13:18 “What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, 1 ‘The one who eats my bread 2 has turned against me.’ 3
1 tn Grk “But so that the scripture may be fulfilled.”
2 tn Or “The one who shares my food.”
3 tn Or “has become my enemy”; Grk “has lifted up his heel against me.” The phrase “to lift up one’s heel against someone” reads literally in the Hebrew of Ps 41 “has made his heel great against me.” There have been numerous interpretations of this phrase, but most likely it is an idiom meaning “has given me a great fall,” “has taken cruel advantage of me,” or “has walked out on me.” Whatever the exact meaning of the idiom, it clearly speaks of betrayal by a close associate. See E. F. F. Bishop, “‘He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me’ – Jn xiii.18 (Ps xli.9),” ExpTim 70 (1958-59): 331-33.
sn A quotation from Ps 41:9.
4 tn Grk “Jesus answered.”
5 sn The piece of bread was a broken-off piece of bread (not merely a crumb).
6 tn Grk “after I have dipped it.” The words “in the dish” are not in the Greek text, but the presence of a bowl or dish is implied.
7 tn The words “in the dish” are not in the Greek text, but the presence of a bowl or dish is implied.
8 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn Grk “into that one”; the pronoun “he” is more natural English style here.
sn This is the only time in the Fourth Gospel that Satan is mentioned by name. Luke 22:3 uses the same terminology of Satan “entering into” Judas but indicates it happened before the last supper at the time Judas made his deal with the authorities. This is not necessarily irreconcilable with John’s account, however, because John 13:2 makes it clear that Judas had already come under satanic influence prior to the meal itself. The statement here is probably meant to indicate that Judas at this point came under the influence of Satan even more completely and finally. It marks the end of a process which, as Luke indicates, had begun earlier.
10 tn Grk “Then Jesus said to him.”
11 tn Grk “reclining at the table.” The phrase reclining at the table reflects the normal practice in 1st century Near Eastern culture of eating a meal in a semi-reclining position.
12 tn Or “knew.”
13 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
14 tn Grk “to him”; the referent (Judas) has been specified in the translation for clarity.