John 13:26

26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.

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 therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking.
25 So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
26 Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
27 After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, "Do quickly what you are going to do."
28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Gk [dipped it]
  • [b]. Other ancient authorities read [Judas Iscariot son of Simon]; others, [Judas son of Simon from Karyot] (Kerioth)
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.