John 10

1 “Truly, truly [verily, I assure you], I tell you, whoever does not enter [come in through] the sheepfold [fold of the sheep, enclosure] by the gate [door, entrance], but climbs [ascends, goes up] in some other way [from elsewhere, by another means], is a thief [one who steals, a robber] and a robber [rebel, one who takes by force]. word study 2 But the one [he, a specific individual] who enters [goes in, comes through] by the gate [door, entrance] is the shepherd [keeper, caretaker] of the sheep [flock, followers]. word study 3 The gatekeeper [porter, doorkeeper] opens the gate for him, and the sheep [his flock, followers] listen for his voice [sound, words of guidance]. He calls his own [private, personal] sheep by name [character, identity] and leads them out [guides them forth, brings them out to pasture]. word study 4 When [at the point in time, whenever] he has brought out [led forth, expelled] all his own [private, personal], he goes on ahead of them [before them, as their leader], and his sheep follow him [accompany him, obey his guidance] because they know [recognize, are familiar with] his voice [sound, spoken words, the tone of a shepherd]. word study 5 But they will never follow [refuse to accompany] a stranger [one who is not their keeper]; in fact, they will flee [run away quickly] from him because they do not recognize [know or acknowledge] his voice [the sound of his words, the tone of his speech].” word study 6 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] spoke to them using this [a specific] illustration [parable, proverb], but they did not understand [comprehend, know] what He was telling [speaking, saying] them [to those people]. word study 7 So He said to them again [once more], “Truly, truly [verily, amen], I tell you, I am [exist as] the gate [door, entrance] for the sheep [those who follow a leader, God’s people]. word study 8 All [every single one] who came [approached, arrived] before Me were [are considered to be] thieves [robbers, taking by stealth] and robbers [rebellious plunderers, taking by force], but the sheep [God’s people, followers] did not listen [hear, obey] to them [those false leaders]. word study 9 I am the gate [door, entrance to salvation]. If anyone enters [comes in, passes through] through Me, he will be saved [rescued, delivered from harm]. He will come in [enter, have access] and go out [exit, have freedom] and find [discover, meet with] pasture [food, nourishment, spiritual sustenance]. word study 10 The thief [a deceiver, one who steals] comes only to steal [take without permission] and kill [to destroy physically or spiritually] and destroy [to utterly ruin, lose completely]. I have come [to bring salvation, redemption] that they may have life [eternal, spiritual existence, abundant], and have it in all its fullness [excessive, superior in quality or quantity, overflowing]. word study 11 I am the good [fair, beautiful] shepherd [one who cares for and guides]. The good [excellent, noble] shepherd lays down [gives, sacrifices] His life [the breath of life, soul] for [on behalf of, in place of] the sheep [those who follow a leader]. word study 12 The hired hand [a worker for wages, not the owner] is not the shepherd [one who cares for and guides], and the sheep [God’s people, followers of the shepherd] are not his own [private, personal possession]. When he sees [perceives, discerns] the wolf [a predator] coming, he abandons [leaves, forsakes] the sheep and runs away [flees, escapes]. Then the wolf [a fierce attacker] pounces on them and scatters [disperses, spreads out] the flock [the group of sheep, the community]. word study 13 The man [a hired worker, servant] runs away because he is a [paid laborer] hired servant [working only for pay] and is unconcerned [does not care, has no interest] for the sheep [God’s people, followers]. word study 14 I [the Messiah, the Son of God] am the good [faithful, selfless] shepherd [one who cares for and guides]. I know [have a deep understanding of, am intimately acquainted with] My sheep [those who belong to Me, My followers] and My sheep know [recognize, understand] Me [their Lord, their Savior], word study 15 just as [in the same way] the Father [the supreme Parent, divine Source] knows Me [recognizes, understands] and I know [have intimate knowledge of] the Father [the heavenly Father, divine Authority]. And I lay down [sacrifice, give up] My life [soul, breath of life] for [on behalf of, in place of] the sheep [those who follow, believers]. word study 16 I have other [different, not of this fold] sheep that are not of this [sheep] fold [courtyard, enclosure]. I must [it is necessary for me to] bring them in as well [together, into one flock], and they will listen to [hear, obey, and follow] My voice [sound, noise, or spoken words]. Then there will be [become, come into being] one [unified, single] flock [group of people, or sheep] and one [single, unified] shepherd [caretaker, guide, or leader]. word study 17 The reason [because of, through] the Father [a male parent] loves Me [shows esteem and goodwill towards Me] is that I lay down [sacrifice, give up] My life [the breath of life, seat of emotions] in order to [for the purpose of] take it up [receive, accept] again [once more]. word study 18 No one [none, nobody] takes it from Me, but I lay it down [sacrifice, give up] of My own accord [myself, voluntarily]. I have authority [power, freedom to act] to lay it down and authority [power, freedom to act] to take it up again [receive it back, resume it]. This charge [commandment, instruction] I have received [taken, accepted] from My Father [the one who sent Me].” word study 19 Again [once more, as before] there was [came into being, existed] division [split, separation] among [in the midst of] the Jews [people of Judah] because of [through] Jesus’ message [words, teachings]. word study 20 Many [a large crowd, numerous] of them said, “He is [possessed by, has] demon-possessed [an evil spirit, unclean being] and [beside himself, out of his mind] insane [raving, furious]. Why would you listen [hear and obey, give ear] to Him [the Messiah, the Savior]?” word study 21 But others [some people, certain ones] replied, “These are not [certainly not, by no means] the words [declarations, utterances] of a man [person, individual] possessed [under the control, demonized] by a demon [evil spirit, unclean being]. Can [is it possible for] a demon [evil spirit, unclean being] open [make accessible, restore] the eyes [sight, vision] of the blind [physically or spiritually sightless, without perception]?” word study 22 At that time [then, during this period] the Feast [festival, celebration] of Dedication [rededication, renewal] took place [occurred, happened] in Jerusalem [the holy city]. It was [existed, came to be] winter [the rainy season, a time of cold], word study 23 and Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] was walking [to walk or live in a certain way, following God’s path] in the temple [a sacred place, the entire area of the Temple in Jerusalem] courts [open areas, public spaces] in Solomon’s [referring to the son of King David, a king of Israel] Colonnade [a portico, a covered walkway with columns, also known as a porch or stoa]. word study 24 So the Jews [from Judah, Jewish leaders] gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense [in doubt, uncertain]? If You are the Christ [the Messiah, anointed one], tell us plainly [with boldness, openly, without hesitation].” word study 25 “I already [previously] told you,” Jesus [the Messiah, God’s Anointed] replied, “but you did not [refuse to, would not] believe [trust, have faith]. The works [miracles, deeds] I do [perform, accomplish] in My Father’s [God’s, the Creator’s] name [authority, character] testify [bear witness, give evidence] on My behalf [about Me, concerning Me]. word study 26 But [in contrast, as I have said] because you are not [do not belong to] My [possessing a unique relationship with Me] sheep [followers, those under My care], you refuse [choose not, are unwilling] to believe [trust, have faith, to trust in someone or something, implying a deep conviction and reliance]. word study 27 My [faithful, obedient] sheep [followers, disciples] listen [hear and obey, give ear to] to My [divine, heavenly] voice [sound, noise]; I [as their Shepherd, personally] know [recognize, understand] them, and they follow [accompany, obey] Me [as their Lord, Master]. word study 28 I give [bestow as a gift, grant] them eternal [lasting forever, age-during] life [spiritual existence], and they will never [at no time, not ever] perish [be destroyed, lost]. No one [not a single person, no man] can snatch [seize by force, pluck away] them out of My [from My own] hand [power, care, protection]. word study 29 My Father [who has given them to me as a gift] who has given them to Me [those that the Father has entrusted to me] is greater [more powerful, supreme] than all [everything, every person]. No one [none, nobody] can snatch [seize, pluck away] them out of My Father’s [the Father’s, my heavenly Father’s] hand [care, protection]. word study 30 I [the speaker’s personal reference] and the Father [the male parent and divine authority] are [to be, exist as] one [hen, unified and equal, like a single entity].” word study 31 At this [then, therefore], the Jews [people from Judah, Jewish leaders] again [once more, as before] picked up [took up, carried] stones [rocks, used for punishment] to stone [throw stones at, punish with stones] Him [Jesus, the Messiah, Himself]. word study 32 But Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] responded, “I have shown [exhibited, made known] you many [a large number] good [beautiful, noble] works [deeds, acts] from [originating with] the Father [the male parent, God]. For which [what sort, which one] of these do you stone [punish by throwing stones] Me [Jesus, the speaker]?” word study 33 “We are not stoning You for any good [beneficial, noble] work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy [evil speaking, slander], because You, who are a man [a human being, mortal], declare Yourself to be God [the one true deity, having divine nature].” word study 34 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] replied, “Is it not written [recorded, inscribed] in your Law [the set of rules or regulations, Moses’ law]: ‘I [the speaker, Jesus] have said [spoken, declared] you are [exist as, have the nature of] gods’ ? word study 35 If [in the event that, as a condition] he called them [those leaders, the ones appointed] gods [having divine authority, representatives of God] to whom [toward whom, in the direction of] the word [Logos, the divine message] of God [the one true deity] came—and the Scripture [the written Word, holy writings] cannot [is not able, is powerless] be broken [loosed, untied, or annulled]— word study 36 then what about the One [set apart, sanctified] whom the Father [the ultimate Authority] sanctified [made holy, set apart] and sent [dispatched, commissioned] into the world [the orderly arrangement of creation]? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy [speaking evil, slander] for stating that I am the Son [a child or descendant] of God [θεου, the one true Deity]? word study 37 If [in the event that, if it is not the case] I am not doing [accomplishing, performing] the works [deeds, miracles] of My Father [the One who sent Me, having a divine nature], then [at that time, in that situation] do not believe [trust, have faith in] Me [in My words, in My person]. word study 38 But if I am doing them [performing miracles, demonstrating divine power], even though you do not believe Me [have faith in, trust], believe the works [miracles, signs] themselves, so that you may know [understand, recognize] and understand [perceive, comprehend] that the Father [the Creator, God] is in Me [dwelling, residing], and I am in the Father [in harmony, united].” word study 39 At this [therefore, as a consequence], they tried again [once more, a second time] to seize [arrest, take hold of] Him, but He escaped [went out, came forth] their grasp [hand, power]. word study 40 Then Jesus went back across [across the other side] the Jordan [river in Palestine] to the place [location, specific spot] where John [the Baptist] had first [initially, at the beginning] been baptizing [immersing in water, fully wetting], and He stayed [remained, abode] there [in that location, to that place]. word study 41 Many [a large crowd, numerous people] came to Him and said, “Although John [the Baptist, a prophet] never performed [did not do, failed to accomplish] a sign [miracle, supernatural wonder], everything [all things, each word] he said [spoke, proclaimed] about [concerning, regarding] this man [Jesus, the Messiah] was true [genuine, authentic].” word study 42 And [also, in addition to what had happened before] many [a large number, a multitude] in that place [there, to that location] believed [to trust, have faith] in Jesus [the Messiah, the Savior]. word study