The Meaning of John 13:22 Explained

John 13:22

KJV: Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

YLT: the disciples were looking, therefore, one at another, doubting concerning whom he speaketh.

Darby: The disciples therefore looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke.

ASV: The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  the disciples  looked  one on another,  doubting  of  whom  he spake. 

What does John 13:22 Mean?

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 13:22

Looked one on another [εβλεπον εις αλληλους]
Inchoative imperfect of βλεπω — blepō “began to glance at one another in bewilderment” (doubting, απορουμενοι — aporoumenoi present passive participle of απορεω — aporeō to be at a loss, to lose one‘s way, α — a privative and πορος — poros way). They recalled their strife about precedence and Judas betrayed nothing. Concerning whom he spake Indirect question retaining present active indicative λεγει — legei See same on Mark 14:19; note on Matthew 26:22; and note on Luke 22:23. [source]
Looked [ἔβλεπον]
The imperfect tense, kept looking as they doubted. [source]
Doubting [ἀπορούμενοι]
See on Mark 6:20. [source]
He spake [λέγει]
The present tense, speaketh, introduced with lively effect. [source]

What do the individual words in John 13:22 mean?

Began to look upon one another the disciples being uncertain of whom He is speaking
Ἔβλεπον εἰς ἀλλήλους οἱ μαθηταὶ ἀπορούμενοι περὶ τίνος λέγει

Ἔβλεπον  Began  to  look 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: βλέπω  
Sense: to see, discern, of the bodily eye.
εἰς  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
μαθηταὶ  disciples 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
ἀπορούμενοι  being  uncertain 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπορέω  
Sense: to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn.
τίνος  whom 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
λέγει  He  is  speaking 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.

What are the major concepts related to John 13:22?

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