My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights a profound, reciprocal relationship: Jesus knows us, and because we hear His voice and follow Him, we are His sheep. The emphasis isn't just on us hearing Him, but on His intimate knowledge of us, which is the basis for His claim on us as His own.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has been challenged by Jewish leaders who refuse to believe in Him, prompting Him to distinguish between His true followers and those who reject Him. He likens His people to sheep who recognize and follow their shepherd's voice, contrasting them with those who are not His sheep and therefore do not listen. This declaration sets up the promise of protection and eternal life for those who do belong to Him.
How do you recognize a loved one's voice in a crowded room? Jesus says His sheep recognize His voice too. What makes His voice so unmistakable?
Jesus uses the intimate metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep to describe His relationship with believers. The core of this relationship, as highlighted in the first part of verse 27, is the sheep's ability to 'hear my voice.' This isn't just about passively listening; it's about a deep, intuitive recognition and response.
A Familiar Sound
In the ancient world, shepherds knew their flocks intimately. They would call out, and their specific sheep, recognizing that unique sound, would separate from others and follow. Jesus applies this to Himself, saying, 'My sheep hear my voice.' This implies that His followers have a spiritual discernment, a sensitivity tuned to His particular way of speaking – through Scripture, the Holy Spirit's promptings, and the community of faith. It's a call that resonates with the truth and stirs the soul.
Not Just Any Sound
Importantly, Jesus contrasts this with those who don't belong to His flock. They don't hear His voice, even when He speaks plainly. This isn't because God prevents them, but because they are not 'of His sheep' – they haven't entered into that unique, divinely-initiated relationship. Their ears are closed to His specific call, even if they hear other sounds.
Jesus doesn't just say His sheep hear Him; He also says He 'knows them.' What does this profound knowledge entail?
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The statement 'and I know them' is more than just recognition; it speaks to a deep, personal, and abiding relationship. This isn't a superficial acquaintance but an intimate understanding.
A Covenantal Knowing
In the biblical context, 'knowing' often implies a deep, intimate connection, similar to a covenant relationship. God 'knew' Israel, not just as a population, but in a covenantal sense. Jesus 'knows' His sheep in this same profound way. He understands their hearts, their struggles, their faith, and their weaknesses.
Security in His Knowledge
This 'knowing' is the basis of the sheep's security. Because Jesus knows them – their true identity in Him – they are safe. This knowledge is the foundation for the promises that follow, like giving eternal life and protecting them from being snatched away. It’s a knowledge that leads to protection and possession, assuring believers that they are not lost in the crowd but are individually known and cherished by the Good Shepherd.
Hearing and being known are foundational, but Jesus adds a crucial third element. What is the active response that defines His sheep?
The verse culminates with 'and they follow me.' This is the outward, active expression of the inner reality of hearing and being known by Jesus.
The Movement of Obedience
Following Jesus is not passive. It implies movement, direction, and commitment. It means responding to His voice by aligning one's life with His teachings and commands. It's about actively choosing to walk in the path He sets, even when it's difficult or goes against the world's expectations.
A Lifelong Journey
This 'following' is a continuous process, not a one-time decision. It involves daily surrender, imitation, and obedience. As the Cambridge commentary notes, the simple 'and' links these clauses, showing a progression: hearing leads to being known, which then leads to following. It’s a dynamic relationship where the sheep, secure in the Shepherd’s knowledge and guided by His voice, willingly move in His direction, trusting His lead throughout their lives.
Understand the original words
zōēn aiōnion · Greek Noun phrase
A divine quality of life that begins at salvation and persists forever; it refers not merely to duration, but to a qualitative, intimate relationship with God through Christ.
apolōntai · Greek Verb
To be lost, ruined, or destroyed; in a spiritual sense, it denotes the state of being separated from God, which the believer is eternally spared from.
c. 20 BC - 10 BC
Herod the Great's Temple Reconstruction
Herod the Great began a massive expansion and renovation of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. This project was ongoing for decades, creating a magnificent and imposing structure that served as a central point of Jewish religious life.
AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, calling disciples and teaching with a new authority. Many marvel at his teachings and miracles, but opposition also begins to grow among religious leaders.
AD 30-33
Jesus' Judean Ministry and Jerusalem Encounters
Jesus spends more time in Judea and especially Jerusalem, teaching in the temple courts. These encounters often lead to heated debates with Jewish leaders who question his authority and identity.
Winter, AD 30/33— this verse
Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah)
The Gospel of John places this discourse during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem. This festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple, a time of remembrance and affirmation of God's faithfulness.
AD 30-33
Division among the Jews
Jesus' teachings and claims during the Feast of Dedication cause a sharp division among the Jewish crowds. Some believe he is the Messiah, while others accuse him of blasphemy and demon possession, seeking to stone him.
This verse highlights the importance of obedience to God's voice, paralleling Jesus' statement that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.
Psalm 23:1-3This psalm beautifully describes the shepherd-sheep relationship, emphasizing the shepherd's knowledge of his sheep and their reliance on his guidance, much like Jesus' relationship with His followers.
Romans 8:14This passage speaks to the guidance of the Spirit for those who are children of God, connecting to the idea that true followers of Christ recognize and respond to His voice.
1 John 4:6This verse contrasts the spirit of truth with the spirit of error, reinforcing the idea that those who belong to God recognize and follow the true voice of Christ.
Hebrews 13:20-21This passage offers a prayer for God to equip believers to do His will, echoing the relationship where the Great Shepherd equips and guides His sheep to follow Him.
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…
This verse highlights a profound, reciprocal relationship: Jesus knows us, and because we hear His voice and follow Him, we are His sheep. The emphasis isn't just on us hearing Him, but on His intimate knowledge of us, which is the basis for His claim on us as His own.
Jesus has been challenged by Jewish leaders who refuse to believe in Him, prompting Him to distinguish between His true followers and those who reject Him. He likens His people to sheep who recognize and follow their shepherd's voice, contrasting them with those who are not His sheep and therefore do not listen. This declaration sets up the promise of protection and eternal life for those who do belong to Him.
Jesus has been challenged by Jewish leaders who refuse to believe in Him, prompting Him to distinguish between His true followers and those who reject Him. He likens His people to sheep who recognize and follow their shepherd's voice, contrasting them with those who are not His sheep and therefore do not listen. This declaration sets up the promise of protection and eternal life for those who do belong to Him.
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." — This verse highlights a profound, reciprocal relationship: Jesus knows us, and because we hear His voice and follow Him, we are His sheep. The emphasis isn't just on us hearing Him, but on His inti…
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Last reviewed October 2026