Jesus’ Threefold Restoration of Peter

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John,[a] do you love[b] Me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Feed(A) My lambs,”(B) He told him.

16 A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love(C) Me?”(D)

“Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.”

“Shepherd(E) My sheep,”(F) He told him.

17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love(G) Me?”

Peter was grieved(H) that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything!(I) You know that I love You.”

“Feed(J) My sheep,” Jesus said.

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Footnotes

  1. John 21:15 Other mss read Simon, son of Jonah; Mt 16:17; Jn 1:42
  2. John 21:15 Two synonyms are translated love in this conversation: agapao, the first 2 times by Jesus (vv. 15-16); and phileo, the last time by Jesus (v. 17) and all 3 times by Peter (vv. 15-17). Peter’s threefold confession of love for Jesus corresponds to his earlier threefold denial of Jesus; Jn 18:15-18,25-27.

15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

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