John 10:13 Meaning and Explanation
“The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The hireling runs because he is only a hireling; the sheep are not his care.
What Does John 10:13 Mean?
Jesus presses the explanation home. The hired man's flight is not so much a failure of nerve as a revelation of heart: he flees because of what he is. Nothing binds him to the sheep but the wage, and a wage is not worth a wolf.
Care, in the end, cannot be purchased; it must be given. The verse turns our eyes back to the Shepherd whose care is his nature, not his job — Christ does not watch the flock with one eye on his own escape. And it searches those of us entrusted with others, children or congregations or friends: do we love them, or merely manage them? What we do when caring grows costly tells the truth.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 10:13
What does John 10:13 mean?
The hireling runs because he is only a hireling; the sheep are not his care.