The Meaning of John 13:23 Explained

John 13:23

KJV: Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

YLT: And there was one of his disciples reclining (at meat) in the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus was loving;

Darby: Now there was at table one of his disciples in the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus loved.

ASV: There was at the table reclining in Jesus bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  there was  leaning  on  Jesus'  bosom  one  of his  disciples,  whom  Jesus  loved. 

What does John 13:23 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This is John"s first reference to himself as the beloved disciple (cf. John 19:26-27; John 20:2-9; John 21:1; John 21:20-25; Mark 14:47; Mark 14:51). He enjoyed an intimate relationship with Jesus similar to the one Jesus enjoyed with His Father (cf. John 1:18). John was not claiming that Jesus loved him more than the other disciples by describing himself this way. Rather the description reveals his appreciation for God"s grace in loving him as He did. He focused the reader"s attention on Jesus more forcefully by omitting his own name.
"Like the other John at the very beginning of the Gospel, the first witness to Jesus, he is only a voice. The identity of the speaker does not matter: what matters is the witness that he gives." [1]
"It was customary to sit at most meals. Reclining at table, a hellenistic custom, was reserved for special meals. When first introduced into the Jewish world, it was probably a sign of extreme decadence ( Amos 6:4-7), but by New Testament times it was normal at important banquets and feasts, and therefore was virtually required at the Passover celebration, almost as a mark of unhurried celebration and freedom, in self-conscious contrast with the haste with which the first Passover was eaten on the night of the exodus ( Exodus 12:11; cf. B. Pesahim 108a; NewDocs 1. 1; 2. 26). In short, the posture of Jesus and his men is a small indicator that they were in fact eating the Passover meal ..." [2]

Context Summary

John 13:21-30 - Kindness To The Traitor
In the circle of the Twelve, Judas represented the carnal idea of the Messiah, which was directly opposed to the spirit just manifested in the washing of their feet. If he would not humble himself and renounce that spirit, Judas must depart; and a great sense of relief must have been experienced by our Lord, and to an extent by them all.
The people of the East lay rather than sat at table, each guest having his left arm on a cushion, so as to support the head, the right being at liberty for eating. Thus the head of each was near the breast of his companion on the left. Such was the place of John with regard to the Master at the Last Supper, and it was easy to whisper the inquiry of John 13:25. In the course of the Paschal meal, the father would offer to the guests pieces of bread dipped in a sauce of fruit, representing the fruits of the Promised Land. It was a sign of special attention, and was one more appeal to the conscience of Judas. He might yet have found pardon. But John saw, as his attention was attracted to him, a change pass over his features, which indicated that the traitor had finally cast the wavering balance on the side of Satan. [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 13:23

Was at the table reclining in Jesus‘ bosom [ην ανακειμενος εν τωι κολπωι του Ιησου]
No word for “table” in the text. Periphrastic imperfect of ανακειμαι — anakeimai to lie back, to recline. Κολπος — Kolpos usual word for bosom (John 1:18). Whom Jesus loved Imperfect active of αγαπαω — agapaō John‘s description of himself of which he was proud (John 19:26; John 20:2; John 21:7, John 21:20), identified in John 21:24 as the author of the book and necessarily one of the twelve because of the “explicit” (Bernard) language of Mark (Mark 14:17; Luke 22:14). John son of Zebedee and brother of James. At the table John was on the right of Jesus lying obliquely so that his head lay on the bosom of Jesus. The centre, the place of honour, Jesus occupied. The next place in rank was to the left of Jesus, held by Peter (Westcott) or by Judas (Bernard) which one doubts. [source]
Was leaning on Jesus' bosom [ἦν ἀνακείμενος ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τοῦ Ἱησοῦ]
The Rev. renders, “there was at the table reclining,” etc. At the table is added because the verb is the general term equivalent to sitting at table. “In Jesus' bosom,” defines John's position relatively to the other guests. As the guests reclined upon the left arm, the feet being stretched out behind, the head of each would be near the breast of his companion on the left. Supposing that Jesus, Peter, and John were together, Jesus would occupy the central place, the place of honor, and John, being in front of Him, could readily lean back and speak to Him. Peter would be behind him. [source]
Bosom []
See on Luke 6:38. The Synoptists do not give this incident.sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 13:23

Luke 16:22 Into Abraham‘s bosom [εις τον ολπον Αβρααμ]
To be in Abraham‘s bosom is to the Jew to be in Paradise. In John 1:18 the Logos is in the bosom of the Father. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are in heaven and welcome those who come (Matthew 8:11; 4 Maccabees 14:17). The beloved disciple reclined on the bosom of Jesus at the last passover (John 13:23) and this fact indicates special favour. So the welcome to Lazarus was unusual.Was buried (εταπη — etaphē). Second aorist (effective) passive of the common verb ταπτω — thaptō Apparently in contrast with the angelic visitation to the beggar. [source]
John 20:2 Loved [ἐφίλει]
The word for personal affection. In John 13:23; John 21:7, John 21:20, ἠγάπα is used. See on John 5:20. [source]
John 13:25 Lying [ἐπιπεσὼν]
This word is, literally, to fall upon, and is so rendered in almost every instance in the New Testament. In Mark 3:10, it is applied to the multitudes pressing upon Christ. It occurs, however, nowhere else in John, and therefore some of the best authorities read ἀναπεσὼν , leaning back, a verb which John uses several times in the Gospel, as in John 13:12. So Rev. Whichever of the two is read, it points out the distinction, which the A.V. misses by the translation lying, between ἦν ἀνακείμενος (John 13:23), which describes the reclining position of John throughout the meal, and the sudden change of posture pictured by ἀναπεσὼν , leaning back. The distinction is enforced by the different preposition in each case: reclining in ( ἐν ) Jesus' bosom, and leaning back ( ἀνά ). Again, the words bosom and breast represent different words in the Greek; κόλπος representing more generally the bend formed by the front part of the reclining person, the lap, and στῆθος the breast proper. The verb ἀναπίπτω , to lean back, always in the New Testament describes a change of position. It is used of a rower bending back for a fresh stroke. Plato, in the well-known passage of the “Phaedrus,” in which the soul is described under the figure of two horses and a charioteer, says that when the charioteer beholds the vision of love he is afraid, and falls backward ( ἀνέπεσεν ), so that he brings the steeds upon their haunches. [source]
John 1:24 They which were sent were [εὐθύνατε τὴν ὁδον]
Literally, those having been sent were. But the best texts omit the article, so that the remaining words form the pluperfect passive: “they had been sent from the Pharisees.” This addition of an explanatory circumstance is characteristic of John. Compare John 1:41, John 1:45; John 9:14; John 11:5, John 11:18; John 13:23. [source]
John 13:24 Beckoneth [νευει]
Old verb to nod, in N.T. only here and Acts 24:10. They were all looking in surprise at each other. Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh Second aorist active imperative with indirect question Peter was cautious, but could not contain his curiosity. John in front of Jesus was in a favourable position to have a whispered word with him. Breast As in John 21:20; Luke 18:13 in place of κολπον — kolpon (John 13:23). This is the moment represented in Leonardo da Vinci‘s “Last Supper,” only he shows the figures like the monks for whom he painted it. [source]
John 20:2 Runneth [τρεχει]
Vivid dramatic present indicative of τρεχω — trechō John deals only with Mary Magdalene. She left the tomb at once before the rest and without seeing the angels as told in the Synoptics (Mark 16:2-8; Matthew 28:5-8; Luke 24:1-8). Luke (Luke 24:9-12) does not distinguish between the separate report of Mary Magdalene and that of the other women. To Simon Peter Full name as usual in John and back with John and the other disciples. The association of Peter and the other disciple in John 18-21 is like that between Peter and John in Acts 1-5. Loved Imperfect of πιλεω — phileō for which see John 5:20; John 11:3 and for distinction from αγαπαω — agapaō see John 11:5; John 13:23; John 21:7, John 21:15, John 21:17. They have taken away First aorist active indicative of αιρω — airō indefinite plural. We know not Mary associates the other women with her in her ignorance. For ετηκαν — ethēkan (have laid) see John 19:42. Mary fears a grave robbery. She has no idea of the resurrection of Jesus. [source]
John 6:8 One of [εις εκ]
So in John 12:4; John 13:23; Mark 13:1 without εκ — ek Simon Peter‘s brother So described in John 1:40. The great distinction of Andrew was precisely this that he brought Simon to Christ. Philip and Andrew appear together again in John 12:20-22, but in the Synoptics he is distinguished only in Mark 13:3. In the Muratorian Fragment Andrew received the revelation for John to write the Fourth Gospel. [source]

What do the individual words in John 13:23 mean?

There was reclining one of the disciples of Him in the bosom - of Jesus whom loved - Jesus
ἦν ἀνακείμενος εἷς ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ κόλπῳ τοῦ Ἰησοῦ ὃν ἠγάπα Ἰησοῦς

ἦν  There  was 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
ἀνακείμενος  reclining 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀνάκειμαι  
Sense: to lie at a table, eat together, dine.
εἷς  one 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εἷς  
Sense: one.
μαθητῶν  disciples 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
κόλπῳ  bosom 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κόλπος  
Sense: the front of the body between the arms.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦ  of  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ὃν  whom 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἠγάπα  loved 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.