John 10:28 kjv
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:28 nkjv
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
John 10:28 niv
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:28 esv
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:28 nlt
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,
John 10 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son... he should have everlasting life. | God's gift of eternal life through faith. |
| Jn 5:24 | He that heareth my word, and believeth... hath everlasting life... passed from death unto life. | Present possession of eternal life. |
| Jn 6:39 | And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing... | Jesus' purpose is to preserve all believers. |
| Jn 6:40 | And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. | Assurance of resurrection and eternal life. |
| Jn 10:29 | My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. | Dual security in Christ and the Father. |
| Jn 17:11-12 | Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me... that they might be one, as we are. | Jesus' prayer for the preservation of His disciples. |
| Jn 17:24 | Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory. | Jesus desires eternal presence with believers. |
| Rom 8:38-39 | For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Nothing can separate believers from God's love. |
| Rom 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. | Eternal life as a gift, not earned. |
| Phil 1:6 | Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. | God's faithfulness to complete His work in believers. |
| 1 Pet 1:5 | Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. | Believers are guarded by God's power. |
| 2 Tim 1:12 | I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. | Confidence in Christ's ability to keep us. |
| Heb 7:25 | Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. | Christ's intercession ensures ongoing salvation. |
| Jude 1:24 | Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. | God's ability to preserve and present blameless. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee... I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. | God's steadfast upholding and strengthening. |
| Ps 91:1-2 | He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty... my God; in him will I trust. | God's protection for those who dwell in Him. |
| Deut 33:27 | The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms... and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee. | God's everlasting refuge and power. |
| Col 3:3 | For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. | Believers' life is securely hidden in God. |
| 1 Jn 5:11-13 | And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son... that ye may know that ye have eternal life. | Assurance and certainty of eternal life. |
| Jn 10:3, 4 | The sheep hear his voice... he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him... for they know his voice. | Believers recognize and follow Jesus' voice. |
| Eze 34:10 | Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand... | God's judgment against unfaithful shepherds. |
| Hos 13:14 | I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues... | God's triumph over death and promise of redemption. |
| Psa 37:28 | For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever... | The Lord preserves His saints forever. |
John 10 verses
John 10 28 Meaning
Jesus proclaims His divine authority and power over His followers, declaring that He grants them eternal life—a present possession and future reality characterized by divine quality and unending duration. This life ensures they will never spiritually perish or be lost to Him. Furthermore, Jesus asserts His ultimate protection, guaranteeing that no external force or adversary can forcibly seize His "sheep" from His powerful and secure grasp. This verse fundamentally assures believers of their permanent salvation and security in Christ.
John 10 28 Context
John chapter 10 presents Jesus as the "Good Shepherd," distinguishing Himself from thieves, robbers, and hirelings who harm or abandon the sheep. This discourse likely took place during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem. Leading up to verse 28, Jesus asserts that His "sheep" – those who hear His voice, follow Him, and are known by Him – belong to Him, forming a profound and personal relationship. The immediate context of this verse is Jesus' response to the Jews' repeated questions about His identity as the Messiah (Jn 10:24). By declaring that He gives eternal life and guarantees the absolute security of His sheep, Jesus directly claims divine power and authority, which subsequently incites accusations of blasphemy from the Jewish leaders. Historically, shepherds were common figures, but the imagery of God as the Shepherd of Israel was deeply embedded in the Old Testament (e.g., Ps 23, Eze 34), making Jesus' claim a profound assertion of His divine role and Messiahship. It also stood as a polemic against the unfaithful Jewish religious leaders who were supposed to shepherd God's flock but often exploited or misled them.
John 10 28 Word analysis
- And I give (κἀγὼ δίδωμι, kagō didōmi): The word kagō (καὶ ἐγὼ) emphatically means "and I myself," highlighting Jesus as the sovereign and direct source of the gift. Didōmi is in the present active indicative, indicating an ongoing, continuous action. This is not a future promise but a present reality. Jesus continually bestows this gift.
- unto them (αὐτοῖς, autois): This pronoun refers to the "my sheep" of verse 27—those who hear Jesus' voice, are known by Him, and follow Him.
- eternal life (ζωὴν αἰώνιον, zōēn aiōnion): This is not merely life that lasts forever, but a quality of life—the very life of God. Zōē refers to active, vibrant life, particularly spiritual life, rather than just existence (bios). Aiōnios denotes duration (everlasting) and, significantly, nature (belonging to the age to come, divine quality). It is a life rooted in knowing God (Jn 17:3).
- and they shall never perish (καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπόλωνται, kai ou mē apolōntai): The phrase ou mē (οὐ μὴ) is a strong double negative in Greek, making the statement an absolute and emphatic denial of perishing. It conveys an utter impossibility. Apolōntai (from apollymi) means to be utterly destroyed, ruined, lost, or to come to eternal damnation, especially in a spiritual sense. Jesus guarantees that His sheep will not experience this ultimate destruction.
- neither shall any man pluck them out (καὶ οὐχ ἁρπάσει τις αὐτὰ, kai ouch harpasei tis auta): Harpasō (from harpazō) implies snatching away violently, seizing forcibly, or taking against resistance. Tis (τις) means "anyone," whether human or spiritual adversary. The assertion is that no one, no force, can forcibly remove them from Jesus' protective care.
- of my hand (ἐκ τῆς χειρός μου, ek tēs cheiros mou): The "hand" metaphorically represents power, authority, protection, and possession. To be "in the hand" is to be completely secure, under the total control and ownership of the one holding them. It speaks of a firm, unwavering grip.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "And I give unto them eternal life": This phrase establishes the divine initiative and nature of salvation. It is an unearned, freely bestowed gift directly from Jesus, demonstrating His sovereign authority to impart the very life of God. The present tense indicates a continuous bestowal and possession.
- "and they shall never perish": This segment assures absolute and irreversible security. It's the immediate, unfailing consequence of receiving eternal life. This promise addresses the ultimate spiritual fate, ensuring that genuine believers will not be lost to eternal condemnation. The strong Greek negation emphasizes the impossibility of their destruction.
- "neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand": This section emphasizes external security. It highlights Jesus' omnipotence and unshakeable hold over His flock. No external power, force, or adversary—be it human or spiritual (demon, temptation, persecution)—can successfully wrest believers away from His divine protection and care. The "hand" signifies divine power, custody, and absolute sovereignty.
John 10 28 Bonus section
This verse, especially when immediately followed by verse 29 ("My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand") and verse 30 ("I and my Father are one"), forms a profound statement of Christ's divinity. The Jews understood this immediately, subsequently attempting to stone Jesus for blasphemy (Jn 10:31-33), as they recognized His claim to have the same power and authority as the Father. This unified security in both Jesus' and the Father's hand powerfully reinforces the believer's preservation; it's a double guarantee of divine omnipotence safeguarding them. The concept of "eternal life" being a present possession ("I give... eternal life," present tense) means believers experience aspects of God's life now, even though its full realization awaits the future resurrection ("already and not yet"). While eternal security is assured, this does not imply license to sin, but rather a profound motivation for worship and holiness, knowing we are loved and held by such a powerful Savior. The strong language against perishing does not exempt believers from earthly suffering, persecution, or physical death, but it guarantees ultimate spiritual salvation and an unthreatened eternal destiny.
John 10 28 Commentary
John 10:28 serves as a cornerstone of Christian assurance, profoundly underscoring Jesus' unique identity, divine power, and enduring commitment to His followers. He Himself is the giver of eternal life—not merely endless existence, but a transformative quality of life rooted in an intimate, present relationship with God, leading to future glory. This gift comes with the absolute guarantee that "my sheep" will "never perish" spiritually. This isn't conditional upon human performance for retention, but rests upon Jesus' promise and His own work of preservation. The impossibility of perishing is sealed by the promise that "no man" (or anything) can "pluck them out of my hand." This vividly illustrates Jesus' unbreakable, protective grip. The security rests entirely on His strength, authority, and love, not on the believer's ability to cling to Him. It's a statement of sovereign grace and divine preservation, reassuring believers of an indestructible relationship and an assured destiny. For practical usage, this verse provides immense comfort and certainty during times of doubt or trial, enabling confident service knowing our eternal standing is secured by Christ alone. It fosters reliance on God's strength over self-effort for spiritual perseverance.