Devine Scripture

John 13:27

What does John 13:27 mean?

A plain-English look at John 13:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 13:27 means

After Judas takes the morsel, Satan enters him. What was suggestion earlier becomes possession; Judas yields himself to the adversary’s design. Jesus then says to him, “What thou doest, do quickly.” The command shows Jesus’ sovereignty even over the timeline of His betrayal. He is not dragged to the cross; He sends the betrayer to his task. The words are not permission for evil but a directive that the ordained hour now arrives. The solemnity is chilling: love has knelt to wash Judas’s feet; now the traitor rises to deliver his Lord.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, What thou doest, do quickly.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, What thou doest, do quickly.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when Judas took the bread Satan went into him. Then Jesus said to him, Do quickly what you have to do.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And after the morsel, then the Adversary entered into that one, Jesus, therefore, saith to him, `What thou dost--do quickly;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And after the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him: That which thou dost, do quickly.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And, after the morsel, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore says to him, What thou doest, do quickly.

Context

This climactic moment follows the identifying sign (verse 26). Verses 28–29 will stress that the rest of the disciples do not understand why Jesus spoke to Judas that way, assuming he had errands related to the feast or charity. In verse 30, Judas will leave immediately, and John will note, “it was night,” signaling both time and spiritual darkness.

v.26Jesus 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.

v.27This passage

v.28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 12:45

    Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.

  • Mark 6:25

    And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

  • James 1:13

    Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:

  • Daniel 2:15

    he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Wherefore is the decree so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

  • John 13:2

    And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

  • Psalms 109:6

    Set thou a wicked man over him; And let an adversary stand at his right hand.

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