The Meaning of John 13:11 Explained

John 13:11

KJV: For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

YLT: for he knew him who is delivering him up; because of this he said, 'Ye are not all clean.'

Darby: For he knew him that delivered him up: on account of this he said, Ye are not all clean.

ASV: For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  he knew  who  should betray  him;  therefore  said he,  Ye are  not  all  clean. 

What does John 13:11 Mean?

Context Summary

John 13:1-11 - Jesus Glorifies Humble Service
In the Temple the laver preceded the brazen altar. It was kept filled with pure water for the constant washing of the priests; Exodus 30:18-21; Leviticus 16:4. We cannot have fellowship with Christ at Calvary or on Olivet unless we draw near with our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The Synoptic Gospels tell us that on their way to the feast the disciples had yielded to contention and pride. It was needful that these should be put away, and our Lord's love was equal to the occasion. He loved them to the end of His life and to the end of love. Only such love could have made saints and apostles out of such material.
Jesus began a work which has never ceased, and which will continue "till all the ransomed Church of God be saved to sin no more." When we have contracted guilt, we have not to begin our whole life over again, but to go back to the place where we dropped the thread of obedience and begin there. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 13

1  Jesus washes the disciples' feet, and exhorts them to humility and charity
18  He foretells and discovers to John by a token, that Judas should betray him;
31  commands them to love one another;
36  and forewarns Peter of his denials

Greek Commentary for John 13:11

For he knew him that should betray him [ηιδει γαρ τον παραδιδοντα αυτον]
Past perfect ηιδει — ēidei used as imperfect. Jesus had known for a year at least (John 6:64, John 6:70) and yet he treated Judas with his usual courtesy. The articular present participle of παραδιδωμι — paradidōmi “the betraying one,” for Judas was already engaged in the process. Did Judas wince at this thrust from Jesus? [source]
Who should betray [τὸν παραδιδόντα]
Literally, him that is betraying. So in Matthew 26:2, the present tense is used, is being betrayed [source]
( παραδίδοται ) [παραδίδοται]
See on Matthew 4:12, and compare προδότης , betrayer, Luke 6:16; Acts 7:52; 2 Timothy 3:4. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 13:11

John 2:24 Because He knew [διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν γινώσκειν]
Literally, on account of the fact of His knowing. John describes the Lord's knowledge by two words which it is important to distinguish. Γινώσκειν , as here, implies acquired knowledge; knowledge which is the result of discernment and which may be enlarged. This knowledge may be drawn from external facts (John 5:6; John 6:15) or from spiritual sympathy (John 10:14, John 10:27; John 17:25). Εἰδέναι (John 1:26) implies absolute knowledge: the knowledge of intuition and of satisfied conviction. Hence it is used of Christ's knowledge of divine things (John 3:11; John 5:32; John 7:29), Of the facts of His own being (John 6:6; John 8:14; John 13:1), and of external facts (John 6:61, John 6:64; John 13:11). In John 21:17the two words appear together. Peter says to Jesus, appealing to His absolute knowledge, “Thou knowest ( οἶδας ) all things:” appealing to his discernment, “Thou knowest or perceivest ( γινώσκεις ) that I love Thee.” [source]
John 13:18 Not of you all [ου περι παντων]
As in John 13:11, he here refers to Judas whose treachery is no surprise to Jesus (John 6:64, John 6:70). Whom I have chosen Indirect question, unless τινας — tinas is here used as a relative like ους — hous The first aorist middle indicative of εκλεγω — eklegō is the same form used in John 6:70. Jesus refers to the choice (Luke 6:13 εκλεχαμενος — eklexamenos this very word again) of the twelve from among the large group of disciples. [source]

What do the individual words in John 13:11 mean?

He knew for the [one who] was betraying Him on account of this He said - Not all clean you are
ᾔδει γὰρ τὸν παραδιδόντα αὐτόν διὰ τοῦτο εἶπεν ὅτι Οὐχὶ πάντες καθαροί ἐστε

ᾔδει  He  knew 
Parse: Verb, Pluperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
τὸν  the  [one  who] 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραδιδόντα  was  betraying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: παραδίδωμι  
Sense: to give into the hands (of another).
διὰ  on  account  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
καθαροί  clean 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: καθαρός  
Sense: clean, pure.
ἐστε  you  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.