My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's profound here is the active, reciprocal relationship Jesus describes. It's not just that we hear and follow Him; it's that He knows us in return, implying a deep, personal recognition and love that makes this connection possible and unbreakable.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just declared that the Jews do not believe because they are not among his sheep, a statement that causes division among them. He then elaborates on the characteristics of his true sheep, distinguishing them from those who reject him. This verse highlights the intimate, reciprocal relationship between Jesus and his followers, emphasizing obedience, recognition, and devoted pursuit.
Jesus contrasts His sheep with the false shepherds. What makes His voice so unique, and how do we learn to recognize it in a world full of noise?
In John 10, Jesus is setting Himself apart from the religious leaders of His day. He calls them 'thieves and robbers' (John 10:1) because they seek their own gain, not the sheep's well-being.
Hearing the Shepherd
Jesus' sheep 'hear my voice.' This isn't just about auditory perception; it's about spiritual recognition and response.
This ability to 'hear' is directly linked to being 'of God' (John 8:47) and trusting Jesus' words. It's an internal, spiritual attunement that allows us to discern truth from falsehood.
Jesus says, 'I know them, and they follow me.' What does this mutual 'knowing' mean, and how does it naturally lead to following?
The relationship Jesus describes is deeply personal and reciprocal. It's not just about Him knowing us, but about us knowing Him and responding.
The Shepherd's Intimate Knowledge
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'I know them' signifies more than just recognition. It speaks of intimate knowledge, care, and approval.
The Sheep's Loyal Response
'And they follow me' is the natural outflow of being known and hearing His voice.
This isn't a blind following, but a confident response to the One who knows us completely and leads us perfectly.
Jesus' words in John 10:27 about His sheep hearing His voice and following Him were spoken during the Feast of Dedication, a time remembering the rededication of the Temple after a period of desecration. This context highlights the contrast between those who genuinely follow Christ and those who, like the hostile Jewish leaders of that day, resist His divine authority.
c. 175 BC - 164 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes' Persecution
King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire attempted to Hellenize the Jewish people, leading to religious persecution and the desecration of the Second Temple.
164 BC— this verse
Temple Rededication (Hanukkah)
Judas Maccabeus and his followers recaptured Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple, an event commemorated by the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah). This event is referenced in John 10:22.
c. AD 25-30
Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem
Jesus conducted His ministry in and around Jerusalem, including during the Feast of Dedication, where He engaged in theological debates with Jewish leaders.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion
Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem, events that profoundly impacted His followers and the early Christian movement.
This verse highlights that obedience, symbolized by 'hearing the voice of the Lord,' is more valuable than sacrifice, mirroring how Jesus' sheep are defined by listening to and following Him.
Psalm 23:1-3This psalm beautifully parallels the shepherd-sheep imagery, emphasizing the Lord's provision and guidance for His flock, which resonates with Jesus' claim that He knows and leads His sheep.
Romans 8:14This passage speaks to the idea that those led by the Spirit are children of God, connecting to Jesus' sheep being known by Him and following His voice.
1 Peter 1:18-19This text explains that believers are redeemed with precious blood, not by perishable things, underscoring the profound connection and value Jesus places on His sheep, whom He knows and who follow Him.
Revelation 14:4This verse describes the redeemed as those who 'follow the Lamb wherever he goes,' directly echoing the action of Jesus' sheep who 'follow me.'
vincentJohn 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
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.
bensonJohn 10:27: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
John 10:27-31 . My sheep hear my voice, &c. — Our Lord still alludes to the discourse he had had before this festival. As if he had said, My sheep are those who, 1st, Hear my voice by faith; 2d, Are known (that is, approved) by me as loving me; and, 3d, Follow me, keep my commandments, with a believing, loving heart. And to those who, 1st, Truly believe, (observe three promises annexed to three conditions,) I give eterna…
What's profound here is the active, reciprocal relationship Jesus describes. It's not just that we hear and follow Him; it's that He knows us in return, implying a deep, personal recognition and love that makes this connection possible and unbreakable.
Jesus has just declared that the Jews do not believe because they are not among his sheep, a statement that causes division among them. He then elaborates on the characteristics of his true sheep, distinguishing them from those who reject him. This verse highlights the intimate, reciprocal relationship between Jesus and his followers, emphasizing obedience, recognition, and devoted pursuit.
Jesus has just declared that the Jews do not believe because they are not among his sheep, a statement that causes division among them. He then elaborates on the characteristics of his true sheep, distinguishing them from those who reject him. This verse highlights the intimate, reciprocal relationship between Jesus and his followers, emphasizing obedience, recognition, and devoted pursuit.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." — What's profound here is the active, reciprocal relationship Jesus describes. It's not just that we hear and follow Him; it's that He knows us in return, implying a deep, personal recognition and…
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Last reviewed October 2026