John 21:15 kjv
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
John 21:15 nkjv
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
John 21:15 niv
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
John 21:15 esv
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
John 21:15 nlt
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these? " "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." "Then feed my lambs," Jesus told him.
John 21 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 21:15 | "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" | Primary Verse |
| John 13:37 | "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." | Peter's initial confident declaration |
| John 13:38 | "Will you lay down your life for me?" | Jesus' prior challenging question to Peter |
| Luke 22:32 | "But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." | Jesus foretells Peter's restoration |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Love demonstrated through obedience |
| John 15:12 | "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." | The nature of Christ-like love |
| Acts 2:14-41 | Peter's bold sermon after Pentecost | Demonstrates Peter's restored boldness |
| Acts 20:28 | "Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." | Shepherdly responsibility |
| 1 Peter 5:2 | "Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain, but eagerly" | Direct instruction to Peter on shepherding |
| Romans 12:1 | "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." | Sacrifice and dedication in service |
| 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 | "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." | Love as the supreme virtue |
| Song of Solomon 2:16 | "My beloved is mine, and I am his." | Intimate love relationship |
| Jeremiah 31:3 | "The LORD appeared to me from afar and said: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; with steadfast love I have drawn you.'" | God's enduring love |
| Psalm 147:11 | "but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love." | God's pleasure in devoted hearts |
| Matthew 4:19 | "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" | Jesus' initial call to Peter |
| John 21:1 | "Jesus showed himself again to his disciples..." | The setting of the post-resurrection appearance |
| John 21:16 | "He said to him a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.'" | The second iteration of the question |
| John 21:17 | "He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him a third time, 'Do you love me?' And he said to him, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.'" | The third and final iteration |
| Galatians 2:20 | "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." | Personal love for Christ, Christ’s love for us |
| John 6:68 | "Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.'" | Peter's foundational loyalty |
John 21 verses
John 21 15 Meaning
This verse records Jesus asking Peter a profound question about love and service, following Peter's three denials. It signifies a restoration and recommissioning of Peter, emphasizing the depth of his affection for Jesus as the foundation for his leadership and ministry. The repetition of the question "Do you love me?" highlights the importance of sincere devotion.
John 21 15 Context
This encounter takes place by the Sea of Galilee after Jesus' resurrection. The disciples, including Peter, were fishing. Jesus appears on the shore and miraculously provides fish for them. This interaction follows Peter's threefold denial of Jesus during the crucifixion events, where his human strength failed him. The Lord's repeated questioning to Peter directly addresses this failure and serves as a pathway to Peter's restoration and renewed leadership commission. The "these" in the question likely refers to the other disciples or possibly the fishing net/nets, contrasting Peter's proclaimed love with the activity they were engaged in.
John 21 15 Word Analysis
- Simon, son of John:
- Simon: From Hebrew "Shimon," meaning "He has heard." It is Peter's original name, highlighting his identity before his significant transformation.
- son of John: (huios Iōannou) - "John" (Iōannēs) means "Yahweh is gracious." This designation emphasizes his lineage but also the grace Jesus had shown him.
- do you love: (agapas me)
- agapas: (ἀγαπάω) This is the verb for a deep, unconditional, self-sacrificial love, often described as divine love or the love God has for humanity. It denotes a volitional love.
- me: Refers to Jesus Christ himself.
- more than these?: (perissoteron toutōn)
- perissoteron: (περισσοτέρως) Adv. - more abundantly, exceedingly, more. It suggests a comparative degree, asking if Peter's love surpasses something else.
- toutōn: (τούτων) Genitive plural pronoun - "of these." The precise meaning of "these" is debated, potentially referring to:
- The other disciples: Their love compared to Peter's.
- The fish/their fishing endeavors: Their current occupation or their past way of life.
- Peter's prior assertions: His earlier boast of loving Jesus more than the others (John 13:37).
John 21 15 Word Group Analysis
- "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?": This threefold questioning by Jesus is intricately linked to Peter's threefold denial (Luke 22:54-62). The repetition mirrors Peter's unfaithfulness, offering a parallel pathway to redemption and reaffirmed commitment. Jesus' use of Peter's given name "Simon" instead of his new name "Peter" (rock) might signify a return to fundamentals or a direct address to his human, fallible self before reaffirming his rock-like role.
John 21 15 Bonus Section
The setting by the sea, where Peter was called to be a "fisher of men," is highly significant. The miraculous catch of 153 fish (John 21:11) is symbolic of the abundant spiritual harvest Peter and the other disciples would lead under the resurrected Christ. Jesus is patiently rebuilding Peter's confidence and capacity for leadership, assuring him that past failures do not preclude future ministry if true love and dependence on Jesus are restored.
John 21 15 Commentary
Jesus' question is not an interrogation but a carefully crafted invitation to confession and recommitment. It bypasses Peter's previous failure and focuses on the core of true discipleship: love for Christ. The command to "feed my sheep" immediately follows, directly linking Peter's restored love to his responsibility as a leader within the early church. This interaction demonstrates Jesus' profound understanding and mercy in restoring a fallen leader by addressing the root cause of the failure—a weakened love and reliance on self rather than complete dependence on Christ. The shift in verb usage, from Peter's implied agape to Peter's repeated use of phileō (φιλέω - brotherly affection, fondness), can be interpreted in different ways: either Peter humbled by his failure uses a less intense word, or Jesus deliberately uses agape to prompt Peter to reach for that higher level of love. Ultimately, Peter’s consistent affirmation of love, even with the milder phileō, is accepted by Jesus.