John as a first-person evangelist (John 13:4)

In the Yatzachi Zapotec translation of the Gospel of John, any reference to the evangelist and presumed narrator is done in the first person.

The translator Inez Butler explains (in: Notes on Translation, September 1967, pp. 10ff.):

“In revising the Gospel of John in Yatzachi Zapotec we realized from the start that the third person references of Jesus to himself as Son of Man had to be converted into first person references, but only more recently have we decided that similar change is necessary in John’s references to himself as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved.’ As I worked on those changes and questioned the informant about his understanding of other passages in the Gospel, I discovered that the reader misses the whole focus of the book as an eyewitness account unless every reference to the disciples indicates the writer’s membership in the group. In view of that we went back through the entire book looking for ways to cue in the reader to the fact that John was an eyewitness and a participant in a many of the events, as well as the historian.

“When the disciples were participants in events along with Jesus, it was necessary to make explicit the fact that they accompanied him, although in the source language that is left implicit, since otherwise our rendering would imply that they were not present.”

In this verse, the Yatzachi Zapotec says: “And while we were eating supper . . .”

complete verse (John 13:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 13:4:

  • Uma: “That is why he stood up, took off his shirt, and he took a sarong, he tied it around his waist.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then Isa got up from their meal and took off one layer of his garment (lit. shirt) and wrapped himself with a towel.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And while they were now already eating supper, Jesus stood up and he took off his shirt, and he belted himself with a towel around his waist.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore he stood-up and removed his outer garment, then he wrapped-a towel -around-his-waist.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore what Jesus did as they were now sitting to eat was, he stood up and removed his outer garment, then got a towel and wrapped-it-around-his-waist.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “While he was eating, he arose from the table where he was sitting, he took off his cloak and made a belt with a towel.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet


Click here to see the image in higher resolution.

Image taken from the Wiedmann Bible. For more information about the images and ways to adopt them, see here .

For other images of Willy Wiedmann paintings in TIPs, see here.

Following is a contemporary tempera/gouache on leather painting by an unknown Ethiopian artist:

Source: Sacred Art Pilgrim website .

Following is a painting by Chen Yuandu 陳緣督 (1902–1967):

Image is housed in the Société des Auxiliaires des Missions Collection – Whitworth University and taken from Chinese Christian Posters . For more information on the “Ars Sacra Pekinensis” school of art, see this article , for other artworks of that school in TIPs, see here.

Following is a painting by Ketut Lasia (b. 1945):

Ketut Lasia is one of the last traditional Balinese painters in the Ubud style. As an adult, Lasia converted from Hinduism to Christianity, and he paints primarily biblical scenes. You can find artwork from Ketut Lasia in a variety of formats for sale at Fine Art America .

See also Wash Each Other’s Feet.

Translation commentary on John 13:4

The table is literally “the meal,” but a number of translators render it as Good News Translation does.

The expression he rose from the table involves what some would call a “hidden figure.” In this context the table is a figurative expression for the meal, and rose means standing up, not literally rising above a surface. A literal translation of this statement could be understood in some languages to mean that Jesus was floating in the air above the table. The most convenient equivalent may be “so Jesus stood up.”

Took off his outer garment is more literally “puts (aside) his outer garments.” The verb took off (Greek tithēmi) is not the normal word used for taking off one’s clothes, but it is used in 10.11,15,17, and 18 for the laying down of one’s life. By “laying down” his garments, Jesus foreshadows the “laying down” of his life. It may be noted in this context that the same words rendered put … back on in verse 12 is translated receive … back and take … back (of Jesus’ life) in 10.17,18. The word rendered outer garment may have this specific meaning, or it may simply mean “garment” in the general sense; but John clearly intends his readers to understand that Jesus did not completely disrobe, and so it is better to specify an outer garment. In most languages outer garment is equivalent to “coat,” but this term should not be understood in the sense of a heavy overcoat. It would be equivalent to “robe” in some languages.

The word rendered towel appears only here and in verse 5 in the New Testament.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 13:4

13:4a

So He got up from the supper: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as got up from the supper means “stood up.” Jesus and his disciples were reclining around a low table. (See the note and picture at 12:2.) Now Jesus stood up. It is not necessary to mention a table if it is not natural in your language. For example:

he got up from the meal (New International Version)

General Comment on 13:3a–4a

It was because Jesus knew who he was, his true status and position, that he acted as he did. Here are ways to show this connection:

Because Jesus knew that the Father had handed all things over to him, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, he got up from the meal… (NET Bible)
-or-
Jesus knew that the Father had given him complete power; he knew that he had come from God and was going to God. So he rose from the table… (Good News Translation)

13:4b

laid aside His outer garments: Jesus took off his outer clothing, which was a robe (cloak). He still had his inner clothes on. He was dressed like a slave ready to serve, not like an important man.

A literal translation of the Berean Standard Bible may imply that Jesus wore two robes and he only removed the outer one. You may want to avoid this wrong understanding by following one of these examples:

took off his robe (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
took off his outer clothing (New International Version)
-or-
removed his outer clothes (NET Bible)

13:4c

and wrapped a towel around His waist: This phrase tells what Jesus did in order to free his hands for washing. Translate this phrase in a way that is natural in your language.

a towel: This phrase probably refers to a long piece of linen cloth. It was long enough that Jesus could wrap it around his waist and use the loose end to dry his disciples’ feet.

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