John 10 13

John 10:13 kjv

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

John 10:13 nkjv

The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

John 10:13 niv

The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

John 10:13 esv

He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

John 10:13 nlt

The hired hand runs away because he's working only for the money and doesn't really care about the sheep.

John 10 verses

John 10 13 Meaning

John 10:13 concisely reveals the inherent flaw and motivation of a hired hand: they abandon the sheep when danger approaches because their primary concern is their wages, not the well-being of the flock. Their lack of genuine care for the sheep's safety and survival stems from their transactional relationship as a paid laborer rather than a committed caretaker. This verse highlights the profound difference between mercenary service and selfless devotion.

John 10 13 Context

John 10:13 is part of Jesus' discourse on the Good Shepherd, which begins in verse 1 and extends through verse 21. Jesus uses the allegory of a sheepfold to differentiate true, divinely appointed spiritual leaders from false ones. In the preceding verses (10:1-5), He contrasts Himself as the "door" and the "shepherd" with "thieves and robbers" who try to enter by other means. After explaining that He is the door (10:7-10), Jesus then identifies as the "Good Shepherd" (10:11-12). Verse 13 explicitly contrasts this "Good Shepherd" with a "hired hand." Historically and culturally, shepherding was a familiar image in agrarian Israel. The distinction between an owner-shepherd, deeply invested in his flock, and a hired laborer, whose commitment was tied to his wages, was stark and universally understood. This verse serves as a crucial point of comparison, demonstrating why the hired hand's actions differ so sharply from the true Shepherd's sacrificial love, preparing for Jesus' declaration of laying down His life. The wider context of this discourse also reflects Jesus' veiled polemic against the Jewish religious leaders (like the Pharisees), whom He frequently depicted as failing in their duty to guide God's people (the "sheep"), ultimately caring more for their own status and traditions than the spiritual welfare of the flock.

John 10 13 Word analysis

• The hired hand (Greek: ὁ μισθωτὸς, ho misthōtos): Refers to a worker employed for wages, indicating a contractual relationship. His motivation is extrinsic—money—rather than intrinsic care for the sheep. This identity defines his actions.
• flees (Greek: φεύγει, pheugei): Present tense, implying a characteristic, habitual action. This desertion in the face of danger is a defining behavior of the hired hand, showing his unreliability and lack of loyalty when circumstances become difficult.
• because (Greek: ὅτι, hoti): Introduces the reason for the fleeing, directly linking the hired hand's nature to his behavior.
• he is a hired hand (Greek: μισθωτός ἐστιν, misthōtos estin): Reinforces the primary identity and motivation. This repetition emphasizes that his nature as a wage-earner is the fundamental reason for his actions. It underscores the lack of personal stake or bond.
• and (Greek: καὶ, kai): Connects two distinct yet related reasons or characteristics for the hired hand's behavior.
• cares nothing for (Greek: οὐ μέλει αὐτῷ περὶ, ou melei autō peri): A strong negative expression meaning "it matters nothing to him concerning" or "he has no concern for." This is more forceful than simply "he doesn't care," indicating a complete lack of emotional or vested interest in the well-being of the sheep. His indifference is absolute.
• the sheep (Greek: τῶν προβάτων, tōn probatōn): The objects of his neglect and abandonment. The "sheep" represent God's people, vulnerable and in need of dedicated protection, further emphasizing the gravity of the hired hand's failure.

John 10 13 Bonus section

The concept of the "hired hand" also has strong prophetic resonances with Old Testament passages (e.g., Ezekiel 34, Jeremiah 23, Zechariah 11) that heavily criticize the shepherds of Israel for feeding themselves instead of the flock, for scattering rather than gathering, and for abandoning the weak. Jesus is, by implication, positioning himself as the fulfillment of the righteous shepherd prophesied to come, while simultaneously leveling a powerful critique against the religious authorities of his day who, in his view, acted as neglectful "hired hands" towards God's people. The use of the Greek misthōtos also captures a common sociological reality of the time where employees often had limited loyalty beyond their pay, making their reliability contingent.

John 10 13 Commentary

John 10:13 serves as a pivotal distinction within Jesus' Good Shepherd discourse, starkly contrasting His sacrificial commitment with the self-preservation of the "hired hand." This verse is not merely descriptive but diagnostic, pinpointing the reason for desertion: the hired hand's core identity and primary motivation are tied solely to personal gain. His interest in the sheep is conditional upon receiving wages and the absence of personal risk. When danger, symbolized by the "wolf" in the preceding verse, arises, his self-interest overrides any sense of duty, leading him to abandon the vulnerable flock. This critical insight exposes a mercenary spirit devoid of genuine care, sharply contrasting with Jesus, who unequivocally declares He lays down His life for the sheep (Jn 10:11, 15). The implication extends to spiritual leaders—those who minister for personal profit or acclaim will fail God's people when faced with trials, persecutions, or opposition, unlike true shepherds whose hearts are genuinely invested in the flock's welfare, willing even to make the ultimate sacrifice.