Giovanni 13:4

4 si levò dalla cena, e pose giù la sua vesta; e preso uno sciugatoio, se ne cinse.

Giovanni 13:4 Meaning and Commentary

John 13:4

He riseth from supper
In the midst of the entertainment, and which no doubt was considerable, his mind being intent on something else; and it being his meat and drink to do his Father's will, he rises and leaves his disciples sitting to finish their meal; and whilst they were murmuring at the waste of the ointment poured on his head, and were filled with indignation at it, as they all of them were, see ( Matthew 26:8 ) ; he rises up to wash their feet; amazing patience and humility!

And laid aside his garments;
not all his garments, only his upper ones, that he might better dispatch the business he was going about; and which was an emblem of his laying aside, as it were for a while, his glory and dignity as the Son of God, and of his appearing in the form of a servant.

And took a towel;
or "linen cloth", (lention) , the same with (tyjnwl) in the Jerusalem Talmud ^F18:

and girded himself;
with the towel, or linen cloth, which served both for a girdle, and after he had washed his disciples' feet, to wipe them with. This was a servile habit; so servants used to stand at the feet of their masters, girt about with a linen cloth ^F19; and shows, that the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Sabbat, fol. 3. 1. & 12. 1.
F19 Suetonius in Caligula, c. 26.

Giovanni 13:4 In-Context

2 E finita la cena avendo già il diavolo messo nel cuor di Giuda Iscariot, figliuol di Simone, di tradirlo,

3 Gesù, sapendo che il Padre gli avea dato ogni cosa in mano, e ch’egli era proceduto da Dio, e se ne andava a Dio;

4 si levò dalla cena, e pose giù la sua vesta; e preso uno sciugatoio, se ne cinse.

5 Poi mise dell’acqua in un bacino, e prese a lavare i piedi de’ discepoli, e ad asciugarli con lo sciugatoio, del quale egli era cinto.

6 Venne adunque a Simon Pietro. Ed egli disse: Signore, mi lavi tu i piedi?