom fully learned except by long experience.
Lord, not my feet only, etc. - It appears that Peter entered into our Lord’s meaning, and saw that this was emblematical of a spiritual cleansing: therefore he wishes to be completely washed.
The words behind it
17 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| λέγει | legei | Says | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | to Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| Σίμων | simon | Simon | G4613 → | 75 times |
| Πέτρος· | petros | Peter; | G4074 → | 155 times |
| κύριε, | kurie | Lord, | G2962 → | 711 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πόδας | podas | feet | G4228 → | 93 times |
| μου | mou | of me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| μόνον | monon | only | G3441 → | 110 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χεῖρας | cheiras | hands | G5495 → | 175 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κεφαλήν.¶ | kephalen | head. | G2776 → | 75 times |
λέγειSays
legeiG3004 →1325 times
αὐτῷto Him
autoG846 →5565 times
ΣίμωνSimon
simonG4613 →75 times
Πέτρος·Peter;
petrosG4074 →155 times
κύριε,Lord,
kurieG2962 →711 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
πόδαςfeet
podasG4228 →93 times
μουof me
mouG3165 →1936 times
μόνονonly
mononG3441 →110 times
ἀλλὰbut
allaG235 →635 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
χεῖραςhands
cheirasG5495 →175 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
κεφαλήν.¶head.
kephalenG2776 →75 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 10:22let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 36:25
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:26
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- 1 Peter 3:21
And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- 1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- Ezekiel 36:25
Through
Psalms 51:7Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
it leads to
- 1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
- Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.
- 1 John 1:7
Through
1 Peter 3:21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
it leads to
- Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
- Mark 16:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
About John
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on John 56; Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 13; Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 9; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on the Gospel of John 70; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Tertullian, On Baptism; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.