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Text -- John 10:11 (NET)

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Context
10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
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Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Vincent , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , Defender , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
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TSK Synopsis , Combined Bible , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

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Critics Ask , Evidence

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: Joh 10:11 - -- I am the good shepherd ( egō eimi ho poimēn ho kalos ). Note repetition of the article, "the shepherd the good one."Takes up the metaphor of Joh ...

I am the good shepherd ( egō eimi ho poimēn ho kalos ).

Note repetition of the article, "the shepherd the good one."Takes up the metaphor of Joh 10:2. Vulgate pastor bonus . Philo calls his good shepherd agathos , but kalos calls attention to the beauty in character and service like "good stewards"(1Pe 4:10), "a good minister of Christ Jesus"(1Ti 4:6). Often both adjectives appear together in the ancient Greek as once in the New Testament (Luk 8:15). "Beauty is as beauty does."That is kalos .

Robertson: Joh 10:11 - -- Layeth down his life for his sheep ( tēn psuchēn autou tithēsin huper tōn probatōn ). For illustration see 1Sa 17:35 (David’ s experie...

Layeth down his life for his sheep ( tēn psuchēn autou tithēsin huper tōn probatōn ).

For illustration see 1Sa 17:35 (David’ s experience) and Isa 31:4. Dods quotes Xenophon ( Mem. ii. 7, 14) who pictures even the sheep dog as saying to the sheep: "For I am the one that saves you also so that you are neither stolen by men nor seized by wolves."Hippocrates has psuchēn katetheto (he laid down his life, i.e. died). In Jdg 12:3 ethēka tēn psuchēn means "I risked my life."The true physician does this for his patient as the shepherd for his sheep. The use of huper here (over, in behalf of, instead of), but in the papyri huper is the usual preposition for substitution rather than anti . This shepherd gives his life for the sin of the world (Joh 1:29; 1Jo 2:2).

Vincent: Joh 10:11 - -- The good shepherd ( ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς ) Literally, the shepherd the good (shepherd). Καλὸς , though not of fre...

The good shepherd ( ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλὸς )

Literally, the shepherd the good (shepherd). Καλὸς , though not of frequent occurrence in John, is more common than ἀγαθός , good , which occurs but four times and three times out of the four in the neuter gender, a good thing , or that which is good . Καλὸς in John is applied to wine (Joh 2:10), three times to the shepherd in this chapter, and twice to works (Joh 10:32, Joh 10:33). In classical usage, originally as descriptive of outward form , beautiful; of usefulness , as a fair haven , a fair wind . Auspicious , as sacrifices. Morally beautiful , noble; hence virtue is called τὸ καλὸν . The New Testament usage is similar. Outwardly fair , as the stones of the temple (Luk 21:5): well adapted to its purpose , as salt (Mar 9:50): competent for an office , as deacons (1Ti 4:6); a steward (1Pe 4:10); a soldier (2Ti 2:3): expedient , wholesome (Mar 9:43, Mar 9:45, Mar 9:47): morally good , noble , as works (Mat 5:16); conscience (Heb 13:18). The phrase it is good , i.e., a good or proper thing (Rom 14:21). In the Septuagint καλὸς is the most usual word for good as opposed to evil (Gen 2:17; Gen 24:50; Isa 5:20). In Luk 8:15, καλὸς and ἀγαθός are found together as epithets of the heart; honest (or virtuous, noble) and good . The epithet καλὸς , applied here to the shepherd, points to the essential goodness as nobly realized, and appealing to admiring respect and affection. As Canon Westcott observes, " in the fulfillment of His work, the Good Shepherd claims the admiration of all that is generous in man."

Vincent: Joh 10:11 - -- Giveth his life ( τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ τίθησιν ) The phrase is peculiar to John, occurring in the Gospel and First Epist...

Giveth his life ( τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ τίθησιν )

The phrase is peculiar to John, occurring in the Gospel and First Epistle. It is explained in two ways: either (1) as laying down as a pledge , paying as a price , according to the classical usage of the word τίθημι . So Demosthenes, to pay interest or the alien tax. Or (2) according to Joh 13:4, as laying aside his life like a garment. The latter seems preferable. Τίθημι , in the sense of to pay down a price , does not occur in the New Testament, unless this phrase, to lay down the life , be so explained. In Joh 13:4, layeth aside His garments (τίδησι τὰ ἱμάτια ) is followed, in Joh 13:12, by had taken His garments (ἔλαβε τὰ ἱμάτια ). So, in this chapter, giveth (τίδησιν ) His life (Joh 10:11), and I lay down (τίδημι ) my life (Joh 10:17, Joh 10:18), are followed by λαβεῖν " to take it again." The phrases τὴν ψυχὴν He laid down His life , and τὰς ψυχὰς θεῖναι to lay down our lives , occur in 1Jo 3:16. The verb is used in the sense of laying aside in the classics, as to lay aside war , shields , etc. Compare Mat 20:28, δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν , to give His life .

Vincent: Joh 10:11 - -- For the sheep ( ὑπὲρ ) On behalf of.

For the sheep ( ὑπὲρ )

On behalf of.

JFB: Joh 10:7-14 - -- That is, the way in to the fold, with all blessed privileges, both for shepherds and sheep (compare Joh 14:6; Eph 2:18).

That is, the way in to the fold, with all blessed privileges, both for shepherds and sheep (compare Joh 14:6; Eph 2:18).

JFB: Joh 10:11 - -- Emphatically, and, in the sense intended, exclusively so (Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; Eze 37:24; Zec 13:7).

Emphatically, and, in the sense intended, exclusively so (Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; Eze 37:24; Zec 13:7).

JFB: Joh 10:11 - -- Though this may be said of literal shepherds, who, even for their brute flock, have, like David, encountered "the lion and the bear" at the risk of th...

Though this may be said of literal shepherds, who, even for their brute flock, have, like David, encountered "the lion and the bear" at the risk of their own lives, and still more of faithful pastors who, like the early bishops of Rome, have been the foremost to brave the fury of their enemies against the flock committed to their care; yet here, beyond doubt, it points to the struggle which was to issue in the willing surrender of the Redeemer's own life, to save His sheep from destruction.

Clarke: Joh 10:11 - -- I am the good shepherd - Whose character is the very reverse of that which has already been described. In Joh 10:7, Joh 10:9, our Lord had called hi...

I am the good shepherd - Whose character is the very reverse of that which has already been described. In Joh 10:7, Joh 10:9, our Lord had called himself the door of the sheep, as being the sole way to glory, and entrance into eternal life; here he changes the thought, and calls himself the shepherd, because of what he was to do for them that believe in him, in order to prepare them for eternal glory

Clarke: Joh 10:11 - -- Giveth his life for the sheep - That is, gives up his soul as a sacrifice to save them from eternal death Some will have the phrase here only to mea...

Giveth his life for the sheep - That is, gives up his soul as a sacrifice to save them from eternal death

Some will have the phrase here only to mean hazarding his life in order to protect others; but the 15th, 17th, and 18th verses, as well as the whole tenor of the new covenant, sufficiently prove that the first sense is that in which our Lord’ s words should be understood.

Calvin: Joh 10:11 - -- 11.The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep From the extraordinary affection which he bears towards the sheep, he shows how truly he acts to...

11.The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep From the extraordinary affection which he bears towards the sheep, he shows how truly he acts towards them as a shepherd; for he is so anxious about their salvation, that he does not even spare his own life. Hence it follows, that they who reject the guardianship of so kind and amiable a shepherd are exceedingly ungrateful, and deserve a hundred deaths, and are exposed to every kind of harm. The remark of Augustine is exceedingly just, that this passage informs us what we ought to desire, what we ought to avoid, and what we ought to endure, in the government of the Church. Nothing is more desirable than that the Church should be governed by good and diligent shepherds Christ declares that he is the good shepherd, who keeps his Church safe and sound, first, by himself, and, next, by his agents. Whenever there is good order, and fit men hold the government, then Christ shows that he is actually the shepherd But there are many wolves and thieves who, wearing the garb of shepherds, wickedly scatter the Church. Whatever name such persons may assume, Christ threatens that we must avoid them.

Defender: Joh 10:11 - -- This is the fourth of the Lord's "I am" claims in the Gospel of John. This also is another foreshadow of His coming substitutionary death - not only g...

This is the fourth of the Lord's "I am" claims in the Gospel of John. This also is another foreshadow of His coming substitutionary death - not only guiding His sheep but also dying for them."

TSK: Joh 10:11 - -- the good : Joh 10:14; Psa 23:1, Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:12, Eze 34:23, Eze 37:24; Mic 5:4; Zec 13:7; Heb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25, 1Pe 5:4 giveth : Gen 31:...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Joh 10:11 - -- The good shepherd - The faithful and true shepherd, willing to do all that is necessary to defend and save the flock. Giveth his life - A...

The good shepherd - The faithful and true shepherd, willing to do all that is necessary to defend and save the flock.

Giveth his life - A shepherd that regarded his flock would hazard his own life to defend them. When the wolf comes, he would still remain to protect them. To give his life, here, means the same as not to fly, or to forsake his flock; to be willing to expose his life, if necessary, to defend them. Compare Jdg 12:3; "I put my life in my hands and passed over,"etc.; 1Sa 19:5; 1Sa 28:21. See Joh 10:15. The Messiah was often predicted under the character of a shepherd.

Poole: Joh 10:11 - -- That good Shepherd prophesied of, Isa 40:11 . I cannot agree with those who think that Christ here speaketh not of himself as the good Shepherd wit...

That good Shepherd prophesied of, Isa 40:11 . I cannot agree with those who think that Christ here speaketh not of himself as the good Shepherd with reference to his office, as he was the Messiah, but only in opposition to the hirelings after mentioned. I can allow that he thus calleth himself, both in the one respect and the other; but I cannot allow the latter sense exclusively to the former; for what followeth is peculiar to the Messiah, of whom it was prophesied, Dan 9:26 , that he should be cut off, but not for himself: and though it be true, that the true shepherd will hazard his life for his sheep, as David did, when he encountered the lion and the bear, 1Sa 17:34,35 ; yet it cannot be said to be the duty of the best shepherd to lay down his life for the sheep, for the life of a man is much more valuable than the life of any beast. Our Saviour therefore, doubtless, in this place showeth wherein he was the most excellent Shepherd, far excelling the best shepherds in the world, because he was come, not only to expose, hazard, and adventure his life, but actually, willingly, and freely to lay it down.

Haydock: Joh 10:11 - -- How happy are we in having such a shepherd, so great, so good, so loving, so careful of our true welfare! O he is the true shepherd indeed, that came...

How happy are we in having such a shepherd, so great, so good, so loving, so careful of our true welfare! O he is the true shepherd indeed, that came down from heaven to seek the poor sheep that was lost; and when he found it, took it upon his own shoulders to carry it home with joy to his heavenly fold. How dearly have his sheep cost him, for truly has he made good in himself sentence, that the good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. Let us then ever follow and obey, love and embrace this true shepherd of our souls. (Meditations for every Day, vol. ii. p. 417.) The good pastor gives his life for his sheep; he exposes himself to every danger to save them, no inclemency of the weather, no frost or cold, no rains or tempests, can drive him from looking over his sheep, to defend them from the attacks of wolves, &c. and like Jacob he might say, day and night was I parched with heat, and with cold, and sleep departed from my eyes. (Genesis xl.) Or, like David speaking to Saul: "Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion or a bear, and took a ram out of the midst of the flock; and I pursued after them, and struck them, and delivered it out of their mouths; and they arose up against me, and I caught them by the throat, and I strangled them, and killed them." (1 Kings xvii.) This is a model of a true pastor. But Jesus Christ has done more than this for us. He has exposed his life and his repose, he has spilled his blood, he delivered himself to the fury of his enemies, and has offered himself as a victim on the cross to his eternal Father, to free us, his lost sheep, from the most cruel wolf, the devil. And ever since his death he has always protected his Church, assisted and consoled his distressed flock under all their sufferings, pouring into their hearts the consolations of the holy Spirit, and sending to them holy teachers, to govern and lead them in the holy path of salvation. Such were the apostles and their successors, the bishops and priests of the holy Catholic Church, whom he has sent, and will continue to send, to govern his flock to the end of time. (Calmet.)

Gill: Joh 10:11 - -- I am the good shepherd,.... A shepherd of his Father's appointing, calling, and sending, to whom the care of all his sheep, or chosen ones, was commit...

I am the good shepherd,.... A shepherd of his Father's appointing, calling, and sending, to whom the care of all his sheep, or chosen ones, was committed; who was set up as a shepherd over them by him, and was entrusted with them; and who being called, undertook to feed them; and being promised, was sent unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and under the character of a shepherd, died for them, and rose again, and is accountable to his Father for everyone of them; the shepherd, the great and chief shepherd, the famous one, so often spoken and prophesied of, Gen 49:24. And discharging his office aright, he is the good shepherd; as appears in his providing good pasture, and a good fold for his sheep; in protecting them from their enemies; in healing all their diseases; in restoring their souls when strayed from him; in watching over them in the night seasons, lest any hurt them; in searching for them, when they have been driven, or scattered in the dark and cloudy day; in caring for them, so that he lose none of them; and in nothing more than in what follows,

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep: not only exposes it to danger, as David did his, for the sake of his father's flock, but gives it away freely and voluntarily, for the sake of the sheep; in their room and stead, as a ransom for them, that they may be delivered from death, and might have eternal life: the Ethiopic version renders it, "the good shepherd gives his life for the redemption of his sheep"; so Nonnus paraphrases it, the "ransom price of his own sheep": this belongs to Christ's priestly office, and with the Jews priests were sometimes shepherds hence we read q of רועים כהנים, "shepherds that were priests". Philo the Jew speaks r of God as a shepherd and king; and of his setting his word, his firstborn Son, over the holy flock, to take care of it: and a good shepherd is thus described by the s Jews;

"as רועה טוב, "a good shepherd", delivers the flock from the wolf, and from the lions, (see Joh 10:12) so he that leads Israel, if he is good, delivers them from the idolatrous nations, and from judgment below and above, and leads them to the life of the world to come, or eternal life; (see Joh 10:10).''

Which description agrees with Christ, the good shepherd; and so the Lord is said to be רועה טוב, "the good shepherd", and merciful, and there is none like him t.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Joh 10:11 Jesus speaks openly of his vicarious death twice in this section (John 10:11, 15). Note the contrast: The thief takes the life of the sheep (10:10), t...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Joh 10:1-42 - --1 Christ is the door, and the good shepherd.19 Divers opinions of him.23 He proves by his works that he is Christ the Son of God;31 escapes the Jews;3...

Combined Bible: Joh 10:11-21 - --of the Gospel of John    CHAPTER 35    Christ, the Good Shepherd    John 10:11-21    The following is s...

MHCC: Joh 10:10-18 - --Christ is a good Shepherd; many who were not thieves, yet were careless in their duty, and by their neglect the flock was much hurt. Bad principles ar...

Matthew Henry: Joh 10:1-18 - -- It is not certain whether this discourse was at the feast of dedication in the winter (spoken of Joh 10:22), which may be taken as the date, not o...

Barclay: Joh 10:11-15 - --This passage draws the contrast between the good and the bad, the faithful and the unfaithful shepherd. The shepherd was absolutely responsible for ...

Constable: Joh 1:19--13:1 - --II. Jesus' public ministry 1:19--12:50 The first part of the body of John's Gospel records Jesus' public ministr...

Constable: Joh 7:10--11:1 - --H. Jesus' third visit to Jerusalem 7:10-10:42 This section of the text describes Jesus' teaching in Jeru...

Constable: Joh 10:1-21 - --7. The Good Shepherd discourse 10:1-21 Evidently this teaching followed what John recorded in ch...

Constable: Joh 10:7-18 - --Jesus' expansion of the figure 10:7-18 The difference between this teaching and Jesus' parables in the Synoptics now becomes clearer. Jesus proceeded ...

College: Joh 10:1-42 - --JOHN 10 6. The Feast of Dedication and the Shepherd Analogy (10:1-42) There is no clear break between Jesus' words in 9:41 and 10:1, but this seems ...

McGarvey: Joh 10:1-21 - -- LXXXII. DISCOURSE ON THE GOOD SHEPHERD. (Jerusalem, December, A. D. 29.) dJOHN X. 1-21.    d1 Verily, verily, I say to you [unto the ...

Lapide: Joh 10:1-32 - --1-41 CHAPTER 10 Ver. 1.— Verily, verily (that is in truth, most truly and most assuredly), I say unto you, He that entereth not, &c. He puts fo...

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Commentary -- Other

Critics Ask: Joh 10:11 JOHN 10:11 —Is Jesus the shepherd or a sheep? PROBLEM: John presents Christ here as the “Good Shepherd.” Yet elsewhere He is a sheep (lamb)...

Evidence: Joh 10:11 Hundreds of years earlier, David had written that the Lord was his shepherd, and now that Shepherd had become flesh. Here is a continuance of the most...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: John (Book Introduction) THE Fourth Gospel By Way of Introduction Greatest of Books The test of time has given the palm to the Fourth Gospel over all the books of the wor...

JFB: John (Book Introduction) THE author of the Fourth Gospel was the younger of the two sons of Zebedee, a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, who resided at Bethsaida, where were bo...

JFB: John (Outline) THE WORD MADE FLESH. (Joh 1:1-14) A SAYING OF THE BAPTIST CONFIRMATORY OF THIS. (Joh 1:15) SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED. (Joh 1:16-18) THE BAPTIST'S TESTIM...

TSK: John (Book Introduction) John, who, according to the unanimous testimony of the ancient fathers and ecclesiastical writers, was the author of this Gospel, was the son of Zebed...

TSK: John 10 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Joh 10:1, Christ is the door, and the good shepherd; Joh 10:19, Divers opinions of him; Joh 10:23, He proves by his works that he is Chri...

Poole: John 10 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 10

MHCC: John (Book Introduction) The apostle and evangelist, John, seems to have been the youngest of the twelve. He was especially favoured with our Lord's regard and confidence, so ...

MHCC: John 10 (Chapter Introduction) (Joh 10:1-5) The parable of the good shepherd. (Joh 10:6-9) Christ the Door. (Joh 10:10-18) Christ the good Shepherd. (Joh 10:19-21) The Jews' opin...

Matthew Henry: John (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Gospel According to St. John It is not material to enquire when and where this gospel was written; ...

Matthew Henry: John 10 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter we have, I. Christ's parabolical discourse concerning himself as the door of the sheepfold, and the shepherd of the sheep (v. 1-18...

Barclay: John (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO SAINT JOHN The Gospel Of The EagleEye For many Christian people the Gospel according to St. John is the mos...

Barclay: John 10 (Chapter Introduction) The Shepherd And His Sheep (Joh_10:1-6) The Shepherd And His Sheep (Joh_10:1-6 Continued) The Door To Life (Joh_10:7-10) The True And The False S...

Constable: John (Book Introduction) Introduction Writer The writer of this Gospel did not identify himself as such in the ...

Constable: John (Outline) Outline I. Prologue 1:1-18 A. The preincarnate Word 1:1-5 B. The witness...

Constable: John John Bibliography Allen, Ronald B. "Affirming Right-of-Way on Ancient Paths." Bibliotheca Sacra 153:609 (Januar...

Haydock: John (Book Introduction) THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN. INTRODUCTION St. John, the evangelist, a native of Bathsaida, in Galilee, was the son ...

Gill: John (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO JOHN The author of this Gospel is John, the son of Zebedee and Salome, the brother of James the greater; he outlived the rest of th...

College: John (Book Introduction) PREFACE INTRODUCTION Even the casual reader of the New Testament will notice that the first three accounts of Jesus' life are generally similar in t...

College: John (Outline) OUTLINE A good outline is more than half the battle in one's understanding and remembering the contents of any book. There is more than one way to bre...

Lapide: John (Book Introduction) NOTICE TO THE READER. Gospel of John Intro ——o—— AS it has been found impossible to compress the Translation of the Commentary upon S. John...

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