John 13:10 (KJV)

What does John 13:10 mean?

John 13:10 records Jesus telling Peter that someone who has already bathed only needs to wash their feet to be completely clean, and then adds, “and ye are clean, but not all.” Jesus is saying that the disciples are already clean, but not every single one of them.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to Peter during the Last Supper after Peter objects to Jesus washing his feet. The verse uses the act of washing as a picture for being made clean in a deeper sense. Jesus points out that most of the disciples are “clean,” but hints that one among them is not—referring to Judas, who would later betray him.

The Greek behind John 13:10

• “washed” (λελουμένος, leloumenos): This word means someone who has bathed all over, not just a quick rinse. Jesus uses it to show a difference between being fully cleansed and just needing a touch-up.
• “clean” (καθαρός, katharos): This word means pure or free from impurity. Jesus uses it to describe the spiritual state of the disciples, not just their physical cleanliness.
• “not all” (οὐχὶ πάντες, ouchi pantes): This phrase makes it clear that Jesus is including everyone present except one, highlighting that Judas is not spiritually clean like the others.

Why John 13:10 matters

• John 13:10 helps clear up that Jesus is not just talking about physical washing, but about a deeper spiritual cleansing.
• The verse signals to the reader that not everyone who follows Jesus outwardly is truly “clean” on the inside, setting up the coming mention of Judas’s betrayal.
• This verse connects the act of foot washing to a larger lesson about forgiveness, belonging, and what it means to be truly part of Jesus’s group.