John 21:17

John 21:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
• New International Version (NIV)The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

Context of John 21:17

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.’ 16Jesus 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.’ Jesus 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.’ 19When Jesus said this, he was showing how Peter would die. His death would give honour to God. Then Jesus said to Peter, ‘Follow me.’

John 21:17 word by word

λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Σίμων Ἰωάννου, φιλεῖς με; ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· φιλεῖς με; καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· κύριε, πάντα σὺ οἶδας, σὺ γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• He saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• unto himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• the third timeτρίτοςtritos · thirdG5154
• SimonΣίμωνSimōn · SimonG4613
• of JonasἸωνᾶςIōnas · JohnG2495
• lovest thouφιλέωphileō · to loveG5368
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• PeterΠέτροςPetros · PeterG4074
• was grievedλυπέωlupeō · to grieveG3076
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• thouσύsu · youG4771
• knowestεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
• knowestγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• Feedβόσκωboskō · to feedG1006
• sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263

Cross-references for John 21:17

• John 13:38Jesus answered, ‘You say that you would die for me. But I tell you this: Soon you will say that you do not know me. Before the cockerel sings early tomorrow morning, you will say that three times.’
• John 18:27Again, Peter said, ‘No, that is not true.’ Immediately a cockerel sang.
• Matthew 26:73After a little time, other people who were standing at the gate spoke to Peter. They said, ‘We are sure that you too are one of that man's friends. We know this because you speak like people who live in Galilee.’
• Revelation 3:19I help everyone that I love. When they have done wrong things, I tell them, ‘You have done a wrong thing.’ I show them the right thing that they should do. So be serious about how you live. Stop doing wrong things and turn to me.
• 1 Kings 17:18The woman said to Elijah, ‘Servant of God, why have you come to hurt me like this? Did you come to kill my son so that I would remember all my sins?’
• Lamentations 3:33He does not enjoy seeing people who are in pain. He does not enjoy causing trouble for them.
• Matthew 26:75Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Tonight you will say three times that you do not know me. You will do it before the cockerel sings.’ So Peter went out of the yard. He began to weep a lot because he was very upset.
• Mark 14:72Immediately a cockerel sang loudly for a second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: ‘You will say three times that you do not know me. You will do it before the cockerel sings for the second time.’ When Peter thought about this, he wept very much.
• Luke 22:61Then the Lord Jesus turned round and he looked at Peter. Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him: ‘You will say tonight that you do not know me. You will say it three times before the cockerel sings in the morning.’
• 2 Corinthians 2:4When I wrote that letter, I was very sad and upset. I cried a lot. I did not want to make you sad. Instead, I wanted you to know that I love you very much.
• 2 Corinthians 7:8But even if I made you sad by my letter, I am not sorry about that. At one time, I was sorry that I had written it. I saw that my letter had made you sad. But you were sad only for a short time.
• Ephesians 4:30Do not do anything that will make God's Holy Spirit sad. God gave his Holy Spirit to you to show that you belong to him. As a result you know that God will make you completely free one day.
• 1 Peter 1:6All this causes you to be very happy, even when you have troubles. For a short time now, different kinds of troubles may make you sad.
• John 2:24But Jesus himself did not trust the people. He knew what all people are really like.
• John 16:30Now we are sure that you know everything. You do not even need to ask people what they are thinking. Because of this, we believe that you came from God.’
• John 18:4Jesus knew everything that would soon happen to him. He went towards them and he asked them, ‘Who are you looking for?’

Commentaries on John 21:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Peter was grieved - Fearing, says St. Chrysostom, lest Christ saw something in his heart which he saw not himself, and which might lead to another fall; and that Christ was about to tell him of it, as he had before predicted his denial.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17The third time - It is probable that Jesus proposed this question three times because Peter had thrice denied him. Thus he tenderly admonished him of his fault and reminded him of his sin, while he solemnly charged him to be faithful and vigilant in the discharge of the duties of the pastoral office. The reason why the Saviour addressed Peter in this manner was doubtless because he had just denied him - had given a most melancholy instance of the…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. 17Feed my sheep: Jesus, who knows everything, understood that despite Peter’s terrible failure, he still had faith and commitment to Jesus (1:42; 2:25; 16:30). These words called Peter to care for and protect Christ’s followers.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 21:17

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

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Peter
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Peter, Simon Peter, Cephas
• Dare
• Galilee, Sea of
• Jonas
• Love
• Andrew
• Bar-Jonah

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