John 10 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 Truly I say to you, He who does not go through the door into the place where the sheep are kept, but gets in by some other way, is a thief and an outlaw.
1 “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.
2 He who goes in by the door is the keeper of the sheep.
2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 The porter lets him in; and the sheep give ear to his voice; he says over the names of the sheep, and takes them out.
3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has got them all out, he goes before them, and the sheep go after him, for they have knowledge of his voice.
4 Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 They will not go after another who is not their keeper, but will go from him in flight, because his voice is strange to them.
5 They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”
6 In this Jesus was teaching them in the form of a story: but what he said was not clear to them.
6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
7 So Jesus said again, Truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
7 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door.
8 All who came before me are thieves and outlaws: but the sheep did not give ear to them.
8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
9 I am the door: if any man goes in through me he will have salvation, and will go in and go out, and will get food.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out and will find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to take the sheep and to put them to death: he comes for their destruction: I have come so that they may have life and have it in greater measure.
10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
11 I am the good keeper of sheep: the good keeper gives his life for the sheep.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
12 He who is a servant, and not the keeper or the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming and goes in flight, away from the sheep; and the wolf comes down on them and sends them in all directions:
12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.
13 Because he is a servant he has no interest in the sheep.
13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care for the sheep.
14 I am the good keeper; I have knowledge of my sheep, and they have knowledge of me,
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own;
15 Even as the Father has knowledge of me and I of the Father; and I am giving my life for the sheep.
15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
16 And I have other sheep which are not of this field: I will be their guide in the same way, and they will give ear to my voice, so there will be one flock and one keeper.
16 I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
17 For this reason am I loved by the Father, because I give up my life so that I may take it again.
17 Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
18 No one takes it away from me; I give it up of myself. I have power to give it up, and I have power to take it again. These orders I have from my Father.
18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”
19 There was a division again among the Jews because of these words.
19 Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words.
20 And a number of them said, He has an evil spirit and is out of his mind; why do you give ear to him?
20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and is insane! Why do you listen to him?”
21 Others said, These are not the words of one who has an evil spirit. Is it possible for an evil spirit to make blind people see?
21 Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”
22 Then came the feast of the opening of the Temple in Jerusalem: it was winter;
22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.
23 And Jesus was walking in the Temple, in Solomon's covered way.
23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.
24 Then the Jews came round him, saying, how long are you going to keep us in doubt? If you are the Christ, say so clearly.
24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, “How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
25 Jesus said in answer, I have said it and you have no belief: the works which I do in my Father's name, these give witness about me.
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.
26 But you have no belief because you are not of my sheep.
26 But you don’t believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
27 My sheep give ear to my voice, and I have knowledge of them, and they come after me:
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 And I give them eternal life; they will never come to destruction, and no one will ever take them out of my hand.
28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 That which my Father has given to me has more value than all; and no one is able to take anything out of the Father's hand.
29 My Father who has given them to me is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
30 I and the Father are one.”
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to send at him.
31 Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus said to them in answer, I have let you see a number of good works from the Father; for which of those works are you stoning me?
32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”
33 This was their answer: We are not stoning you for a good work but for evil words; because being a man you make yourself God.
33 The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
34 In answer, Jesus said, Is there not a saying in your law, I said, You are gods?
34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’?
35 If he said they were gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Writings may not be broken),
35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),
36 Do you say of him whom the Father made holy and sent into the world, Your words are evil; because I said, I am God's Son?
36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not have belief in me;
37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.
38 But if I am doing them, then have belief in the works even if you have no belief in me; so that you may see clearly and be certain that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
39 Then again they made an attempt to take him; but he got away from them.
39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.
40 And he went again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John first gave baptism; and he was there for a time.
40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and he stayed there.
41 And a great number of people came to him, saying, John did no sign: but everything John said of this man was true.
41 Many came to him. They said, “John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true.”
42 And a number came to have faith in him there.
42 Many believed in him there.
Cross references (41)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 7:15; John 10:8–10; 1 John 4:1; Romans 16:18; Hebrews 5:4
- 2 John 10:14; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:4; Psalm 23:1; Isaiah 40:11
- 3 Ezekiel 34:11–16; 2 Timothy 2:19; John 10:4; John 10:16; Revelation 3:20
- 4 Deuteronomy 1:30; John 10:16; John 12:26; John 18:37; John 10:8
- 5 1 John 4:5–6; Colossians 2:6–10; Proverbs 19:27; Mark 4:24; 1 Peter 2:1–3
- 6 Isaiah 56:11; Psalm 82:5; Proverbs 28:5; John 16:25; Isaiah 6:9–10
- 7 John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18; John 10:1; John 10:9; Ezekiel 34:31
- 8 Ezekiel 34:2; Jeremiah 23:1; John 10:1; Ezekiel 22:25–28; Isaiah 56:10–12
- 9 John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18; John 10:7; John 10:1; Romans 5:1–2
- 10 Luke 19:10; John 6:51; John 12:47; John 3:17; John 6:33
- 11 Psalm 23:1; John 10:14–15; John 15:13; Revelation 7:17; Isaiah 40:11
- 12 2 Peter 2:3; Acts 20:29; Zechariah 11:16–17; Ezekiel 34:2–6; Matthew 10:16
- 13 Philippians 2:20; John 12:6; Acts 18:17
- 14 John 10:27; 2 Timothy 2:19; John 10:11; Ephesians 1:17; 1 John 5:20
- 15 Galatians 1:4; John 10:11; Matthew 11:27; 1 John 2:2; Isaiah 53:10
- 16 Isaiah 56:8; John 11:52; 1 Peter 2:25; Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:24
- 17 John 10:18; John 10:15; John 10:11; Hebrews 2:9; John 15:9–10
- 18 Titus 2:14; Hebrews 2:9; John 10:17; John 2:19–21; Isaiah 53:10–12
- 19 John 9:16; 1 Corinthians 3:3; John 7:40–43; Acts 23:7–10; Acts 14:4
- 20 John 7:20; Mark 3:21; John 8:52; John 8:47–48; Matthew 9:34
- 21 Exodus 4:11; Isaiah 35:5–6; Psalm 94:9; Matthew 11:5; Exodus 8:19
- 23 Acts 5:12; Acts 3:11
- 24 John 1:19; Luke 22:67–70; John 8:53; John 8:25; Matthew 11:3
- 25 John 10:38; John 8:58; Hebrews 2:3; John 5:17–43; John 14:11
- 26 John 8:47; 2 Corinthians 4:3–4; John 12:37–40; John 6:65; John 10:27
- 27 John 10:16; John 10:14; Revelation 3:20; 1 Corinthians 8:3; John 10:3–4
- 28 John 6:39–40; John 6:37; John 3:15–16; Hebrews 7:25; John 18:9
- 29 John 6:37; John 17:2; John 17:9; John 14:28; John 17:6
- 30 John 1:1–2; John 14:9; John 17:21–23; John 5:23; John 8:58
- 31 John 5:18; John 8:59; 1 Samuel 30:6; John 11:8; Exodus 17:4
- 32 Acts 2:22; 1 John 3:12; Ecclesiastes 4:4; John 5:36; Psalm 109:4–5
- 33 John 5:18; John 10:30; Leviticus 24:16; Philippians 2:6; Psalm 82:6
- 34 Psalm 82:6–7; Exodus 7:1; Psalm 82:1; Exodus 4:16; Psalm 138:1
- 35 Matthew 24:35; Romans 13:1; Luke 16:17; Luke 24:44–46; Genesis 15:1
- 36 John 3:17; John 5:17–18; Jeremiah 1:5; John 6:27; John 10:30–33
- 37 John 15:24; John 10:25; John 10:32; John 5:31; Matthew 11:20–24
- 38 John 14:20; John 10:30; John 10:25; John 14:9–11; John 17:21–23
- 39 John 7:30; John 8:59; John 7:44; Luke 4:29–30; John 10:31
- 40 John 1:28; John 11:54; John 7:1; John 3:26
- 41 John 1:33–34; John 1:29–30; John 1:27; Matthew 14:2; Mark 1:37
- 42 John 4:41; John 12:42; John 2:23; John 11:45; John 8:30
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
We have heard the Lord Jesus setting forth to us the office of a good shepherd. And herein He hath doubtless given us to know, as we may understand it, that there are good shepherds.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
Our Lord's discourse to the Jews began in connection with the man who was born blind and was restored to sight. Your Charity therefore ought to know and be advised that today's lesson is interwoven with that one.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
A great matter, beloved, a great matter it is to preside over a Church: a matter needing wisdom and courage as great as that of which Christ speaketh, that a man should lay down his life for the sheep, and never leave them deserted or naked; that he should stand against the wolf nobly.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
… loved us, for whom He, who thought it no robbery to be equal with Thee, "became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross;" He alone "free among the dead," that had power to lay down His life, and power to take it again; for us was He unto Thee both Victor and Victim, and the Victor as being …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
And not here only, but also in another case again, when they were saying, "For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God," neither in that instance did He put down this opinion, but again confirmed it, saying, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)