The Meaning of John 10:27 Explained

John 10:27

KJV: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

YLT: according as I said to you: My sheep my voice do hear, and I know them, and they follow me,

Darby: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;

ASV: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and I  know  them,  and  they follow  me: 

What does John 10:27 Mean?

Context Summary

John 10:19-30 - Our Assurance Of Safe-Keeping
Our Lord did not shrink from the avowal of His divine origin and glory, when there was need or when they were challenged. See John 4:26; Matthew 26:64. For the most part, however, He wished men to exercise their own faculties of discernment and to accept Him, not because He told them what He was, but because they were inwardly convinced.
In John 10:27 we have three characteristics of His sheep-to hear, to be recognized by Him, and to follow; and in John 10:28 there are also three privileges which they enjoy-to possess eternal life, never to perish, never to be snatched away by man or devil.
Note the safety of those who really belong to Christ. They are not only in His hand, but in the Father's, because the Father and He are one. "Your life is hid with Christ in God." Here is a double protection. They may wander far, lose joy and comfort, fall on dark and stormy times, but He is responsible for them, will seek them out, and bring them home. This also is true-that our relationship with Jesus involves our relationship with the Father. But if any should presume to live carelessly because of this divine grace, it is clear that such a one is not one of Christ's sheep. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 10

1  Jesus is the door, and the good shepherd
19  Diverse opinions of him
23  He proves by his works that he is Jesus the Son of God;
31  escapes the Jews;
39  and goes again beyond Jordan, where many believe on him

Greek Commentary for John 10:27

My sheep [τα προβατα τα εμα]
In contrast with you they are not in doubt and suspense. They know my voice and follow me. Repetition of the idea in John 10:4, John 10:14. [source]
My sheep [τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἐμὰ]
Literally, the sheep, those that are mine. A characteristic form of expression with John. Compare John 3:29; John 5:30; John 14:15, etc. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 10:27

John 6:60 Hear it [αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν]
Αὐτοῦ may be rendered Him, but this is not probable. Hear means a docile hearing, with a view to receiving what is heard. Compare John 10:3, John 10:16, John 10:27; John 12:47; John 18:37. [source]
John 2:24 Because He knew [διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν γινώσκειν]
Literally, on account of the fact of His knowing. John describes the Lord's knowledge by two words which it is important to distinguish. Γινώσκειν , as here, implies acquired knowledge; knowledge which is the result of discernment and which may be enlarged. This knowledge may be drawn from external facts (John 5:6; John 6:15) or from spiritual sympathy (John 10:14, John 10:27; John 17:25). Εἰδέναι (John 1:26) implies absolute knowledge: the knowledge of intuition and of satisfied conviction. Hence it is used of Christ's knowledge of divine things (John 3:11; John 5:32; John 7:29), Of the facts of His own being (John 6:6; John 8:14; John 13:1), and of external facts (John 6:61, John 6:64; John 13:11). In John 21:17the two words appear together. Peter says to Jesus, appealing to His absolute knowledge, “Thou knowest ( οἶδας ) all things:” appealing to his discernment, “Thou knowest or perceivest ( γινώσκεις ) that I love Thee.” [source]
John 14:15 My commandments [τὰς ἐντολὰς τὰς ἐμὰς]
Literally, the commandments which are mine. See on John 10:27. [source]
John 10:3 To him [τουτωι]
“To this one,” the shepherd, in dative case. The porter Old word for doorkeeper Used for man (Mark 13:34; John 10:3) or woman (John 18:16.), only N.T. examples. The porter has charge of the sheep in the fold at night and opens the door in the morning for the shepherd. It is not certain that Jesus meant this detail to have a special application. The Holy Spirit, of course, does open the door of our hearts for Jesus through various agencies. Hear his voice Hear and heed (John 10:27). Note genitive case πωνης — phōnēs (accusative in John 3:8). By name Several flocks might be herded in the same fold overnight. But the shepherd knows his own And leadeth them out Old and common verb, present active indicative. The sheep follow readily (John 10:27) because they know their own shepherd‘s voice and his name for each of them and because he has led them out before. They love and trust their shepherd. [source]
John 6:60 A hard saying [σκληρος]
“This saying is a hard one.” Old adjective, rough, harsh, dried hard (from σκελλω — skellō to dry), probably the last saying of Jesus that he was the bread of life come down from heaven and they were to eat him. It is to be hoped that none of the twelve joined the many disciples in this complaint. Hear it Or “hear him,” hear with acceptation. For ακουω — akouō with the genitive see John 10:3, John 10:16, John 10:27. [source]
Ephesians 4:21 If so be that ye heard Him [εἴ γε αὐτὸν ἠκούσατε]
The indicative mood implies the truth of the supposition: if ye heard as ye did. Him is emphatic. If it was Him that ye heard. Compare John 10:27. [source]
1 John 1:3 Our fellowship [ἡ κοινωνία ἡ ἡμετέρα]
More strictly, the fellowship, that which is ours, according to John's characteristic practice of defining and emphasizing a noun by an article and possessive pronoun. See on John 10:27. Ours (possessive instead of personal pronoun) indicating fellowship as a distinguishing mark of Christians rather than as merely something enjoyed by them. [source]
Revelation 4:1 I saw [ειδον]
Second aorist active indicative of οραω — horaō Exclamation of vivid emotion as John looked. No effect on the structure and nominative case τυρα — thura (door) follows it.Opened (ηνεωιγμενη — ēneōigmenē). Perfect (triple reduplication) passive participle of ανοιγω — anoigō as in Revelation 3:8 (door of opportunity) and Revelation 3:20 (door of the heart), here the door of revelation (Swete).In heaven As in Ezekiel 1:1; Mark 1:10; John 1:51. In Revelation always in singular except Revelation 12:12.The first (η πρωτη — hē prōtē). Reference is to Revelation 1:10.Speaking From λαλεω — laleō rather λεγουσης — legousēs of Revelation 1:10 from λεγω — legō both agreeing with σαλπιγγος — salpiggos (trumpet).Saying (λεγων — legōn). Present active participle of λεγω — legō repeating the idea of λαλουσης — lalousēs but in the nominative masculine singular construed with πωνη — phōnē (feminine singular), construction according to sense because of the person behind the voice as in Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:14.Come up Short Koiné form for αναβητι — anabēthi (second aorist active imperative second person singular of αναβαινω — anabainō).Hither (ωδε — hōde). Originally “here,” but vernacular use (John 6:25; John 10:27).I will show Future active of δεικνυμι — deiknumi in same sense in Revelation 1:1.Hereafter (μετα ταυτα — meta tauta). Some editors (Westcott and Hort) connect these words with the beginning of Revelation 4:2. [source]
Revelation 4:1 Come up [αναβα]
Short Koiné form for αναβητι — anabēthi (second aorist active imperative second person singular of αναβαινω — anabainō).Hither (ωδε — hōde). Originally “here,” but vernacular use (John 6:25; John 10:27).I will show Future active of δεικνυμι — deiknumi in same sense in Revelation 1:1.Hereafter (μετα ταυτα — meta tauta). Some editors (Westcott and Hort) connect these words with the beginning of Revelation 4:2. [source]
Revelation 4:1 Hither [ωδε]
Originally “here,” but vernacular use (John 6:25; John 10:27). [source]
Revelation 4:1 In heaven [εν τωι ουρανωι]
As in Ezekiel 1:1; Mark 1:10; John 1:51. In Revelation always in singular except Revelation 12:12.The first (η πρωτη — hē prōtē). Reference is to Revelation 1:10.Speaking From λαλεω — laleō rather λεγουσης — legousēs of Revelation 1:10 from λεγω — legō both agreeing with σαλπιγγος — salpiggos (trumpet).Saying (λεγων — legōn). Present active participle of λεγω — legō repeating the idea of λαλουσης — lalousēs but in the nominative masculine singular construed with πωνη — phōnē (feminine singular), construction according to sense because of the person behind the voice as in Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:14.Come up Short Koiné form for αναβητι — anabēthi (second aorist active imperative second person singular of αναβαινω — anabainō).Hither (ωδε — hōde). Originally “here,” but vernacular use (John 6:25; John 10:27).I will show Future active of δεικνυμι — deiknumi in same sense in Revelation 1:1.Hereafter (μετα ταυτα — meta tauta). Some editors (Westcott and Hort) connect these words with the beginning of Revelation 4:2. [source]
Revelation 4:1 Speaking [λαλουσης]
From λαλεω — laleō rather λεγουσης — legousēs of Revelation 1:10 from λεγω — legō both agreeing with σαλπιγγος — salpiggos (trumpet).Saying (λεγων — legōn). Present active participle of λεγω — legō repeating the idea of λαλουσης — lalousēs but in the nominative masculine singular construed with πωνη — phōnē (feminine singular), construction according to sense because of the person behind the voice as in Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:14.Come up Short Koiné form for αναβητι — anabēthi (second aorist active imperative second person singular of αναβαινω — anabainō).Hither (ωδε — hōde). Originally “here,” but vernacular use (John 6:25; John 10:27).I will show Future active of δεικνυμι — deiknumi in same sense in Revelation 1:1.Hereafter (μετα ταυτα — meta tauta). Some editors (Westcott and Hort) connect these words with the beginning of Revelation 4:2. [source]

What do the individual words in John 10:27 mean?

The sheep - of Me the voice of Me hear and I know them and they follow Me
τὰ πρόβατα τὰ ἐμὰ τῆς φωνῆς μου ἀκούουσιν κἀγὼ γινώσκω αὐτά καὶ ἀκολουθοῦσίν μοι

πρόβατα  sheep 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: προβάτιον 
Sense: any four footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opp. to large cattle, horses, etc.), most commonly a sheep or a goat.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐμὰ  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative Neuter 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐμός  
Sense: my, mine, etc.
φωνῆς  voice 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀκούουσιν  hear 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
κἀγὼ  and  I 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Nominative 1st Person Singular
Root: κἀγώ  
Sense: and I.
γινώσκω  know 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
ἀκολουθοῦσίν  they  follow 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκολουθέω  
Sense: to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him.
μοι  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.