1“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.2But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.5A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (Joh 10:12)6This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. (Mr 9:32; Joh 9:40)7So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. (Joh 10:9; Joh 14:6; Eph 2:18)8All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. (Ps 23:2; Eze 34:14; Joh 5:34)10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (Jer 23:1; Eze 34:3)11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (Isa 40:11; Eze 34:12; Eze 34:23; Eze 37:24; Zec 13:7; Mt 20:28; Mr 10:45; Joh 10:15; Joh 10:17; Joh 15:13; Joh 21:15; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 1Pe 5:4; 1Jo 3:16; Re 7:17)12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. (Jer 23:1; Eze 34:2; Zec 11:17; Zec 13:7)13He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. (Zec 11:16; 1Pe 5:2)14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, (Na 1:7; Joh 10:4; Joh 10:11; Joh 10:27; 2Ti 2:19)15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. (Mt 11:27; Joh 10:11)16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. (Isa 56:8; Eze 34:11; Eze 34:23; Eze 37:24; Mt 8:11; Joh 5:25; Joh 11:52; Joh 12:32; Joh 17:11; Joh 17:21; Joh 18:37; Ac 28:28; Eph 2:13; 1Pe 2:25)17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. (Isa 53:7; Isa 53:12; Joh 5:20; Joh 10:11; Php 2:9; Heb 2:9)18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (Mt 26:53; Joh 2:19; Joh 5:30; Joh 10:17; Joh 12:49; Joh 14:31; Joh 15:10; Php 2:7)19There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. (Joh 7:43; Joh 9:16)20Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?” (Mr 3:21; Joh 7:20)21Others said, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?” (Ex 4:11; Ps 146:8; Joh 9:33)
I and the Father Are One
22At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter,23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. (Ac 3:11; Ac 5:12)24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (Mt 26:63; Lu 22:67; Joh 1:41)25Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, (Joh 5:36; Joh 5:43; Joh 10:38)26but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. (Joh 8:47)27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (Joh 10:14; Joh 10:16)28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (Joh 6:37; Joh 17:12; Joh 18:9; 1Jo 2:25; 1Jo 5:11)29My Father, who has given them to me,[1] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. (De 32:39; Isa 49:2; Isa 51:16; Joh 6:37; Joh 14:28; Joh 17:2)30I and the Father are one.” (Joh 5:19; Joh 14:9; Joh 17:11; Joh 17:22)31The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. (Joh 8:59)32Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?”33The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” (Le 24:16; Mt 9:3; Joh 5:18)34Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? (Ps 82:6; Joh 12:34; Joh 15:25; 1Co 14:21)35If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— (Mt 5:17; Mt 5:19)36do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (Joh 3:17; Joh 5:17; Joh 6:27; Joh 10:30)37If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; (Joh 15:24)38but 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 am in the Father.” (Joh 8:29; Joh 10:25; Joh 14:10; Joh 14:11; Joh 14:20; Joh 17:21; Joh 17:23)39Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. (Joh 7:30; Joh 7:44)40He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. (Joh 1:28)41And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” (Joh 1:7; Joh 1:29; Joh 3:27; Joh 5:33)42And many believed in him there. (Joh 7:31)
John 10
New International Version
The good shepherd and his sheep
1‘Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognise a stranger’s voice.’6Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.7Therefore Jesus said again, ‘Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.8All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[1] They will come in and go out, and find pasture.10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.11‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12The 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. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.14‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me –15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep.16I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again.18No-one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.’19The Jews who heard these words were again divided.20Many of them said, ‘He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?’21But others said, ‘These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’
Further conflict over Jesus’ claims
22Then came the Festival of Dedication[2] at Jerusalem. It was winter,23and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.24The Jews who were there gathered round him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’25Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no-one will snatch them out of my hand.29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[3]; no-one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.30I and the Father are one.’31Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,32but 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.’34Jesus answered them, ‘Is it not written in your Law, “I have said you are ‘gods’ ”? (Ps 82:6)35If he called them “gods”, to whom the word of God came – and Scripture cannot be set aside –36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, “I am God’s Son”?37Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.38But 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.’39Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.40Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptising in the early days. There he stayed,41and many people came to him. They said, ‘Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.’42And in that place many believed in Jesus.
John 10
King James Version
1Verily, 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.2But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.7Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.9I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.10The 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.11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.12But 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.13The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.15As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.16And 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.17Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.18No 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.19There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.20And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?21Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?22And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.23And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.24Then 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.25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.30I and my Father are one.31Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?33The 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.34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;36Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?37If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.38But 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.39Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,40And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.41And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.42And many believed on him there.
John 10
New International Reader’s Version
The good shepherd and his sheep
1‘What I’m about to tell you Pharisees is true. What if someone does not enter the sheepfold through the gate but climbs in another way? That person is a thief and a robber.2The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him. The sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own sheep, he goes on ahead of them. His sheep follow him because they know his voice.5But they will never follow a stranger. In fact, they will run away from him. They don’t recognise a stranger’s voice.’6Jesus told this story. But the Pharisees didn’t understand what he was telling them.7So Jesus said again, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. I am like a gate for the sheep.8All who have come before me are thieves and robbers. But the sheep have not listened to them.9I’m like a gate. Anyone who enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out. And they will find plenty of food.10A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way.11‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.12The hired man is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when the hired man sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.13The man runs away because he is a hired man. He does not care about the sheep.14‘I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.15They know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I give my life for the sheep.16I have other sheep that do not belong to this sheepfold. I must bring them in too. They also will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.17The reason my Father loves me is that I give up my life. But I will take it back again.18No one takes it from me. I give it up myself. I have the authority to give it up. And I have the authority to take it back again. I received this command from my Father.’19The Jews who heard these words could not agree with one another.20Many of them said, ‘He is controlled by a demon. He has gone crazy! Why should we listen to him?’21But others said, ‘A person controlled by a demon does not say things like this. Can a demon open the eyes of someone who is blind?’
Another challenge to Jesus’ claims
22Then came the Feast of Hanukkah at Jerusalem. It was winter.23Jesus was in the temple courtyard walking in Solomon’s Porch.24The Jews who were gathered there around Jesus spoke to him. They said, ‘How long will you keep us waiting? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’25Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you. But you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name are a witness for me.26But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep.27My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.28I give them eternal life, and they will never die. No one will steal them out of my hand.29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than anyone. No one can steal them out of my Father’s hand.30I and the Father are one.’31Again the Jews who had challenged him picked up stones to kill him.32But Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many good works from the Father. Which good work are you throwing stones at me for?’33‘We are not throwing stones at you for any good work,’ they replied. ‘We are stoning you for saying a very evil thing. You are only a man. But you claim to be God.’34Jesus answered them, ‘Didn’t God say in your Law, “I have said you are ‘gods’ ”? (Ps 82:6)35We know that Scripture is always true. God spoke to some people and called them “gods”.36If that is true, what about the one the Father set apart as his very own? What about this one the Father sent into the world? Why do you charge me with saying a very evil thing? Is it because I said, “I am God’s Son”?37Don’t believe me unless I do the works of my Father.38But what if I do them? Even if you don’t believe me, believe these works. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.’39Again they tried to arrest him. But he escaped from them.40Then Jesus went back across the River Jordan. He went to the place where John had been baptising in the early days. There he stayed.41Many people came to him. They said, ‘John never performed a sign. But everything he said about this man was true.’42And in that place many believed in Jesus.