John 21:16

John 21:16 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.”
• English Standard Version (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."
• New King James Version (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.”

Context of John 21:16

14After Jesus died and became alive again, this was now the third time that he showed himself to his disciples. 15When they had finished eating, Jesus spoke to Simon Peter. He said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these other disciples love me?’ Peter answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Jesus asked him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ 17Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was sad because Jesus asked him a third time, ‘Do you love me?’ So he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I really love you!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Take care of my sheep. 18I tell you this: When you were young, you put on your own clothes. Then you went to any place that you wanted to visit. But when you are old, it will be different. You will hold out your arms and someone else will tie your clothes for you. Then they will take you to a place where you do not want to go.’

John 21:16 word by word

λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον· Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ· ναὶ κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ· ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• the second timeδεύτεροςdeuteros · secondlyG1208
• SimonΣίμωνSimōn · SimonG4613
• of JonasἸωνᾶςIōnas · JohnG2495
• lovest thouἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• Yeaναίnai · yesG3483
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• knowestεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• I loveφιλέωphileō · to loveG5368
• Feedποιμαίνωpoimainō · to shepherdG4165
• sheepὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263

Cross-references for John 21:16

• John 18:17The girl who was at the gate asked Peter, ‘Are you another of this man's disciples?’ Peter replied, ‘No, I am not!’
• Matthew 26:72Peter answered again very strongly. He said, ‘I promise you, I really do not know that man!’
• John 10:11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd would die so that he can save his sheep.
• Psalms 95:7He is our God. He takes care of us, like a shepherd takes care of his sheep. As his sheep, he gives us what we need. Today, you must listen to him and obey him.
• Psalms 100:3Understand that the Lord is God. He made us and we are his people. He takes care of us, like a shepherd with his sheep.
• Zechariah 13:7‘Attack my shepherd with a sharp knife. Attack the man that is next to me,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘Kill the shepherd and then the sheep will run away. Then I will attack the young sheep.
• Matthew 25:32People from all the countries in the world will come together in front of me. I will put them into two groups. I will do it in the same way that a shepherd puts his sheep and goats into two groups.
• Luke 15:3So Jesus told them this story:
• Luke 19:10I, the Son of Man, came to look for people who are far away from God. They are in danger and I have come to save them.’
• Acts 20:28You who are leaders should be careful about how you live. Also take care of the group of people that the Holy Spirit has chosen you to lead. Keep them safe like shepherds who take care of their sheep. All the believers belong to God because his Son, Jesus, died for them. He bought them with his blood which poured out on the cross.
• Hebrews 13:20I pray that God will help you. He is the one who gives us peace in our minds. He caused our Lord Jesus Christ to become alive again after death. God forgives us because of the blood of Jesus' death on the cross. That is God's new agreement with his people that will be true for ever. Jesus is our great shepherd. He takes care of us like his sheep.
• 1 Peter 2:25Before, you were like sheep that were going the wrong way. But now you have turned round and come to Christ. He is your Shepherd, and he keeps you completely safe.

Commentaries on John 21:16

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Feed my sheep - The word here rendered “feed,” as has been remarked, is different from the word in the previous verse. It has the sense of governing, caring for, guiding, protecting - the kind of faithful vigilance which a shepherd uses to guide his flock, and to make provision against their wants and dangers. It may be implied here that the care needed for the young in the church is to instruct them, and for those in advanced years both to instruct and…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-19Verses 15-19 Our Lord addressed Peter by his original name, as if he had forfeited that of Peter through his denying him. He now answered, Thou knowest that I love thee; but without professing to love Jesus more than others. We must not be surprised to have our sincerity called into question, when we ourselves have done that which makes it doubtful. Every remembrance of past sins, even pardoned sins, renews the sorrow of a true penitent. Conscious of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17Do you love me?: These three questions and affirmations recall Peter’s three denials (18:15–18, 25–27). Jesus invited Peter to reaffirm everything he had denied. The Greek word for love in the first two questions (agapaō) differs from the word in his third question (phileō). In each case, Peter responded with the second word (phileō). Most Greek scholars view the two words as synonyms in this situation. The conversation Jesus had with Peter focused not on…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 15-1715-17. when they had dined, Jesus saith--Silence appears to have reigned during the meal; unbroken on His part, that by their mute observation of Him they might have their assurance of His identity the more confirmed; and on theirs, from reverential shrinking to speak till He did. Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?--referring lovingly to those sad words of Peter, shortly before denying his Lord, "Though all men shall be offended because…Read the comment

Topics related to John 21:16

• Apostles
• Discipleship
• Faith
• Jesus, the Christ
• Jonas
• Minister, Christian
• Peter

In the dictionaries

• Dare
• Galilee, Sea of
• Jonas
• Love
• Peter
• Andrew
• Bar-Jonah
• Body, Spiritual
• Ethics of Jesus
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings