📖 John — Chapter 10 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Red lettering identifies words spoken by Jesus; it is an editorial reading aid. Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, Rthe same is a thief and a robber.
John 10:2 But Rhe that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:3 To him Rthe porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, Rhe goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
John 10:6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but Rthey understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, RI am the door of the sheep.
John 10:8 All that ever Rcame before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
John 10:9 I am Rthe door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:10 The Rthief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd Rgiveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:12 But Rhe that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
John 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and Rcareth not for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and Rknow my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: Rand I lay down my life for the sheep.
John 10:16 And Rother sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:18 No Rman taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
John 10:19 RThere was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
John 10:20 And many of them said, RHe hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
John 10:21 Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. RCan a devil open the eyes of the blind?
John 10:22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
John 10:23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
John 10:24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, RHow long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
John 10:25 Jesus answered them, RI told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
John 10:26 But ye believe not, Rbecause ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
John 10:27 My Rsheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:28 And RI give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:29 My Father, Rwhich gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
John 10:30 RI and my Father are one.
John 10:31 RThen the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
John 10:32 Jesus answered them, RMany good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; Rbut for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, RI said, Ye are gods?
John 10:35 If he called them gods, Runto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
John 10:36 Say ye of him, Rwhom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
John 10:37 RIf I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, Rbelieve the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
John 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand,
John 10:40 And went away again beyond Jordan into Rthe place where John at first baptized; and there he abode.
John 10:41 And Rmany resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
John 10:42 RAnd many believed on him there.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
John 10:1–18 — The door and good shepherd reveal protective self-giving
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Jesus uses the sheepfold, voice, door, and shepherd to explain his care. The good shepherd knows the sheep and lays down his life willingly, in contrast with thieves and hirelings who abandon them.
Key Truth: Recognize care through faithful protection and self-giving rather than exploitation.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “Then said Jesus unto them again, ____ , verily, I say unto you, I am the door …” (John 10:7)
Find it in John 10:7 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his ____ for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
Find it in John 10:11 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… down, and I have power to take it again. This ____ have I received of my Father.” (John 10:18)
Find it in John 10:18 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
John 10:19–30 — The shepherd’s works and voice answer demands for certainty
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The people divide over Jesus’ words. At the feast of dedication he points to his works and describes his sheep as hearing, following, and receiving secure life in the care of the Son and Father.
Key Truth: Hear and follow rather than demand signs while refusing their testimony.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “There was a ____ therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.” (John 10:19)
Find it in John 10:19 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “And ____ walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.” (John 10:23)
Find it in John 10:23 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “I and my ____ are one.” (John 10:30)
Find it in John 10:30 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
John 10:31–42 — An accusation receives an appeal to Scripture and works
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
When opponents seek to stone him, Jesus asks which good work they condemn and answers the charge with Scripture and the Father’s work in him. He withdraws beyond Jordan, where many believe.
Key Truth: Examine the testimony of Scripture and works with honesty.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “____ the Jews took up stones again to stone him.” (John 10:31)
Find it in John 10:31 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “If I do not the works of my ____ , believe me not.” (John 10:37)
Find it in John 10:37 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “And many ____ on him there.” (John 10:42)
Find it in John 10:42 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 23:1 — The shepherd psalm connects with Jesus’ description of faithful care.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Whose care has been entrusted to you, and how can you exercise it faithfully?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. Which account best distinguishes John 10:1–18 (The door and good shepherd reveal protective self-giving) from the other movements of this chapter?
2. Which account best distinguishes John 10:19–30 (The shepherd’s works and voice answer demands for certainty) from the other movements of this chapter?
3. Which account best distinguishes John 10:31–42 (An accusation receives an appeal to Scripture and works) from the other movements of this chapter?
4. What distinguishes the good shepherd in this saying?
5. What security does Jesus describe for his sheep?
Notes
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