John 10:29 kjv
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:29 nkjv
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
John 10:29 niv
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:29 esv
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
John 10:29 nlt
for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.
John 10 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 10:27-28 | "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; neither will anyone snatch them out of My hand." | Confirms Jesus' personal relationship and promise of eternal life to His followers. |
| John 10:18 | "No one is taking it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. This command I received from My Father." | Jesus' voluntary sacrifice and His authority over His life. |
| John 6:37 | "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." | Reinforces the Father's initiative in drawing believers to Jesus. |
| John 6:39 | "And this is the Father’s will that sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I may lose nothing, but I will raise it up again at the last day." | Connects the Father's will directly to the preservation of those given to Jesus. |
| John 14:28 | "...because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ and the Father is greater than I." | Establishes the Father's preeminence in divine essence, not diminishing Jesus' divinity. |
| Romans 8:38-39 | "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." | Echoes the unassailable security of believers in God's love through Christ. |
| 1 Peter 1:5 | "Who are protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." | Highlights God's power protecting believers. |
| Hebrews 7:25 | "Therefore He is able also to save to the utmost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." | Emphasizes Christ's continuous intercession securing believers. |
| Ephesians 1:13-14 | "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." | The Holy Spirit seals believers, guaranteeing their inheritance. |
| Colossians 3:3-4 | "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." | Believers' lives are secured in Christ with God. |
| 2 Timothy 2:19 | "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.’" | God's assurance of His knowledge of His own and the expectation of holy living. |
| 1 John 5:13 | "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." | The purpose of scripture is to give assurance of eternal life. |
| Genesis 50:20 | "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now happening, that many people should be kept alive." | God's sovereign power to turn evil into good for His purposes. |
| Isaiah 43:13 | "Indeed before the day was, I am He; And no one can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who shall reverse it?" | God's unchanging power and effectiveness. |
| Philippians 1:6 | "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" | The assurance of God's perfecting work in believers. |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:23 | "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." | Prayer for complete preservation by God. |
| Jude 24 | "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy," | God's ability to keep believers from falling. |
| John 17:11 | "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are." | Jesus' prayer for the Father to keep His disciples. |
| John 17:24 | "Father, I desire that they whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may see My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world." | Jesus' desire for His own to be with Him, ensured by the Father's love. |
John 10 verses
John 10 29 Meaning
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. This verse from John 10:29 speaks of the ultimate security and preservation of believers. Jesus asserts the supreme power of His Father, emphasizing that nothing can overpower His divine will concerning those He has given to His Son. It highlights the Triune God's (Father, Son, and the believer) involvement in eternal security.
John 10 29 Context
In John chapter 10, Jesus is engaged in a theological debate with the Jewish religious leaders. He has just used the metaphor of the good shepherd and the sheep to illustrate His relationship with His followers and the leaders' role. The leaders have accused Jesus of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. Following His discourse on His relationship with the Father and the Father's prior knowledge and giving of believers to Him, this verse emerges as a powerful declaration of the immutability of God's purpose and power regarding His own. The immediate context is Jesus defending His identity and ministry against those who reject Him, emphasizing that His authority and protection are divinely secured. Historically, Jesus' audience was steeped in Old Testament covenant theology, where God's faithfulness and power were central.
John 10 29 Word Analysis
- “My Father”: (Greek: ho patēr mou) - Refers to God the Father, establishing a unique relationship between Jesus and God. This divine paternity underpins Jesus' authority and claims.
- “who has given”: (Greek: dedōken) - A perfect tense verb indicating a completed action in the past, with ongoing results. The Father has eternally given believers to the Son, signifying divine election and predestination. This giving is a foundational act for salvation and security.
- “them”: (Greek: autous) - Refers to the believers, the sheep, those who hear Jesus' voice and follow Him.
- “to Me”: (Greek: emoi) - To Jesus, emphasizing the intimate connection and trust between the Father and the Son concerning the salvific plan.
- “is greater”: (Greek: meizōn esti) - Indicates superiority in power, authority, and essence. The Father's greatness is absolute.
- “than all”: (Greek: pantos) - A superlative comparison. No entity, power, or force in existence (created or uncreated, seen or unseen) surpasses the Father. This includes all adversarial forces and human attempts to interfere.
- “and”: (Greek: kai) - Connects the previous statement of the Father’s supreme greatness to the consequence of that greatness regarding the security of believers.
- “no one”: (Greek: oudeis) - A strong negation, encompassing every possible being or force. It denies any possibility of external interference or ability to act independently of God's will in this matter.
- “is able”: (Greek: dynatai) - Possesses the power, capability, or strength.
- “to snatch”: (Greek: arpasai) - To seize or pluck away violently, forcefully, or suddenly. This word emphasizes the aggressive nature of any potential threat against the believers' security.
- “them”: (Greek: autous) - Again, referring to the believers given by the Father.
- “out of”: (Greek: ek) - Denotes origin or source.
- “My Father’s hand”: (Greek: tēs cheiros tou patros mou) - The hand of the Father represents His power, authority, and protective embrace. To be in the Father's hand is to be under His ultimate sovereignty and care. The reference to the Father's hand is a direct continuation of the previous clauses, highlighting the Father's role. Jesus had previously spoken of them being "out of My hand" (John 10:28), now he reinforces it with "out of My Father's hand", signifying that the Son and Father are unified in this protective act.
Word Group Analysis:
- "My Father, who has given them to Me": This phrase establishes the origin of believers in the Father's will and gifting to the Son, indicating divine sovereignty from eternity past. It is foundational to the doctrine of election.
- "is greater than all": This absolute statement emphasizes the unchallengeable power and supremacy of God the Father. It leaves no room for any rival power to undermine His will.
- "no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand": This clause unequivocally states the impossibility of believers being lost due to any external force or internal failure that God has not ordained. It assures absolute security derived from the Father's immeasurable power, guarding those entrusted to the Son. The unity of the Father and Son's protective action is key.
John 10 29 Bonus Section
The phrase "greater than all" speaks not only to power but also to the infinite superiority of God's nature and wisdom compared to all created beings or forces. The metaphor of the hand represents intimate knowledge, possession, and protective strength. The fact that the Father holds them emphasizes a shared, unified work of salvation and preservation between the Father and the Son, demonstrating the Triune God's involvement in ensuring the believer’s final redemption. This passage counters any notion that salvation is fragile or dependent solely on the believer's ability to persevere without divine intervention. It highlights a finished work on the cross and an ongoing, unstoppable work in heaven.
John 10 29 Commentary
This verse is a cornerstone for the doctrine of eternal security. Jesus clearly states that the Father's omnipotence is the ultimate guarantee that those He has given to His Son will be preserved. The Father's greatness surpasses any potential threat. The believers are firmly held, not just by the Son, but within the Father's hand, indicating a unified divine protective custody. This is not about human merit or works, but about God's sovereign power and faithfulness to His eternal plan. The Father giving believers to the Son signifies that they are eternally chosen and securely held before any sin or struggle occurs. The Father's will is perfect and irresistible in securing the elect for His Son.