John 10:10 kjv
The 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.
John 10:10 nkjv
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.
John 10:10 niv
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 esv
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
John 10:10 nlt
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 56:11 | The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough... all gaze at their own gain... | False leaders exploit the flock. |
| Jer 23:1 | Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! | Condemnation of bad shepherds. |
| Eze 34:2-3 | Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Do you not feed the flock?... | Self-serving, harmful shepherds. |
| Eze 34:10 | I am against the shepherds and will demand my sheep from their hand... | God holds false shepherds accountable. |
| Matt 7:15 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. | False teachers deceive and destroy. |
| Acts 20:29 | I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. | Warning against internal threats to the church. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people... exploiting you with false words. | Deceit and exploitation by false teachers. |
| Ps 23:1 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. | Contrast: Good Shepherd provides fully. |
| Jn 1:4 | In him was life, and the life was the light of men. | Jesus as the source of true life. |
| Jn 5:24 | Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life... | Eternal life found in believing Jesus. |
| Jn 5:26 | For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. | Jesus' inherent life-giving power. |
| Jn 6:33 | For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. | Jesus gives life, as spiritual food. |
| Jn 11:25 | I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. | Jesus conquers death, offers eternal life. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." | Jesus embodies true existence. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Contrast: Sin brings death, Jesus brings life. |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love... even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. | Spiritual deadness contrasted with new life in Christ. |
| Col 3:4 | When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. | Christ is the very essence of believer's life. |
| Jn 3:16-17 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | God's motive for sending Jesus and life offered. |
| Lk 19:10 | For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. | Jesus' purpose: to save from perishing. |
| Deut 30:19 | Choose life, that you and your offspring may live... | Choice between life and death. |
| Ps 16:11 | You make known to me the path of life... in your presence there is fullness of joy... | Fullness of life and joy with God. |
| Ps 36:8 | They feast on the abundance of your house... you give them drink from the river of your delights. | Abundant provision from God. |
| Phil 4:19 | And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. | God's abundant provision for all needs. |
| Eph 3:20 | Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think... | God's limitless capacity to give abundantly. |
| 1 Pet 1:8 | Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. | Abundant spiritual experience for believers. |
John 10 verses
John 10 10 Meaning
John 10:10 presents a stark contrast between two figures and their respective purposes: the thief and Jesus, the Good Shepherd. The thief (representing anyone or anything that seeks to harm God's flock, including false teachers and Satan) comes only to steal, to kill, and to destroy. In powerful opposition, Jesus declares His singular purpose in coming: that humanity might possess not just life, but life in its fullest, overflowing, and most complete expression, spiritually and eternally.
John 10 10 Context
John 10:10 is embedded within Jesus' discourse on the Good Shepherd, which immediately follows the healing of the man born blind (John 9) and the subsequent spiritual blindness and judgmentalism of the Pharisees. The Pharisees, acting as the self-appointed spiritual leaders of Israel, had cast out the healed man. Jesus then contrasts their leadership with His own. He begins by presenting Himself as the "door of the sheep" (Jn 10:7) and then the "Good Shepherd" (Jn 10:11), implying a critique of existing spiritual leaders who are likened to "thieves and robbers" (Jn 10:1, 8). This verse thus serves as a powerful declaration of His unique, life-giving mission in direct opposition to those who exploit and harm the flock. Historically, Jewish audiences understood "shepherd" as a metaphor for leadership, both political and spiritual, drawing from extensive Old Testament imagery where God Himself is depicted as a shepherd, and poor human leadership is condemned (e.g., Eze 34).
John 10 10 Word analysis
- The thief (Ὁ κλέπτης - _Ho kleptēs_): "Thief" (κλέπτης) implies one who takes what does not belong to him through stealth, deception, and ill intent. This is not a shepherd but an intruder. The "thief" here can refer to the spiritual leaders of Israel who misguided the people, but ultimately points to Satan (Jn 8:44) and false teachers (Matt 7:15) who prey on the flock of God. It highlights a predatory nature.
- comes (οὐκ ἔρχεται - _ouk erchetai_): This emphasizes purpose. The "thief's" arrival is not accidental but driven by specific, malicious intent, standing in stark contrast to Jesus' divine, purposeful coming (ἦλθον - _ēλthon_).
- but (εἰ μὴ - _ei mē_): This is a strong adversative conjunction, highlighting the absolute contrast between the thief's motive and Jesus' motive. There is no other reason for the thief's appearance.
- to steal (ἵνα κλέψῃ - _hina klepsē_): The primary goal is to deprive the owner (God) of His possession (the sheep/people). This signifies taking souls away from God's fold, spiritual deceit.
- and to kill (καὶ θύσῃ - _kai thysē_): "Kill" (θύσῃ, from θύω) here means to slaughter or sacrifice. It indicates the destruction of life, physically or spiritually, leading sheep to their death. This goes beyond mere theft to outright destruction of the sheep.
- and to destroy (καὶ ἀπολέσῃ - _kai apolesē_): "Destroy" (ἀπολέσῃ, from ἀπόλλυμι) implies bringing to ruin, utter loss, or eternal perdition. It's the ultimate undoing, making something useless or lost. This refers to spiritual and eternal ruin of the soul.
- I (Ἐγὼ - _Egō_): Emphatic personal pronoun. Jesus contrasts Himself directly with the thief, asserting His divine identity and authority. He speaks of His own intentional action.
- came (ἦλθον - _ēλthon_): Jesus' "coming" is purposeful, a divinely orchestrated act of incarnation with a specific mission. It speaks to His pre-existence and the intentionality of His entry into the world.
- that (ἵνα - _hina_): This introduces a purpose clause, stating the clear, positive reason for Jesus' advent.
- they may have life (ζωὴν ἔχωσιν - _zōēn echōsin_): "Life" (ζωή - _zōē_) in John's Gospel signifies not just biological existence (βίος - _bios_), but spiritual, eternal, and divine life—a quality of life lived in communion with God. It is the very life that comes from God and leads to everlasting fellowship with Him.
- and (καὶ - _kai_): This conjunction connects and intensifies the two aspects of the life Jesus offers.
- have it more abundantly (περισσὸν ἔχωσιν - _perisson echōsin_): "Abundantly" (περισσός - _perissos_) means exceedingly, beyond measure, over and above, in superabundance, to the point of overflowing. It describes a life that is full, rich, thriving, and complete, not just a meager existence or bare salvation, but an immeasurably rich and deeply satisfying spiritual existence that extends into eternity.
- "The thief comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy": This phrase groups the three destructive purposes of evil. The progression from stealing (taking what isn't yours), to killing (taking life), to destroying (complete ruin) illustrates the escalating malice of the opposing force to God's flock. It’s a purposeful mission of demolition, contrasting sharply with the creation and preservation intended by God. This trio is often linked to the work of Satan and his agents who target human souls.
- "I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly": This phrase captures Jesus' twin, encompassing goals. "Life" counteracts "death/kill," and "abundant life" goes beyond just averting "destruction," offering a flourishing, overflowing existence far beyond what was lost or even imagined. This abundant life encompasses joy, peace, purpose, spiritual vitality, and a full relationship with God. It signifies divine provision in every aspect of a believer's being, addressing spiritual, emotional, and eternal dimensions.
John 10 10 Bonus section
The concept of "abundant life" does not promise material wealth or freedom from suffering, but rather a spiritual fullness and qualitative richness of existence in Christ, irrespective of outward circumstances. It is a life deeply rooted in God's presence and provision. This declaration also functions as an implicit call to discernment for the "sheep"—they must choose to follow the one who offers true life over those whose actions clearly lead to death and ruin. It’s a call to identify and follow the true Shepherd based on the fruit of their actions. The Greek word perissos for "abundantly" is rich, implying a surplus, what remains over and above what is necessary, an extravagance of good. This highlights God's generosity and the immeasurable depth of the blessings available in Christ, not just survival, but thriving.
John 10 10 Commentary
John 10:10 is a pivotal declaration of Jesus' mission, sharply distinguishing it from the malevolent aims of all that oppose God's people. The "thief" embodies all forces of spiritual evil—false teachers, exploitative leaders, and ultimately, Satan—whose singular, progressive objective is to steal souls from God's ownership, metaphorically kill their spiritual vitality, and eternally destroy their connection with their Creator. This is not merely an act of negligence but one of intentional harm. In dramatic contrast, Jesus states His unequivocal purpose: He came personally, an act of divine intent, to bestow life. This "life" is not mere earthly existence but divine, spiritual, and eternal life (zoē). Furthermore, Jesus does not offer life grudgingly, but "more abundantly" (perissos), signifying an overflowing, superlative existence characterized by spiritual richness, deep joy, lasting peace, and purpose that transcends worldly measures, promising not just survival but thriving in God. It underscores the unparalleled grace and generosity of God found in Christ, offering a qualitative richness far surpassing any alternative.