John 13:18
What does John 13:18 mean?
A plain-English look at John 13:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 13:18 means
Jesus qualifies His promise: “I speak not of you all.” He knows whom He has chosen, and Scripture must be fulfilled: “He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel against me.” The betrayal comes from intimate fellowship—one who shared table and bread. This citation shows that treachery against God’s anointed is not a surprise but part of the story foretold. Jesus’ knowledge does not make Judas a puppet; rather, it reveals God’s sovereignty amid human sin. By anchoring the moment in Scripture, Jesus steadies the disciples. Their faith must rest not in an unbroken string of successes but in God’s word working even through painful events.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel against me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel against me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I am not talking of you all: I have knowledge of my true disciples, but things are as they are, so that the Writings may come true, The foot of him who takes bread with me is lifted up against me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862not concerning you all do I speak; I have known whom I chose for myself; but that the Writing may be fulfilled: He who is eating the bread with me, did lift up against me his heel.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen. But that the scripture may be fulfilled: He that eateth bread with me shall lift up his heel against me,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I speak not of you all. I know those whom I have chosen; but that the scripture might be fulfilled, He that eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.
Context
This verse introduces the theme that will dominate verses 21–30. Before naming the betrayer, Jesus frames the event as fulfillment and foreknowledge. In verse 19 He will explain why He tells them ahead of time: so that they may believe that He is who He claims to be. Verse 20 will then reaffirm the dignity of those He will send, despite the shadow of betrayal among the Twelve.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 26:23
And he answered and said, He that dipped his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
- John 13:26
Jesus therefore answereth, He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him. So when he had dipped the sop, he taketh and giveth it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.
- John 17:12
While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
- Psalms 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, Who did eat of my bread, Hath lifted up his heel against me.
- Matthew 10:36
and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
- Mark 14:20
And he said unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish.
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