John 10:15 Meaning and Explanation
“As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The mutual knowledge of shepherd and sheep mirrors the mutual knowledge of the Father and the Son; and again Jesus says he lays down his life for the sheep.
What Does John 10:15 Mean?
Jesus lifts the figure to its highest point. The bond between him and his flock is patterned on the bond between him and his Father — each knowing the other fully, in perfect love and trust. From that height he returns, in the same breath, to the cross: "I lay down my life for the sheep."
Notice what stands between the Father's knowledge and our pasture: a death, freely offered. The intimacy of heaven bends down to purchase the safety of the flock. To belong to Christ is to be drawn into a circle of knowing and being known older than the world — and the door into that circle was opened at the cost of the Shepherd's life.
John 10:15 in the Original Language
tithemi (τίθημι), 'lay down' -- to set down deliberately; a freely chosen act.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 10:15
What does John 10:15 mean?
The mutual knowledge of shepherd and sheep mirrors the mutual knowledge of the Father and the Son; and again Jesus says he lays down his life for the sheep.