John 13:26

26 Jesus replied, "He's the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it." [a] When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son.[b]

John 13:26 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:26

Jesus answered, he it is
Jesus replied, by whispering; for had he spoken out, the rest could not have been so ignorant, as they still continued, after the sign was given: Christ, I say, whispered to John, and told him by what sign he might know the person, and that it was he,

to whom,
says he,

I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.
This was not the passover sop, which was dipped into a sauce made of various things, called by the Jews (towrx) ; for this was not the "paschal" supper, but a common supper at a private house, two days before the feast of the passover; but this sop, or rather crust of bread, which whether dipped into a liquid, or only a piece of dry bread, which Christ dipped his hand into the dish for, and took, as some think, is not very material, was a piece of common bread, which Christ took up, without regard to any custom, or ceremony used at any feasts, and gave it to the betrayer, as a sign by which John might know him:

and when he, had dipped the sop;
either into some sort of broth, or any other liquid, or had dipped his hand into the dish for it:

he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon;
so called, to distinguish him from another apostle, whose name was Judas, and was then present.

John 13:26 In-Context

24 Simon Peter motioned to him to find out who it was He was talking about.
25 So he leaned back against Jesus and asked Him, "Lord, who is it?"
26 Jesus replied, "He's the one I give the piece of bread to after I have dipped it." When He had dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot's son.
27 After [Judas ate] the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Therefore Jesus told him, "What you're doing, do quickly."
28 None of those reclining at the table knew why He told him this.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Ps 41:9
  • [b]. Other mss read Judas Iscariot, Simon's son
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