Some argue that Simon Peter was the first to have his feet washed and others that he was the last. On the basis of Jesus’ reply in verse 10 (All of you are clean—all except one), the evidence seems to favor Simon Peter’s being the last. In Greek who said to him begins a new sentence, but Good News Translation makes it into a subordinate clause (note Revised Standard Version “He came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him….”).

Are you going to wash…? (so also Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible) is literally “are you washing…?” But in the present context the verb seems to suggest an action not yet initiated, rather than an action in progress. In the Greek text both pronouns (you … my) are emphatic.

Since the words of Simon Peter are a question directed to Jesus, it is often better to indicate this fact by the choice of the preceding verb, for example, “who asked him, Are you going to wash my feet?”

In most languages any form of direct address such as Lord must appear at the beginning, rather than at the end of the question, for example, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Since what Peter is asking about is Jesus’ intent, rather than about a future action, it may be more satisfactory to translate “Do you intend to wash my feet?” or “Is it your plan to wash my feet?”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .