complete verse (John 13:5)

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)

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 13:5

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 .