John 10 26

John 10:26 kjv

But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

John 10:26 nkjv

But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.

John 10:26 niv

but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

John 10:26 esv

but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

John 10:26 nlt

But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep.

John 10 verses

John 10 26 Meaning

John 10:26 clarifies why some do not believe in Jesus: it is because they are not His true sheep. This statement highlights that genuine faith in Jesus stems from a spiritual identity and a divine relationship initiated by Him. Belief is not a human effort to become His sheep, but rather the natural response of those whom He has chosen and called as His own, enabling them to recognize His voice and follow Him.

John 10 26 Context

This verse is situated within Jesus' profound "Good Shepherd" discourse (John 10), delivered during the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem. Following His extensive explanation of Himself as the Shepherd of the sheep and the Door, the Jews present in Solomon's Portico directly confront Him, demanding that He state plainly if He is the Christ (v. 24). John 10:26 is Jesus' direct answer to their persistent questioning and their evident inability to believe His previous clear declarations (v. 25). He asserts that their unbelief stems from their fundamental lack of belonging to His flock. The immediate context of verses 27-29 then further defines His sheep as those who hear, follow, and are eternally secured in His and the Father's hand. Historically, this dialogue highlights the significant tension between Jesus' claims and the prevailing interpretations and expectations of many Jewish leaders and individuals, who often emphasized ethnic lineage as sufficient for covenant status, whereas Jesus unequivocally stressed a spiritual relationship demonstrated by active faith and obedience. This was a direct counter-argument to a purely nationalistic or works-based understanding of belonging to God.

John 10 26 Word analysis

• But (Ἀλλὰ - Alla): A strong adversative conjunction that introduces a stark contrast or opposition. Here, it contrasts Jesus' previous assertion that His works bear witness to Him (v. 25) with the Jews' continued unbelief, preparing the reader for the definitive reason.
• you (ὑμεῖς - Hymeis): An emphatic second-person plural pronoun, pointedly addressing the specific group of Jews who were questioning Jesus. It deliberately distinguishes them from the true "My sheep" mentioned later.
• do not believe (οὐ πιστεύετε - ou pisteuete): Pisteuete (from pisteuō) means "you believe" (present active indicative), combined with ou, the particle of absolute negation. This signifies a persistent and ongoing state of unbelief, or a willful refusal to place trust and reliance upon Jesus. This "not believing" implies more than mere intellectual disagreement; it's a failure to embrace Him in saving faith.
• because (ὅτι - hoti): A causal conjunction, directly introducing the reason or explanation for their unbelief. It points to the underlying spiritual reality behind their observed actions.
• you are not (οὐκ ἐστέ - ouk este): Este (from eimi) means "you are" (present indicative), negated by ouk. This is a profound declaration concerning their true identity and spiritual status—a definitive statement of not belonging. It’s not a temporary state but reveals a fundamental distinction.
• My sheep (τῶν προβάτων τῶν ἐμῶν - tōn probatōn tōn emōn): Probatōn (sheep) is in the genitive plural. Emōn ("My own") is a possessive pronoun emphasizing intimate ownership and belonging. The phrase highlights a profound, special, and personal relationship between Jesus as the Shepherd and those who are truly His. Being "My sheep" implies a spiritual recognition of, and submission to, the Shepherd's voice, indicating a divinely established bond.

Words-Group Analysis

• "But you do not believe because": This phrase constructs a direct causal link. Their active unbelief is explained by an underlying condition. The "because" is crucial, identifying the deeper spiritual truth rather than simply observing their action.
• "you are not My sheep": This foundational statement clarifies the very reason for their unbelief. It communicates that being "His sheep" is a spiritual identity, divinely established, that precedes and enables genuine saving belief. It's not that belief makes them His sheep, but that being His sheep empowers them to believe. Those who are not His sheep inherently lack the spiritual discernment and intimate relationship necessary to recognize and embrace His divine claims. This emphasizes divine initiative and election as central to true faith, setting His true followers apart by a divine recognition, beyond human decision or ethnic heritage.

John 10 26 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a crucial Johannine theological theme: the indispensable link between spiritual identity, divine calling, and genuine faith. It reinforces Jesus' earlier statements about people being "of God" or "of the truth" (John 8:47, 18:37), and that "no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). The "Good Shepherd" discourse consistently presents the Father giving specific individuals to the Son (John 6:37, 6:39, 17:6, 17:9, 17:24), implying a divine selection. Therefore, the unbelief described in John 10:26 is not an arbitrary condemnation, but rather the manifestation of a pre-existing spiritual state—a lack of the divinely-imparted capacity or inclination to receive and believe Christ. While human choice to reject is evident, the verse frames that rejection as stemming from a foundational, inherent non-belonging to God's chosen flock, highlighting the gracious and sovereign work of God in enabling salvation.

John 10 26 Commentary

John 10:26 provides profound insight into the nature of true faith and the sovereignty of God. Jesus does not state that the Jews refuse to believe and therefore are not His sheep, but rather that their inability to believe is a direct consequence of them not being His sheep. This points to a deeper, divinely-initiated spiritual reality. "Being His sheep" is not an acquired status through human effort or merit, but a state of spiritual belonging, intimacy, and a discerning ear for the Shepherd's voice, divinely bestowed. Those who are truly His are characterized by hearing His voice and following Him (v. 27). The rejection by those Jesus addresses, despite His clear words and undeniable works, demonstrates their spiritual estrangement. This verse underscores that genuine faith is a gift and a divinely enabled response from hearts already designated as belonging to Him, allowing them to perceive and embrace Him as Lord and Messiah.