What Does John 13:9 Mean in the King James?
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Peter’s request reveals that once the washing reaches his feet, he wants no part of himself left outside it.
THE MEANING
Peter sees the washing begin at his feet and asks for his hands and head to be included too. When cleansing reaches one place, the whole self comes into view.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that only the part first touched belongs in the washing: Peter asks for his hands and head as well as his feet.
THE ROOT
νίπτω
níptō
GROWS FROM
νιπτ
nipt- stem
Wash, especially a part of the body.
“wash” in this verse is níptō. The washing Peter asks to extend is the kind named by this verb: washing a body part, as Jesus has just done with the disciples’ feet. The next verse distinguishes this localized washing from a whole-body bath, bringing the difference between one part and the whole into focus.
ALSO GROWS
niptḗr: Washing basin
νιπτήρ
The basin is the tool of the foot washing Peter wants extended to his hands and head.
aponíptō: Wash off
ἀπονίπτω
This compound uses the same stem for washing off; Matthew uses it when Pilate washes his hands, sharpening the contrast between receiving a washing and using a gesture to disclaim responsibility.
THE PATTERN
Cleansing reaches beyond what is first exposed and takes in the whole person.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;THE THREAD
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.The washing Peter asks to extend is named with níptō in the scene just before this verse, and Matthew uses the same stem in the verb for Pilate washing his hands. Peter asks for his hands to be included in Jesus’ washing; Pilate washes his hands as he distances himself from responsibility.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us