ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 10.14-18

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"12. He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them: 13. he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep."

"14. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, 15. even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. 17. Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father."

"19. There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words. 20. And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him?" (John 10:12-20, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"12. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them. 13. The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep."

"14. I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own; 15. even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd. 17. Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”"

"19. Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. 20. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?”" (John 10:12-20, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep."

"14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

"19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?" (John 10:12-20, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"12. and the hireling, and not being a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, doth behold the wolf coming, and doth leave the sheep, and doth flee; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep; 13. and the hireling doth flee because he is an hireling, and is not caring for the sheep."

"14. 'I am the good shepherd, and I know my [sheep], and am known by mine, 15. according as the Father doth know me, and I know the Father, and my life I lay down for the sheep, 16. and other sheep I have that are not of this fold, these also it behoveth me to bring, and my voice they will hear, and there shall become one flock, one shepherd. 17. 'Because of this doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that again I may take it; 18. no one doth take it from me, but I lay it down of myself; authority I have to lay it down, and authority I have again to take it; this command I received from my Father.'"

"19. Therefore, again, there came a division among the Jews, because of these words, 20. and many of them said, 'He hath a demon, and is mad, why do ye hear him?'" (John 10:12-20, YLT)

Setting

  • Speaker: John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
  • Audience: later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
  • Location: first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
  • Time period: events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

Theological reading

Key words

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

  • ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.