Font Size
John 10:7-30
New King James Version
John 10:7-30
New King James Version
Jesus the Good Shepherd
7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came [a]before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 (A)I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 (B)“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a [b]hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and (C)leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and (D)I know My sheep, and (E)am known by My own. 15 (F)As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; (G)and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And (H)other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; (I)and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
17 “Therefore My Father (J)loves Me, (K)because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I (L)have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. (M)This command I have received from My Father.”
19 Therefore (N)there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. 20 And many of them said, (O)“He has a demon and is [c]mad. Why do you listen to Him?”
21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. (P)Can a demon (Q)open the eyes of the blind?”
The Shepherd Knows His Sheep
22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, (R)in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in [d]doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. (S)The works that I do in My Father’s name, they (T)bear witness of Me. 26 But (U)you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, [e]as I said to you. 27 (V)My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 (W)My Father, (X)who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 (Y)I and My Father are one.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 10:8 M omits before Me
- John 10:12 hired man
- John 10:20 insane
- John 10:24 Suspense
- John 10:26 NU omits as I said to you
John 10:7-30
GOD’S WORD Translation
John 10:7-30
GOD’S WORD Translation
7 Jesus emphasized, “I can guarantee this truth: I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before I did were thieves or robbers. However, the sheep didn’t respond to them. 9 I am the gate. Those who enter the sheep pen through me will be saved. They will go in and out of the sheep pen and find food. 10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. 12 A hired hand isn’t a shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep. When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and quickly runs away. So the wolf drags the sheep away and scatters the flock. 13 The hired hand is concerned about what he’s going to get paid and not about the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me.[a] My sheep know me as I know the Father. 15 So I give my life for my sheep. 16 I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd. 17 The Father loves me because I give my life in order to take it back again. 18 No one takes my life from me. I give my life of my own free will. I have the authority to give my life, and I have the authority to take my life back again. This is what my Father ordered me to do.”
19 The Jews were divided because of what Jesus said. 20 Many of them said, “He’s possessed by a demon! He’s crazy! Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others said, “No one talks like this if he’s possessed by a demon. Can a demon give sight to the blind?”
The Jews Reject Jesus
22 The Festival of the Dedication of the Temple took place in Jerusalem during the winter. 23 Jesus was walking on Solomon’s porch in the temple courtyard.
24 The Jews surrounded him. They asked him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus answered them, “I’ve told you, but you don’t believe me. The things that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf. 26 However, you don’t believe because you’re not my sheep. 27 My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me. 29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father. 30 The Father and I are one.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 10:14 The first part of verse 15 (in Greek) has been moved to verse 14 to express the complex Greek sentence structure more clearly in English.
John 10:7-30
English Standard Version
John 10:7-30
English Standard Version
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, (A)I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, (B)he will be saved and will go in and out and (C)find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and (D)kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 (E)I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd (F)lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is (G)a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and (H)leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and (I)scatters them. 13 He flees because (J)he is a hired hand and (K)cares nothing for the sheep. 14 (L)I am the good shepherd. (M)I know my own and (N)my own know me, 15 (O)just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and (P)I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And (Q)I have other sheep that are not of this fold. (R)I must bring them also, and (S)they will listen to my voice. So there will be (T)one flock, (U)one shepherd. 17 (V)For this reason the Father loves me, (W)because (X)I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 (Y)No one takes it from me, but (Z)I lay it down (AA)of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and (AB)I have authority to take it up again. (AC)This charge I have received from my Father.”
19 (AD)There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. 20 Many of them said, (AE)“He has a demon, and (AF)is insane; why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. (AG)Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
I and the Father Are One
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, (AH)in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are (AI)the Christ, (AJ)tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. (AK)The works that I do (AL)in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but (AM)you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 (AN)My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 (AO)I give them eternal life, and (AP)they will never perish, and (AQ)no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, (AR)who has given them to me,[a] (AS)is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of (AT)the Father's hand. 30 (AU)I and the Father are one.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- John 10:29 Some manuscripts What my Father has given to me
John 10:7-30
New International Version
John 10:7-30
New International Version
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am(A) the gate(B) for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me(C) are thieves and robbers,(D) 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,(E) and have it to the full.(F)
11 “I am(G) the good shepherd.(H) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(I) 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.(J) 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;(K) I know my sheep(L) and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father(M)—and I lay down my life for the sheep.(N) 16 I have other sheep(O) 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(P) and one shepherd.(Q) 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life(R)—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.(S) I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”(T)
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided.(U) 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed(V) and raving mad.(W) Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon.(X) Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”(Y)
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.(Z) 24 The Jews(AA) who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”(AB)
25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you,(AC) but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,(AD) 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.(AE) 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,(AF) and they follow me.(AG) 28 I give them eternal life,(AH) and they shall never perish;(AI) no one will snatch them out of my hand.(AJ) 29 My Father, who has given them to me,(AK) is greater than all[c];(AL) no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”(AM)
Footnotes
- John 10:9 Or kept safe
- John 10:22 That is, Hanukkah
- John 10:29 Many early manuscripts What my Father has given me is greater than all
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
Copyright © 1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God’s Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.