The Good Shepherd

10 “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.(A) The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd(B) of the sheep.(C) The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.” Jesus gave them this figure of speech, but they did not understand(D) what he was telling them.

Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am(E) the gate for the sheep.(F) All who came before me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal(G) and kill and destroy.(H) I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

11 “I am the good shepherd.(I) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.(J) 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them[b] and runs away when he sees a wolf(K) coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father.(L) I lay down my life(M) for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep(N) that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd.(O) 17 This is why the Father loves me,(P) because I lay down my life(Q) so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”(R)

19 Again the Jews were divided(S) because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon(T) and he’s crazy. Why do you listen to him?” 21 Others were saying, “These aren’t the words of someone who is demon-possessed. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (U)

Jesus at the Festival of Dedication

22 Then the Festival of Dedication took place in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s Colonnade.(V) 24 The Jews surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?[c] If you are the Messiah,(W) tell us plainly.”[d](X)

25 “I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works(Y) that I do in my Father’s name testify about me. 26 But you don’t believe because you are not of my sheep.[e](Z) 27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life,(AA) and they will never perish.(AB) No one will snatch(AC) them out of my hand. 29 My Father,(AD) who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”(AE)

Renewed Efforts to Stone Jesus

31 Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone him.(AF)

32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works(AG) from the Father. For which of these works are you stoning me?”

33 “We aren’t stoning(AH) you for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because you—being a man—make yourself God.”

34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law,[f] I said, you are gods?[g](AI) 35 If he called those to whom the word(AJ) of God came ‘gods’—and the Scripture(AK) cannot be broken— 36 do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the one the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God?(AL) 37 If I am not doing my Father’s works,(AM) don’t believe me. 38 But if I am doing them and you don’t believe me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand[h] that the Father is in me and I in the Father.”(AN) 39 Then they were trying again to seize him,(AO) but he escaped their grasp.(AP)

Many beyond the Jordan Believe in Jesus

40 So he departed again across the Jordan(AQ) to the place where John(AR) had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. 41 Many came to him(AS) and said, “John never did a sign, but everything John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

Footnotes

  1. 10:8 Other mss omit before me
  2. 10:12 Lit leaves the sheep
  3. 10:24 Lit “How long are you taking away our life?
  4. 10:24 Or openly, or publicly
  5. 10:26 Other mss add just as I told you
  6. 10:34 Other mss read in the scripture
  7. 10:34 Ps 82:6
  8. 10:38 Other mss read know and believe

Jesus the Good Shepherd

10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes[a] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

19 Again the Jews were divided because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus Is Rejected by the Jews

22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,[b] tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.[c] 30 The Father and I are one.”

31 The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law,[d] ‘I said, you are gods’? 35 If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— 36 can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand[e] that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands.

40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. 41 Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there.

Footnotes

  1. John 10:18 Other ancient authorities read has taken
  2. John 10:24 Or the Christ
  3. John 10:29 Other ancient authorities read My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand
  4. John 10:34 Other ancient authorities read in the law
  5. John 10:38 Other ancient authorities lack and understand; others read and believe

«Io sono il buon pastore»

10 «Chi non entra attraverso la porta dellʼovile, ma cerca dʼintrufolarsi ad ogni costo, scavalcando il recinto, è un ladro. Il pastore, invece, entra per la porta. Il custode gli apre, le pecore sentono la sua voce e gli si avvicinano; egli le chiama per nome e le porta fuori. Le fa uscire tutte dallʼovile e cammina davanti a loro. Le pecore lo seguono, perché riconoscono la sua voce. Certamente non seguiranno un estraneo, anzi scapperanno, perché non ne riconoscono la voce».

Quelli che ascoltavano questa parabola di Gesù, non riuscivano a capirne il significato. Gesù, allora, spiegò: «Per la verità, io sono la porta per le pecore. 8-9 Tutti quelli che sono venuti prima di me, sono ladri e assassini, ma le pecore non li hanno ascoltati. Proprio così, io sono la porta. Chi passerà da questa porta, sarà salvato. Potrà entrare e uscire e trovare verdi pascoli. 10 Il ladro viene per rubare, ammazzare, distruggere. Io, invece, sono venuto per dar loro la vita in grande abbondanza.

11 Io sono il buon pastore. Il buon pastore dà la vita per le sue pecore. 12 Un dipendente, quando vede avvicinarsi un lupo, scappa a gambe levate e lascia le pecore indifese. Che gliene importa di loro? Non sono mica sue! Così il lupo assale il gregge, prende alcune pecore, mentre altre scappano. 13 È naturale che il dipendente se la dia a gambe, perché lavora per soldi e quindi le pecore non gli stanno a cuore.

14 Io, invece, sono il buon pastore, conosco le mie pecore e loro mi conoscono, 15 proprio come mio Padre conosce me ed io conosco lui; e per le pecore do la vita. 16 In un altro ovile ho altre pecore da guidare. Anchʼesse daranno ascolto alla mia voce, e allora ci sarà un solo gregge con un solo pastore.

17 Il Padre mi ama, perché sacrifico la mia vita, per riprenderla poi di nuovo. 18 Nessuno può togliermela; sono io che la offro di mia iniziativa, perché ho il diritto e il potere di offrirla e riprenderla, quando mi pare. Il Padre stesso mi ha dato questo ordine».

19 A queste parole, le opinioni dei Giudei sul conto di Gesù furono di nuovo contrastanti. 20 Molti di loro dicevano: «È indemoniato e pazzo, perché lo ascoltate?» 21 Altri invece dicevano: «Non ci sembra proprio indemoniato! Può, forse un demonio aprire gli occhi ai ciechi?»

«Sei davvero tu il Figlio di Dio?»

22-23 Era inverno. In quel periodo si celebrava a Gerusalemme la festa della Dedicazione. Gesù si trovava nel tempio e passeggiava sotto il portico di Salomone. 24 Alcuni capi giudei si strinsero intorno a lui e gli chiesero: «Per quanto ancora vuoi tenerci in sospeso? Se tu sei il Messia, diccelo chiaramente!»

25 «Ve lʼho già detto, ma voi non mi credete», rispose Gesù. «La prova lampante sta nei miracoli che faccio nel nome di mio Padre. 26 Voi, però, non mi credete, perché non fate parte del mio gregge. 27 Le mie pecore riconoscono la mia voce, io le conosco, ed esse mi seguono. 28 Anzi, io do loro la vita eterna ed esse non periranno mai. Nessuno le strapperà da me. 29 Perché mio Padre me le ha date, egli è il più potente di tutti e nessuno può rapirle dalla sua mano. 30 Io e il Padre siamo Uno Solo».

31 Allora di nuovo i capi giudei raccolsero delle pietre per ucciderlo. 32 Ma Gesù disse: «Per conto di mio Padre, vi ho mostrato molti miracoli. Per quale di questi mi volete lapidare ora?»

33 Risposero gli altri risentiti: «Non vogliamo ucciderti per ciò che hai fatto di buono, ma per bestemmia! Infatti tu, un semplice uomo, hai detto di essere Dio».

34-36 «La vostra legge stessa dice che gli uomini sono dèi!» rispose Gesù. «Perciò, se la Scrittura, che non può essere falsa, chiama dèi quelli che ascoltano il messaggio di Dio, come potete considerare bestemmia se colui che è santificato e mandato dal Padre nel mondo dice: “Sono il Figlio di Dio?” 37 Se non faccio miracoli di Dio, non credetemi! 38 Ma se li faccio, e non volete credere in me, credete almeno in quei miracoli! Allora vi convincerete che il Padre è in me ed io sono in lui».

39-40 Ancora una volta cercarono di arrestarlo, ma Gesù si allontanò e si diresse oltre il Giordano, vicino al posto dove Giovanni battezzava nei primi tempi. Là si fermò, e 41 molti andavano da lui.

«Giovanni non ha mai fatto miracoli», dicevano, «ma tutte le cose che ha detto di Gesù si sono dimostrate vere!» E molti si convinsero che Gesù fosse il Messia.

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) The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.(B) 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) 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) But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech,(F) but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.(G)

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am(H) the gate(I) for the sheep. All who have come before me(J) are thieves and robbers,(K) but the sheep have not listened to them. 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