# John 13.23

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 21. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in the spirit, and testified, and said, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.</span>
>
> **23. <span class="rl-speech">There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.</span>**
>
> 24. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, <span class="rl-speech">Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh.</span> 25. <span class="rl-speech">He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?</span> (John 13:21-25, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 21. When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22. The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke.
>
> **23. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast.**
>
> 24. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, <span class="rl-speech">“Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.”</span> 25. He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast, asked him, “Lord, who is it?” (John 13:21-25, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 21. When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.</span> 22. <span class="rl-speech">Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.</span>
>
> **23. <span class="rl-speech">Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.</span>**
>
> 24. <span class="rl-speech">Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.</span> 25. <span class="rl-speech">He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?</span> (John 13:21-25, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 21. These things having said, Jesus was troubled in the spirit, and did testify, and said, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, that one of you will deliver me up;'</span> 22. the disciples were looking, therefore, one at another, doubting concerning whom he speaketh.
>
> **23. And there was one of his disciples reclining (at meat) in the bosom of Jesus, whom Jesus was loving;**
>
> 24. Simon Peter, then, doth beckon to this one, to inquire who he may be concerning whom he speaketh, 25. and that one having leant back on the breast of Jesus, respondeth to him, 'Sir, who is it?' (John 13:21-25, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G1520 - heis](/codex/g1520-heis/), *heis* (Strong's G1520). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.17-18](/codex/matthew-5-17-18/), [Matthew 6.24](/codex/matthew-6-24/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).
- [G2424 - Iesous](/codex/g2424-iesous/), *Iesous* (Strong's G2424). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1.18](/codex/matthew-1-18/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Anonymous Gospels Objection Defeater](/codex/anonymous-gospels-objection-defeater/)
- [Johannine Authorship of the Fourth Gospel](/codex/johannine-authorship-of-the-fourth-gospel/)

**Concepts:**

- [Foreknowledge vs Causation](/codex/foreknowledge-vs-causation/), via [John 13.21-27](/codex/john-13-21-27/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 13](/codex/john-13/)

**People:**

- [John the Apostle](/codex/john-the-apostle/)

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