John 13:2
“And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Passover meal concludes as darkness enters Judas's heart through satanic influence.
Context
The evening of Jesus's final Passover meal with the Twelve before his crucifixion; Judas has accepted a bribe to betray him.
What Does John 13:2 Mean?
The scene is intimate: the upper room, the disciples gathered around the table as supper ends. The meal points to Jesus's coming sacrifice, yet in this very moment, Judas harbors betrayal. The phrase 'devil having now put into the heart' speaks of a decision being made, a point of no return. We see the clash between eternal light present in the room and the spiritual darkness taking hold of one man.
This detail frames what follows: the foot-washing will be Jesus's response to betrayal, not with judgment but with love. Even knowing Judas's path, Jesus bends to serve him. The mystery of why the devil works through human choice remains, but the contrast is clear. Where darkness enters Judas, light pours from Jesus. We learn that the greatest power is not resistance but humble, undeserved love offered even when we know it will be rejected.
In the Original Language
diabolos (Greek), 'devil' -- the adversary or slanderer, the one who divides truth from trust.
Application
When we feel the pull toward betrayal, self-protection, or bitterness, we recognize it as the voice of the adversary, not our truest self. Jesus offers us a different path: humility and service, which transform our hearts.