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John 10

The story about the shepherd

10 Jesus then said, ‘I tell you this: A shepherd keeps his sheep in a safe place with a wall round it. There is a gate into that safe place. Anyone who gets into that place by another way, not through the gate, is not the shepherd. That person is a robber. He comes to take away the sheep for himself. 2 But the shepherd goes in through the gate. 3 The person who watches the gate opens it for the shepherd. The sheep recognize the shepherd's voice. He calls each of his own sheep by their name and he leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own sheep, he goes in front of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger. They will run away from a stranger because they do not recognize his voice.’

6 Jesus told this story like a picture to teach the people. But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Jesus is like the good shepherd

7 So Jesus spoke again. He said, ‘I tell you this: I am like the gate for the sheep. 8 All other men who came before me were like robbers. [ a ] But the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am like the gate. Everyone who comes in through me will be safe. They will be free to come in and to go out. And they will find plenty of food. 10 The robber only wants to take away my sheep. He wants to kill them. He comes only to destroy them. But I have come so that they can have true life. And so that they can have everything that they need.

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd would die so that he can save his sheep. 12 Another man may take care of sheep so that he gets money. But the sheep do not belong to him. A man like that is not the shepherd. If a wolf comes, a man like that runs away when he sees it. He leaves the sheep in danger. Then the wolf attacks the sheep. It causes them to run away in all directions. 13 That man runs away because the sheep do not belong to him. He does not think that the sheep are important.

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep, and they know me. 15 I know them in the same way that my Father knows me. And they know me in the same way that I know the Father. I will die so that I can save my sheep. 16 I also have other sheep, and I must bring them too. They do not belong to this group of sheep. But they also will listen to my voice. So all the sheep will become one group, and they will have one shepherd. 17 The Father loves me because I choose to die for my sheep. But after I give my life like that, I will become alive again. 18 Nobody can take my life away from me. Instead, I myself can choose to die. I have authority to do that. I also have authority to become alive again. My Father has said that I must do that.’

19 Again, the Jews could not agree about these things that Jesus said. 20 Many of them said, ‘He has a demon in him and he is crazy. You should not listen to him!’ 21 But other people said, ‘A man with a demon in him could not teach like this! A demon could not make blind people able to see!’

The Jewish leaders do not believe in Jesus

22 It was the time for the Jewish Festival called Hanukkah. [ b ] This happened in Jerusalem. It was winter.

23 Jesus was walking in the yard of the temple, under a place with a roof. The place was called Solomon's porch. 24 The Jewish leaders stood around him. They said to him, ‘We want to know who you are. When will you tell us? If you are the Messiah, tell us clearly.’ 25 Jesus answered, ‘I have already told you, but you do not believe. The things that I do by my Father's authority show you who I am. 26 But you refuse to believe, because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep recognize my voice. I know them and they follow me. 28 I give them life for ever with God. They will never die. Nobody can ever take them away from me. 29 My Father has given them to me. He is greater than all things. Nobody can ever take my sheep out of my Father's hand. 30 My Father and I are one.’

31 Then the Jewish leaders picked up stones again to throw at Jesus so that they could kill him. 32 Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good things. The Father sent me to do them, and I have shown them to you. Which of those good things make you want to kill me with stones?’ 33 The Jewish leaders answered, ‘We do not want to kill you because of any good things that you have done. We want to kill you because you are speaking against God. You are only a man, but you are saying that you are God.’

34 Jesus answered them, ‘It is written in your own books of God's Law that God said, “You are gods.” [ c ] 35 God called the people to whom he spoke “gods”. And you know that the Bible always remains true. 36 So, when I said that I am God's Son, why am I wrong? The Father chose me for himself. And he sent me into the world. So you should not say that I am speaking bad things against God. 37 If I am not doing my Father's work, do not believe me. 38 But if I am doing his work, you should believe that work. Even if you do not believe me, you should believe the things that I do. Then you will know certainly that the Father is in me. And you will know that I am in the Father.’

39 Again, the Jewish leaders tried to take hold of Jesus. But he escaped from them.

40 After that, Jesus returned across the Jordan River. He went to the place where John had earlier baptized people. Jesus stayed there. 41 Many people came to him. They said to each other, ‘John did not do any miracles. But everything that he said about this man was true.’ 42 So, in that place, many people believed in Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. 10:8 These men were leaders who said that they wanted to take care of God's people. But they did not really help the people. Instead they hurt them, like robbers.
  2. 10:22 At the Festival called Hanukkah, Israel's people remembered a special time, 165 years before Jesus came to the earth. A foreign ruler had come to Jerusalem. He had put false gods in the temple in Jerusalem. But some of Israel's people attacked that ruler and they sent him away. Then they made the temple clean again so that they could worship the one true God there.
  3. 10:34 See Psalms 82:6 .

The Shepherd and His Sheep

10 Jesus said, “It is certainly true that when a man enters the sheep pen, he should use the gate. If he climbs in some other way, he is a robber. He is trying to steal the sheep. 2 But the man who takes care of the sheep enters through the gate. He is the shepherd. 3 The man who guards the gate opens the gate for the shepherd. And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep, using their names, and he leads them out. 4 He brings all of his sheep out. Then he goes ahead of them and leads them. The sheep follow him, because they know his voice. 5 But sheep will never follow someone they don’t know. They will run away from him, because they don’t know his voice.”

6 Jesus told the people this story, but they did not understand what it meant.

Jesus Is the Good Shepherd

7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All those who came before me were thieves and robbers. The sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will be able to come in and go out. They will find everything they need. 10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.

11 “I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 The worker who is paid to keep the sheep is different from the shepherd. The paid worker does not own the sheep. So when he sees a wolf coming, he runs away and leaves the sheep alone. Then the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 The man runs away because he is only a paid worker. He does not really care for the sheep.

14-15 “I am the shepherd who cares for the sheep. I know my sheep just as the Father knows me. And my sheep know me just as I know the Father. I give my life for these sheep. 16 I have other sheep too. They are not in this flock here. I must lead them also. They will listen to my voice. In the future there will be one flock and one shepherd. [ a ] 17 The Father loves me because I give my life. I give my life so that I can get it back again. 18 No one takes my life away from me. I give my own life freely. I have the right to give my life, and I have the right to get it back again. This is what the Father told me.”

19 Again the Jews were divided over what Jesus was saying. 20 Many of them said, “A demon has come into him and made him crazy. Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These aren’t the words of someone controlled by a demon. A demon cannot heal the eyes of a blind man.”

The Jewish Leaders Against Jesus

22 It was winter, and the time came for the Festival of Dedication [ b ] at Jerusalem. 23 Jesus was in the Temple area at Solomon’s Porch. 24 The Jewish leaders gathered around him. They said, “How long will you make us wonder about you? If you are the Messiah, then tell us clearly.”

25 Jesus answered, “I told you already, but you did not believe. I do miracles in my Father’s name. These miracles show who I am. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give my sheep eternal life. They will never die, and no one can take them out of my hand. 29 My Father is the one who gave them to me, and he is greater than all. [ c ] No one can steal my sheep out of his hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”

31 Again the Jews there picked up stones to kill Jesus. 32 But he said to them, “The many wonderful things you have seen me do are from the Father. Which of these good things are you killing me for?”

33 They answered, “We are not killing you for any good thing you did. But you say things that insult God. You are only a man, but you say you are the same as God! That is why we are trying to kill you!”

34 Jesus answered, “It is written in your law that God said, ‘I said you are gods.’ [ d ] 35 This Scripture called those people gods—the people who received God’s message. And Scripture is always true. 36 So why do you accuse me of insulting God for saying, ‘I am God’s Son’? I am the one God chose and sent into the world. 37 If I don’t do what my Father does, then don’t believe what I say. 38 But if I do what my Father does, you should believe in what I do. You might not believe in me, but you should believe in the things I do. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

39 They tried to get Jesus again, but he escaped from them.

40 Then he went back across the Jordan River to the place where John began his work of baptizing people. Jesus stayed there, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “John never did any miraculous signs, but everything John said about this man is true.” 42 And many people there believed in Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. John 10:16 I have other sheep … shepherd Jesus means he has followers who are not Jews. See Jn. 11:52.
  2. John 10:22 Festival of Dedication Hanukkah, or “Festival of Lights,” a special week in December celebrating the time in 165 B.C. when the Jerusalem Temple was made pure and ready again for Jewish worship. Before then it had been under the control of a foreign (Greek) army and used for pagan worship.
  3. John 10:29 he … than all Some Greek copies have “they are greater than all.”
  4. John 10:34 Quote from Ps. 82:6 .

10 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?

22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.

23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,

40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.

41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

42 And many believed on him there.

Parable of the Good Shepherd

10 “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is ( A ) a thief and a robber. 2 But the one who enters by the door is ( B ) a shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to ( C ) his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and ( D ) leads them out. 4 When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know ( E ) his voice. 5 However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know ( F ) the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus told them this ( G ) figure of speech, but they did not understand what the things which He was saying to them [ a ] meant.

7 So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly I say to you, I am ( H ) the door of the sheep. 8 All those who came before Me are ( I ) thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 ( J ) I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they ( K ) would have life, and [ b ] have it abundantly.

11 “ ( L ) I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd ( M ) lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a ( N ) shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters the flock . 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and does not care about the sheep. 14 ( O ) I am the good shepherd, and ( P ) I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 just as ( Q ) the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and ( R ) I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And I have ( S ) other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice; and they will become ( T ) one flock, with ( U ) one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I ( V ) lay down My life so that I may take it back. 18 ( W ) No one has taken it away from Me, but I ( X ) lay it down on My own. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it back. ( Y ) This commandment I received from My Father.”

19 ( Z ) Dissension occurred again among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He ( AA ) has a demon and ( AB ) is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who is ( AC ) demon-possessed. ( AD ) A demon cannot open the eyes of those who are blind, can it?”

Jesus Asserts His Deity

22 At that time the [ c ] Feast of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem; 23 it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area , in the portico of ( AE ) Solomon. 24 ( AF ) The Jews then surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long [ d ] will You keep us in suspense? If You are the [ e ] Christ, tell us ( AG ) plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “ ( AH ) I told you, and you do not believe; ( AI ) the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because ( AJ ) you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep ( AK ) listen to My voice, and ( AL ) I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give them ( AM ) eternal life, and they will never perish; and ( AN ) no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 [ f ] My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 ( AO ) I and the Father are [ g ] one.”

31 The Jews ( AP ) picked up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus replied to them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for a good work, but for ( AQ ) blasphemy; and because You, being a man, ( AR ) make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in ( AS ) your ( AT ) Law: ‘ ( AU ) I said, you are gods ’? 35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be nullified), 36 are you saying of Him whom the Father ( AV ) sanctified and ( AW ) sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘ ( AX ) I am the Son of God’? 37 ( AY ) If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them , even though you do not believe Me, believe ( AZ ) the works, so that you may [ h ] know and understand that ( BA ) the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” 39 Therefore ( BB ) they were seeking again to arrest Him, and ( BC ) He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away ( BD ) again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He stayed there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no ( BE ) sign, yet ( BF ) everything John said about this man was true.” 42 And ( BG ) many believed in Him there.

Footnotes

  1. John 10:6 Lit were
  2. John 10:10 Or have abundance
  3. John 10:22 Now known as Hanukkah, also the Feast of Lights
  4. John 10:24 Lit do You lift up our soul
  5. John 10:24 I.e., Messiah
  6. John 10:29 One early ms What My Father has given Me is greater than all
  7. John 10:30 Or a unity ; or one essence
  8. John 10:38 Lit know and continue knowing

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. ( A ) 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ( B ) 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. ( C ) He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ( D ) 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ( E ) 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, ( F ) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. ( G )

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am ( H ) the gate ( I ) for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me ( J ) are thieves and robbers, ( K ) but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. [ a ] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, ( L ) and have it to the full. ( M )

11 “I am ( N ) the good shepherd. ( O ) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ( P ) 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. ( Q ) Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; ( R ) I know my sheep ( S ) and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father ( T ) —and I lay down my life for the sheep. ( U ) 16 I have other sheep ( V ) that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock ( W ) and one shepherd. ( X ) 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life ( Y ) —only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. ( Z ) I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” ( AA )

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. ( AB ) 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed ( AC ) and raving mad. ( AD ) Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. ( AE ) Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” ( AF )

Further Conflict Over Jesus’ Claims

22 Then came the Festival of Dedication [ b ] at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. ( AG ) 24 The Jews ( AH ) who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” ( AI )

25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, ( AJ ) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, ( AK ) 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. ( AL ) 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, ( AM ) and they follow me. ( AN ) 28 I give them eternal life, ( AO ) and they shall never perish; ( AP ) no one will snatch them out of my hand. ( AQ ) 29 My Father, who has given them to me, ( AR ) is greater than all [ c ] ; ( AS ) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” ( AT )

31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, ( AU ) 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” ( AV )

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ( AW ) ‘I have said you are “gods”’ [ d ] ? ( AX ) 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God ( AY ) came—and Scripture cannot be set aside ( AZ ) — 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart ( BA ) as his very own ( BB ) and sent into the world? ( BC ) Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? ( BD ) 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. ( BE ) 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” ( BF ) 39 Again they tried to seize him, ( BG ) but he escaped their grasp. ( BH )

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan ( BI ) to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. There he stayed, 41 and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, ( BJ ) all that John said about this man was true.” ( BK ) 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus. ( BL )

Footnotes

  1. John 10:9 Or kept safe
  2. John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah
  3. John 10:29 Many early manuscripts What my Father has given me is greater than all
  4. John 10:34 Psalm 82:6
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