John 10 27

John 10:27 kjv

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

John 10:27 nkjv

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

John 10:27 niv

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 esv

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:27 nlt

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

John 10 verses

John 10 27 Meaning

Jesus states that His sheep, those who truly belong to Him, hear His voice. This implies an active reception and obedience to His teachings. They also follow Him, indicating a life lived in accordance with His will and example. This deep, intimate relationship ensures eternal security and abundant life, meaning they will never perish. Furthermore, Jesus assures them that no one can snatch them from His hand, signifying divine protection and the inability of any external force or person to take away their salvation.

John 10 27 Context

This verse is spoken by Jesus within the discourse in the temple during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), as recorded in John chapter 10. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees regarding His claims of divine authority. He uses the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to explain His relationship with those who follow Him, contrasting them with hirelings and thieves who seek to harm the flock. Jesus emphasizes that His sheep recognize His voice and follow Him, a stark contrast to those who reject Him. This particular verse serves as a climactic declaration of the security and eternal destiny of His true followers within this broader dialogue.

John 10 27 Word Analysis

• ἐμοῦ (emou): "my" (genitive singular of ἐγώ, ego - I). Refers to Jesus' possession or origin.
• τῆς ἐμῆς (tes emes): "my" (genitive singular feminine of ἐμός, emos - my). Possessive pronoun for "voice."
• φωνῆς (phones): "voice" (nominative singular of φωνή, phone - voice, sound, utterance). The specific audible communication of Jesus.
• ἀκούουσιν (akouousin): "hear" (third person plural present active indicative of ἀκούω, akouo - to hear, listen to, obey). Continuous action of hearing and giving heed to.
• καὶ (kai): "and" (conjunction). Connecting phrase.
• ἀκολουθοῦσιν (akolouthousin): "follow" (third person plural present active indicative of ἀκολουθέω, akoloutheo - to follow, accompany, obey). Ongoing act of adherence and discipleship.
• αὐτόν (auton): "Him" (accusative singular masculine of αὐτός, autos - he, she, it, self). Refers back to Jesus.
• καί (kai): "and" (conjunction).
• δίδωμι (didomi): "I give" (first person singular present active indicative of δίδωμι, didomi - to give, grant, impart). Present, continuous action of granting.
• αὐταῖς (autais): "them" (dative plural feminine of αὐτός, autos - he, she, it, self). Refers to the sheep.
• αἰώνιον (aionion): "eternal" (accusative singular feminine of αἰώνιος, aionios - eternal, everlasting, pertaining to an age). Denoting duration without end.
• ζωήν (zon): "life" (accusative singular of ζωή, zoe - life, especially a life of holiness and true blessedness). The abundant, unending life provided by Christ.
• καί (kai): "and" (conjunction).
• οὐ (ou): "not" (negation particle).
• μὴ (me): "not" (used with subjunctive/imperative). In this context, emphasizing the impossibility.
• ἀπολεῖται (apoleitai): "perish" (third person singular future middle/passive indicative of ἀπόλλυμι, apollumi - to destroy, ruin, lose, perish). Certainty of unending existence, not being lost.
• οὐδέ (oude): "nor" (conjunction, a stronger negation).
• οὐδείς (oudeis): "anyone" (nominative singular masculine of οὐδείς, oudeis - no one, not even one). Emphasizing the singular efficacy of Christ’s power.
• ἁρπάζει (harpazei): "snatch" (third person singular present active indicative of ἁρπάζω, harpazo - to seize, snatch away, carry off). A forceful, sudden removal.
• ἐκ (ek): "from" (preposition). Indicates separation from a source.
• τῆς χειρός (tes cheiros): "my hand" (genitive singular feminine of χείρ, cheir - hand). Represents Christ's power, protection, and authority.

Words Group Analysis:

• "Hear my voice and follow me": This phrase signifies an inward obedience and an outward commitment to Christ’s leadership and teachings. It’s not just intellectual assent but a life of active discipleship, characterized by recognizing His voice among many others.
• "I give them eternal life": This is a direct conferral of unending existence, commencing now and continuing into eternity. It's a gift, not earned but received by faith.
• "they will never perish": This assures complete security. The believer's existence is guaranteed, immune to final destruction or loss.
• "No one can snatch them out of my hand": This highlights the absolute power and sovereignty of Christ in protecting His own. His "hand" represents His possession, power, and ultimate authority.

John 10 27 Bonus Section

The phrase "hear my voice" reflects the Old Testament concept of obeying the prophets and God's commands (Deut. 18:19, Isa. 55:3). The idea of no one snatching believers from His hand also resonates with God's safeguarding promises to Israel, such as in Isaiah 43:13, which assures that God acts and who can prevent it. The metaphor of the shepherd, extensively used in the Old Testament (Ps. 23; Isa. 40:11; Jer. 23:3), is powerfully appropriated by Jesus to demonstrate His unique care and authority. The Greek word for "perish" (apollumi) carries the sense of complete loss and destruction, making Christ’s promise of preservation a robust assurance of salvation’s finality.

John 10 27 Commentary

The believer’s unique ability to discern and respond to Jesus’ voice, leading to faithful following, is presented as the hallmark of true ownership by Him. This divine authentication is sealed by the immutable gift of eternal life. This life is characterized by absolute security, meaning there is no possibility of the believer ultimately perishing or being taken away from Christ’s protective grasp. The imagery of His "hand" underscores the ultimate, unassailable security provided by Christ's sovereign power, which none can overcome. This passage strongly supports the doctrine of eternal security for those who are genuinely Christ’s sheep, as secured by His divine promise and power.