John 10:18 kjv
No 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.
John 10:18 nkjv
No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father."
John 10:18 niv
No 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."
John 10:18 esv
No 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."
John 10:18 nlt
No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."
John 10 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 10:17 | "The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again." | Direct continuation of Jesus' statement. |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." | Jesus as the Good Shepherd, laying down life. |
| Philippians 2:7 | "...but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant..." | Jesus' voluntary self-humiliation. |
| Hebrews 9:14 | "...how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God..." | Christ's voluntary sacrifice. |
| John 19:10 | "Pilate therefore said to Him, 'You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release You, and authority to crucify You?'" | Jesus acknowledges authority of rulers but His own supreme authority. |
| John 10:30 | "I and the Father are one." | Unity with the Father giving Him authority. |
| Isaiah 53:7 | "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter..." | Jesus' passive suffering foreshadowed. |
| Acts 2:24 | "But God raised him up, loosiing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it." | Christ's resurrection, power over death. |
| Romans 6:4 | "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father..." | Resurrection tied to Christ's power. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:45 | "...So it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit." | Christ as the life-giving spirit. |
| 1 Peter 3:18 | "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God..." | Purpose of Christ's suffering and death. |
| John 1:4 | "In him was life, and the life was the light of men." | Jesus as the source of life. |
| John 11:25 | "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.'" | Jesus' claim over death and life. |
| Colossians 3:4 | "When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." | Christ is our life. |
| Matthew 16:21 | "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." | Jesus predicts His death and resurrection. |
| John 14:31 | "...but I do this so that the world may know that I love the Father. Get up, let us go from here." | Obedience to the Father's command. |
| Hebrews 10:7 | "Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" | Fulfillment of God's will. |
| 2 Corinthians 5:14 | "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have judged this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;" | Christ's death for all. |
| Ephesians 5:2 | "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." | Christ's love leading to His sacrifice. |
| Acts 20:28 | "...to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." | The church purchased by Christ's blood. |
John 10 verses
John 10 18 Meaning
No one can take my life from me. I lay it down freely. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back. I have received this command from my Father.
John 10 18 Context
This verse is from Jesus' discourse in Jerusalem during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). He has just healed a man born blind and is confronting the religious leaders (Pharisees) who are hostile towards Him. They had previously sought to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59) and are now disputing His claims about His divine authority and relationship with the Father. The preceding verses (John 10:14-17) highlight Jesus' intimate knowledge of His sheep and His love for them, as well as His impending sacrificial death and resurrection. The historical context is a period of increasing tension and opposition from the Jewish leadership.
John 10 18 Word analysis
"This commandment": Refers to the Father's directive and divine will regarding His mission.
"I have received": Indicates that Jesus' actions are not spontaneous but according to a divine mandate.
"From my Father": Explicitly states the divine source of Jesus' authority and His mission.
"No one takes it from me": Emphasizes Jesus' control over His own life; His death is not forced upon Him without His consent.
"I lay it down": Refers to the voluntary nature of His sacrifice, His willing surrender of His life.
"of my own accord" / "freely": Highlights the self-initiated aspect of His death, not being a victim.
"I have authority to lay it down": Reinforces His power and jurisdiction over His own life, a prerogative of God.
"and I have authority to take it back": Refers to His resurrection, the power to reclaim His life, demonstrating His dominion over death.
Group of words: "authority to lay it down": This phrase signifies Jesus' agency and divine right to offer Himself as a sacrifice. It's a testament to His will being in perfect alignment with the Father's will. This power is uniquely His as the divine Son of God, possessing life inherently.
Group of words: "authority to take it back": This highlights His victory over death. It points directly to His resurrection, signifying that death could not ultimately hold Him. This authority is intrinsically linked to His divine nature and the Father's power.
John 10 18 Bonus section
This verse contrasts Jesus' perspective on His death with how ordinary humans view and experience death. For humans, death is an end, often involuntary and feared. For Jesus, it is a purposeful, controlled event, a necessary step in His redemptive mission, followed by triumphant resurrection. This demonstrates His divine power and the absolute obedience to the Father’s will that characterized His earthly ministry. The concept of "taking it back" is critical, as it directly links His death to His resurrection, without which the sacrifice would be incomplete and without redemptive power. It is also a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies that speak of a Suffering Servant willing to lay down his life.
John 10 18 Commentary
Jesus unequivocally states His supreme authority over His own life and death. His crucifixion is not a helpless surrender to enemies but a deliberate, volitional act undertaken by divine commandment and power. He controls His life’s departure and its subsequent return, underscoring His unique relationship with the Father and His inherent divine authority. This voluntary sacrifice is rooted in His love for the sheep, His flock, and is a testament to His fulfilling God's plan of salvation. His ability to lay down and take back His life is the ultimate proof of His deity and His mastery over sin and death. This verse is central to understanding the atoning sacrifice of Christ.