Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
He it is.
John 13:30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
Matthew 26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
Mark 14:19,20 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? …
sop.
John 6:70,71 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? …
John 12:4-6 Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, …
“It is the one to whom I give this morsel after I have dipped it.”
The act of giving a dipped morsel was a gesture of honor and friendship in Jewish culture, making Judas's betrayal even more poignant. This act fulfills the prophecy found in Psalm 41:9, where David speaks of betrayal by a close friend. The dipping of the morsel also signifies the intimacy of the Last Supper, a Passover meal, which is rich in symbolism pointing to Jesus as the Passover Lamb.
Then He dipped the morsel
The dipping of the morsel into a common dish was customary during the Passover meal, reflecting the communal and covenantal aspects of the meal. This action underscores the shared fellowship and the impending betrayal, highlighting the contrast between Jesus' love and Judas's treachery.
and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot.
Judas Iscariot, identified as the son of Simon, is singled out as the betrayer. His full identification emphasizes the personal nature of the betrayal. Judas's role fulfills the prophecies of betrayal and sets in motion the events leading to the crucifixion, which is central to the redemptive plan of God. Judas's actions contrast with the faithfulness of the other disciples and serve as a warning against the dangers of hypocrisy and unrepentant sin.
“Jesus answered” (John 13:26).
• The disciples had been troubled by His announcement that one of them would betray Him (John 13:21–25).
• Christ’s immediate response models transparency; He does not leave them guessing (John 10:11, 14).
• His readiness to reveal truth affirms His divine omniscience—nothing escapes His notice, not even the hidden plans of a traitor (Hebrews 4:13).
“‘It is the one to whom I give this morsel…’” (John 13:26 b).
• Sharing a morsel at the table was a gesture of honor and friendship (Psalm 41:9; Mark 14:20).
• By selecting Judas, Jesus identifies the betrayer in a way the disciples can witness without causing a public scene—an act of grace even toward His enemy (Matthew 5:44).
• The statement fulfills the Scripture He had just cited: “He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me” (John 13:18, citing Psalm 41:9).
“‘…after I have dipped it.’”
• Dipping bread into a common dish was part of the Passover meal tradition (Exodus 12:8; Matthew 26:23).
• The detail underscores that the betrayal unfolds in the midst of covenant fellowship, intensifying its treachery (Malachi 2:14).
• Jesus controls the timing; Satan cannot force His hand. Every step moves according to the Father’s redemptive plan (Acts 2:23).
“Then He dipped the morsel…” (John 13:26 c).
• Jesus turns words into action, confirming His revelation (John 2:24–25).
• The deliberate motion shows He is not surprised or victimized; He voluntarily lays down His life (John 10:17–18).
• Similar imagery appears when Boaz extends kindness by inviting Ruth to dip bread (Ruth 2:14), highlighting how Judas receives favor he will soon exploit.
“…and gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.” (John 13:26 d).
• Naming Judas fully removes ambiguity, anchoring the narrative in real history.
• Despite prior warnings (John 6:70–71; 13:2), Judas persists, revealing the hardening effect of unrepentant sin (James 1:14–15).
• Receiving the honored morsel, Judas accepts final confirmation of his resolve; immediately afterward “Satan entered into him” (John 13:27; Luke 22:3), contrasting Christ’s self-giving love with diabolical self-interest.
• The moment proves that outward proximity to Jesus without heart loyalty leads to destruction (1 John 2:19).
John 13:26 shows Jesus knowingly, calmly, and publicly identifying His betrayer during the intimate Passover meal. By offering Judas an honored morsel, He fulfills prophecy, exposes treachery, and demonstrates sovereign control over His approaching sacrifice. The verse warns against empty association with Christ while inviting believers to trust the Lord who sees all, fulfills Scripture flawlessly, and offers grace even to those who refuse it.
(26) He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it.--The better reading is probably, He it is for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him; but the change does not affect the sense. The pronouns are emphatic. "He it is for whom I . . ."The word "morsel" or "sop" occurs in the New Testament only in this context. The meaning is illustrated by the use in the LXX. in Ruth 2:14 ("Come thou hither, and thou shalt eat of the bread and dip thy morsel in the vinegar"); and Job 31:17 ("And if I ate my morsel alone, and did not impart it to the orphan"). The cognate verb occurs twice in the New Testament--Romans 12:20 and 1Corinthians 13:3. (See Notes on these passages.) The original root of the word means "to rub." Hence it is "anything rubbed or broken off." It was often used for a mouthful just like "morsel," which means literally, a little bite. As used here, the word means any portion of food. The general explanation that the morsel was dipped in the Charosheth (comp. Note on Matthew 26:28) implies that this supper was the Paschal Supper. (See Excursus F: The Day of the Crucifixion of our Lord.)Our Lord would preside at the meal, and distribute to each guest his portion. When John asked the question, He was about to give the morsel to Judas. He avoids the name, and makes the act which He is about to perform convey the answer to the question. That act is the token of friendship and love which even now would redeem the heart full of treachery, if that heart would but receive it. (Comp. John 13:18.) . . .
Verse 26. - Jesus (then) answered - "then," οϋν, is introduced by the modern editors, as well as βάψω for βάψας - He it is for whom I shall dip the sop (or, morsel), and give it him; so (καὶ ἐμβάψας is exchanged, on very strong authority, into βάψας οϋν, and ἐπιδώσω into δώσω) when he had dipped the sop, he taketh and giveth it to Judas the son of Simon, the Iscariot. The ψωμίον was the morsel of meat or bread dipped into the charoseth, a mead of wine and fruit used at the Paschal meal. The usage is illustrated by the LXX. version of Ruth 2:14 and Job 31:17. In the New Testament ψωμίζω is used for distribution of food, Romans 12:20; 1 Corinthians 13:3. The act of Jesus was almost contemporaneous with the "Thou sayest it" of the synoptists It was twofold in meaning, explaining to John what he wished to know fur Peter's sake, and giving Judas one more gracious chance to repent and believe in the Divinity of love rather than that of display, power, and pomp. Judas had been dipping his hand into the same dish with his Master, eating his bread. Instead of resenting such effrontery the blessed Lord gave him in pity the last opportunity to escape, he puts the morsel sopped in the acid wine, the bread of fellowship, into his very lips, and the miscreant received it. The name of Judas, and of his father, and of the place cursed by being his birthplace, are once more introduced at length (cf. John 6:71).