John 21 16

John 21:16 kjv

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 21:16 nkjv

He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

John 21:16 niv

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

John 21:16 esv

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." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."

John 21:16 nlt

Jesus repeated the question: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus said.

John 21 verses

John 21 16 Meaning

John 21:16 records Jesus' second interrogation of Peter after His resurrection, following Peter's triple denial. Jesus asks Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" using the word agapaō for a deep, self-sacrificial love. Peter responds again, acknowledging Jesus' omniscience and affirming his love with the word phileō, indicating brotherly affection or friendship. In response to Peter's affirmation, Jesus reinstates him by commissioning him with the command, "Tend My sheep," reassigning him to the vital task of pastoring and caring for the Christian community. This exchange signifies Peter's restoration, emphasizing that devoted service to Christ flows from a heart that genuinely loves Him, despite past failures.

John 21 16 Context

John 21:16 occurs during one of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. This setting deliberately mirrors the earlier call of the first disciples (Luke 5). The immediate preceding context is Jesus' first question to Peter regarding his love, followed by the command "Feed My lambs." This interaction comes after Peter's highly publicized and deeply humiliating triple denial of Jesus before the crucifixion, making the repeated questions and re-commissioning a profound act of restoration and grace. The historical-cultural background highlights the familiar and deeply symbolic role of a shepherd in the ancient Near East, a title frequently applied to kings, leaders, and especially to God Himself and His Messiah in Jewish tradition. For the original Jewish audience, the command to "tend My sheep" immediately evoked not merely feeding, but nurturing, protecting, guiding, and governing God's people.

John 21 16 Word analysis

• He said to him a second time: Emphasizes the repetition, directly paralleling Peter's three denials of Jesus (Jn 18:15-27; Matt 26:69-75). This is not an accusation but an opportunity for threefold reaffirmation and restoration.
• "Simon, son of John": Jesus uses Peter's birth name, rather than "Peter" (Rock), which Jesus Himself had given him (Matt 16:18). This address strips away the apostolic title and gently reminds Peter of his humanity, perhaps referencing the raw vulnerability and human frailty demonstrated in his recent denial. It serves as a grounding moment before restoration.
• "do you love Me?" (ἀγαπᾷς με / agapaō me): Jesus employs agapaō, which refers to a divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, principled love. It is the highest form of love in the Greek, signifying a deliberate choice and commitment, often without consideration for emotional reciprocity. This type of love is characteristic of God Himself. Jesus asks Peter for this highest devotion.
• "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." (σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε / su oidas hoti philō se):
  • "Yes, Lord": Peter acknowledges Jesus' divine authority and lordship.
  • "You know" (σὺ οἶδας / su oidas): Peter appeals to Jesus' omniscience (Jn 16:30), trusting that Jesus knows the truth of his heart and recognizes the genuineness of his affection, despite his past failure and the limitation of his chosen word for "love."
  • "that I love You." (φιλῶ σε / philō se): Peter responds with phileō, a brotherly love, strong affection, or friendship love. While heartfelt and fervent, it does not carry the same demanding, self-sacrificial nuance as agapaō. This contrast is highly significant; scholars widely interpret this as Peter, humbled by his denial, honestly admitting he can only offer a deep, human friendship love, perhaps feeling unworthy of claiming the full agape love for Jesus after his recent failure. It highlights Jesus' condescension and grace in meeting Peter where he is.
• "Tend My sheep" (ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου / poimaine ta provata mou):
  • "Tend" (ποίμαινε / poimaine): An imperative verb meaning "to shepherd," "to care for," "to guide," "to feed," "to protect," "to govern." It signifies comprehensive pastoral care and leadership, not merely passive supervision. It’s an active verb calling for nurturing and leading the flock.
  • "My sheep" (τὰ πρόβατά μου / ta provata mou): Refers to Jesus' followers, the church (Jn 10:27-28). The possessive "My" strongly emphasizes Jesus' ownership and ultimate headship over the flock. Peter is to serve as an undershepherd, caring for what belongs to Christ, not for his own gain or glory. This underscores the core responsibility of Christian leadership as selfless service to Christ's people.

John 21 16 Bonus section

The narrative structure of Jesus asking Peter three times and commanding him three times perfectly mirrors and effectively reverses Peter's triple denial. This literary device signals complete absolution and full restoration, cancelling out his past failure. Peter's consistent response with phileō rather than agapaō has been interpreted by some as a profound lesson in humility, acknowledging the gap between divine expectation and human capacity, yet finding acceptance and purpose within that space. This passage does not just re-commission Peter but also serves as an enduring model for all Christian leadership: true pastorship springs from a heart devoted to Jesus, expressed through sacrificial love for His church, always acknowledging Him as the ultimate owner and Shepherd of the flock. It is a powerful affirmation that a leader's worth is not defined by flawless performance but by repentant love and faithful service enabled by God's grace.

John 21 16 Commentary

John 21:16 is a pivotal moment in Peter's restoration and recommissioning, emphasizing the intertwining of love for Christ and service to His people. Jesus, by asking Peter the same profound question for the second time, gracefully yet firmly probes the depth of Peter's love following his three denials. The deliberate use of agapaō by Jesus, coupled with Peter's humbled response of phileō, highlights the profound nature of divine love sought by Christ and the very human capacity to respond. Peter's reliance on Jesus' omniscient knowledge ("You know that I love You") demonstrates genuine contrition and an appeal to divine grace, admitting his human love, though fervent, falls short of the ideal agape Jesus asked for. Despite this, Jesus fully restores Peter to ministry with the command, "Tend My sheep." This command elevates Peter to a vital leadership role, transforming his shame into a call to selfless service. It illustrates that faithful Christian leadership is rooted in a personal, sincere love for Jesus, leading to dedicated and compassionate care for His flock. Practical usage: This passage encourages self-examination of one's own love for Christ as the foundation for any ministry or service, reminding us that God uses even flawed individuals for His purposes, demonstrating immense grace and restorative power.