Following are a number of back-translations of John 13:5:
Uma: “After that, he took water, he poured it into a basin, he began to wash the feet of his disciples, and he dried them with the sarong that was at his waist.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Then he filled water into a basin and washed the feet of his disciples and wiped them with the towel that he had wrapped around him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And he put some water in a basin, and then he washed the feet of his disciples, and he dried them with the towel.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “After that he put water in a basin and began to wash the feet/lower-legs (henceforth feet) of his disciples wiping-them as-he-did-so with the towel that he had wrapped-around-his-waist.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “And then he poured water into a bowl. After he’d poured it, he proceeded-gradually to wash the feet/legs of his disciples, and was wiping them with the towel he had wrapped around his waist.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “He poured water into a basin and then washed his learners’ feet. He dried the water with the towel around his waist.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
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 .
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
The word translated washbasin does not appear elsewhere in Greek literature; its meaning is uncertain, but most translations have “basin.” It can be argued that the word means “pitcher,” since in the ancient Near East peoples’ feet were not generally washed in a basin of standing water but by pouring water over the feet from a pitcher. The picture would be as follows: The disciples were on couches, reclining on their left sides, and using their right arms to reach into the dishes that were on the table, or tables, placed in front of the couches. Jesus poured water into “the pitcher” (the Greek has the definite article “the,” suggesting that it was a particular vessel used specifically for that purpose) and then went around behind the couches, where the disciples’ feet were stretched out behind them. There he poured water from the pitcher over their feet and dried them with the towel wrapped around his waist.
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 .
After that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as After that introduces what Jesus did next. Here is another way to translate this word:
Next
He poured water into a basin: Jesus poured water from a large container into a smaller container or basin.
basin: This word refers to a container to carry water in and pour water from. It was likely a clay pot. Here are other ways to translate this word:
washbasin (NET Bible) -or-
bowl (New Century Version)
13:5b
and began to wash the disciples’ feet: The job of washing other people’s feet was considered a humble and unpleasant one. It was normally done by women, children, or Gentile slaves.
wash: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wash refers to the removal of dirt from the body.
the disciples’ feet: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples’ refers to learners in a learner-teacher relationship. The learner follows his teacher in order to learn from him and live according to his teaching and example.
Here are some ways to translate “disciple”:
learner/student -or-
follower
For more information on how to translate the term “disciple” see 1:35b in the Notes. Also see disciple in Key Biblical Terms. Here it may be natural to make it explicit that these were Jesus’ disciples. For example:
his disciples (New International Version)
13:5c
and dry them: The pronoun them refers to the disciples’ feet. Jesus wiped them with the towel in order to dry them. Here is a way to make that clearer:
drying them (New International Version)
with the towel that was around Him: This is the towel Jesus had wrapped around his waist (13:4c). Identify this towel in a way that is natural in this context.
While the Berean Standard Bible translates this clause as active, it is passive in Greek, and in some languages it may be more natural to translate it as passive. There are several ways to translate this:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
the towel that was wrapped around him (New International Version)
• Use an active verb. For example
the towel he was wearing (New Jerusalem Bible) -or-
the towel he had wrapped around himself (NET Bible)
• Use an expression that does not include a verb. For example:
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