Yochanan 13:17

17 If you have da’as of these things, happy are you, if you put them into practice.

Yochanan 13:17 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:17

If ye know these things
The duties they owed to him, and one another; those kind offices of love and respect to each other; the humility, condescension, and brotherly love, which ought to be in them, and of which he had given them an example:

happy are ye if ye do them;
for the bare theory, or a mere speculative knowledge of these things, is not sufficient; not he that knows and does not, but he that knows and does his master's will, is blessed; he is blessed with communion with his Lord, and shall hereafter enter into his joy, with "well done good and faithful servant". There is an happiness "in" doing well, and which follows "on" it, though not "for" it, in a way of merit; on the other hand, persons who know and do not, are very unhappy; the Jews have a saying F1,

``(twvel alv dmlhv) , "he that learns but not to do", it would have been better for him, if he had never been created; and says R. Jochanan, he that learns but not to do, it would have been better for him if his secundine had been turned upon his face, and he had never come into the world.''


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Hieros. Beracot, fol. 3. 2.

Yochanan 13:17 In-Context

15 For I gave you a mofet that as I did to you, you may do also.
16 Omein, omein, I say to you, an eved is not greater than his Adon, nor is a shliach (one sent) greater than his Meshalle’ach (Sender).
17 If you have da’as of these things, happy are you, if you put them into practice.
18 I do not speak about all of you—I have da’as of whom I chose—But it is to fulfill the Kitvei Hakodesh, OKHEL LAKHEMI HIGDIL ALAI AKEV (the one eating my bread he lifted up his heel against me. [TEHILLIM 41:9 (10)]
19 From now on I tell you before the occurrence that you may have emunah (faith) when it occurs, that Ani Hu. [YESHAYAH 41:4; 46:10; 43:10]
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.