John 13:15 For I have given you an example,

Spoken to: 

Apostles

Jesus washes everyone's feet and puts on his clothes and tells them to learn what he has done for them.

KJV: 

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

NIV : 

John 13:15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

Because a paradigm I gave you so that as I myself did [this] for you, also you yourselves? Do [it]!

o.

MY TAKE: 

Jesus is a paradigm for our actions.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

The English translations reverse the order of the final two clauses here and leave out a word meaning "also."  Jesus puts what he does first so others can follow it.  In both clauses, Jesus uses the subjective pronoun which emphasizes the subject. The sense is "I myself" do this, so "your yourselves" do it. In both, the "washing of feet" is the assumed object. Object pronouns are often implied rather than repeated in ancient Greek. Jesus puts what he did first so that the final word, the punchline, is "you do." That verb is in a form that can be "should do" or a command, "do [it]!" Where the "it" is understood.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

5
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourselves" is not shown in the English translation, but it is needed to capture the pronoun as well as the form of the verb.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "also" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

6
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "because" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "yourselves" is not shown in the English translation, but it is needed to capture the pronoun as well as the form of the verb.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "also" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The verb "have" indicates the past perfect tense, but the tense is something that happens at a specific point in time (past, present, or future).MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" is not shown in the English translation.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

For --The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

given  -- The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."

you  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed.

an-- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

example,   - The word translated as "example" is a noun that comes from the root "by showing." It means an example or an illustration of how to do something. It means literally "by showing." It is the source of our word "paradigm."

that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" or "because." -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."

ye -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It is plural.

missing "yourselves"  ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves."

should -- This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English.

do  -- The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly. When it doesn't have an object, the verb is more clearly translated as  "perform."

missing "also"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "also" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

as -- - "As" is from a Greek word that means which means "even as," "how," and, in relating to time, "as" and "when."ἐγὼ [162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I." It also means "I at least," "for my part," "indeed," and for myself.

I - The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

done  -- The Greek word translated as "done" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word i

to -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

you.-- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

missing "because"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "because" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause." 

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

set -- (CW) The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give."

you  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed.

an-- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a noun doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

example,   - The word translated as "example" is a noun that comes from the root "by showing." It means an example or an illustration of how to do something. It means literally "by showing." It is the source of our word "paradigm."

that -- The word translated as "that" is a conjunction that starts a subordinate clause  "that," "when," "in order that" or "because." -- The word translated as "there" is an adverb "in that place," "there," "where," or "when."

you -- The pronoun "you" is used explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since it is already part of the verb, its use here creates emphasis on the "you" as we might say "you yourselves." It is plural.

missing "yourselves"  ---- (MW) The pronoun is used here explicitly as the subject of the sentence. Since this information is already in the verb, the sense is repetitive as we say "you yourselves."

should -- This helping verb in English comes from the form of the Greek verb that indicates a possibility. We would usually say "might" or "should" in English.

do  -- The Greek word translated as "do" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word is not used as broadly. When it doesn't have an object, the verb is more clearly translated as  "perform."

missing "also"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "also" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

as -- The Greek word translated as "as" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

I - The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

have -- (WT) This helping verb "have" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past. This is not the tense of the verb here.

done  -- The Greek word translated as "done" has the primary meaning of "making" or producing" something or "causing" or "performing" as service. It describes a productive action.  In English, "do" is also frequently a helper verb. This Greek word i

for -- This word "for" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with,"  "in,"   "of,"  "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.

you.-- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. As the object of a preposition, this form implies no movement, but in a fixed position or events occur at a specified time or while the action was being performed.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ὑπόδειγμα [1 verse](noun sg neut nom/acc)"An example" is from hypodeigma,which means "sign", "indication", "token", "illustration", "picture showing how something is done", "example," and "instance." It means literally "by showing."

γὰρ [205 verses](partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what."

ἔδωκα [147 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind acts) "I have given" is didomi, which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe."

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

ἵνα [134 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hina, which means "in that place," "there," "where," "when,"  but when beginning a phrase "that," "in order that," "when," and "because."

καθὼς [36 verses] (adv) "How" is kathos, which means "even as," "how," and, in relating to time, "as" and "when." -

ἐποίησα [168 verses](verb 1st sg aor ind act) "Have done" is poieo, which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existence," "to bring about," "to cause," "to perform," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."s not used as broadly. When it doesn't have an object, the verb is more clearly translated as  "perform."

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you." 

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

ὑμεῖς [92 verses](pron 2nd pl nom) "You" is hymeis (humeis), which is the plural nominative form of the second person, "you."

ποιῆτε. [168 verses](verb 2nd pl pres subj act or  2nd pl pres imperat act ) "Should do" is poieo, which means "to make," "to produce," "to create," "to bring into existnce," "to bring about," "to cause," "to perform," "to render," "to consider," "to prepare," "to make ready," and "to do."

Related Verses: 

Front Page Date: 

Sep 5 2022