John 10:15

KJV

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

KJV (with Strong's)

As {G2531} the Father {G3962} knoweth {G1097} me {G3165}, even so {G2504} know {G1097} I {G2504} the Father {G3962}: and {G2532} I lay down {G5087} my {G3450} life {G5590} for {G5228} the sheep {G4263}.

Complete Jewish Bible

just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father — and I lay down my life on behalf of the sheep.

Berean Standard Bible

just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.

American Standard Version

even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 10:15 is a profound declaration by Jesus, revealing the two pillars of His identity and mission: His perfect, reciprocal knowledge and unity with God the Father, and His voluntary, sacrificial love demonstrated by His willingness to lay down His life for His followers, the "sheep." This verse encapsulates the divine intimacy within the Trinity and the redemptive purpose of Christ's incarnation, presenting Him as the ultimate Good Shepherd who secures the eternal well-being of His flock through His atoning death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within Jesus' extended discourse on the Good Shepherd in [John 10](/john/10 "John 10 - The Good Shepherd"). Following the healing of the man born blind in [John 9](/john/9 "John 9 - Healing the Man Born Blind"), Jesus contrasts Himself with the spiritually blind religious leaders who act as "thieves and robbers" ([John 10:1](/john/10-1 "John 10:1 - Thieves and Robbers")) and "hired hands" ([John 10:12](/john/10-12 "John 10:12 - The Hired Hand")) who abandon the sheep in times of danger. John 10:15 builds upon Jesus' earlier declarations of being the "door of the sheep" ([John 10:7](/john/10-7 "John 10:7 - The Door of the Sheep")) and the "Good Shepherd" ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd")). It serves as a foundational statement affirming His divine authority and the ultimate expression of His love, setting the stage for His subsequent claims of unity with the Father and His power to lay down and take up His life again.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of a shepherd and his flock was deeply resonant in ancient Israel. Kings, leaders, and even God Himself were often depicted as shepherds of their people (e.g., [Psalm 23](/psalms/23 "Psalm 23 - The Lord is My Shepherd"), [Ezekiel 34](/ezekiel/34 "Ezekiel 34 - Shepherds of Israel")). In a society where sheep farming was common, the audience would have understood the shepherd's protective role, intimate knowledge of his flock, and willingness to risk his life. The discourse in John 10 likely takes place around the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah), mentioned in [John 10:22](/john/10-22 "John 10:22 - Feast of Dedication"), a celebration commemorating God's faithfulness and deliverance of His people. Against this backdrop, Jesus' declaration of laying down His life for the sheep would have been a radical redefinition of leadership and messianic expectation, moving beyond mere political or military deliverance to spiritual salvation through self-sacrifice.

* **Key Themes:** John 10:15 contributes significantly to several key themes in John's Gospel. Firstly, it powerfully underscores the **divine identity and unity of Jesus with the Father**. The reciprocal knowledge ("As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father") points to their co-equality and shared essence, a theme central to John's Christology. Secondly, the verse highlights the theme of **sacrificial love and atonement**. Jesus' voluntary declaration, "I lay down my life for the sheep," is a direct statement of His substitutionary death, emphasizing that His sacrifice is not forced but a deliberate act of divine love. This directly contrasts with the "hired hand" who flees ([John 10:12](/john/10-12 "John 10:12 - The Hired Hand")) and underscores Jesus' unique commitment to His flock. Thirdly, it reinforces the **intimate relationship between the Shepherd and His sheep**, where the Shepherd knows His own and is known by them ([John 10:14](/john/10-14 "John 10:14 - I Know My Sheep")). This mutual knowledge forms the basis of trust and security for those who follow Him.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Knoweth (Greek, _ginṓskō'_):** This verb (G1097) signifies a deep, personal, and experiential knowledge, far beyond mere intellectual acquaintance. When applied to the Father and the Son, it denotes an intimate, profound, and reciprocal understanding that stems from their shared divine nature and eternal relationship. It implies a perfect, comprehensive awareness of each other's essence, will, and being.
* **Lay down (Greek, _títhēmi'_):** The verb (G5087) literally means "to place" or "to put," but in this context, it carries the strong connotation of a voluntary, deliberate, and sovereign act. Jesus is not saying His life will be taken from Him, but that He Himself, of His own free will and authority, places it down. This emphasizes His control over His own destiny and His purposeful intent in His sacrifice.
* **Life (Greek, _psychḗ'_):** This term (G5590) refers to the soul, the animating principle of a living being, the very essence of one's existence. When Jesus says He lays down His _psychḗ_, He is indicating a complete and total surrender of His earthly existence, His vital breath, and His very self, culminating in His physical death. This is distinct from _zoē_ (mere vitality) or _pneuma_ (spirit), emphasizing the totality of His self-offering.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As the Father knoweth me":** This clause establishes a foundational truth about the divine relationship within the Godhead. It speaks to the eternal, perfect, and intimate knowledge that God the Father possesses of His Son, Jesus Christ. This knowledge is not partial or acquired, but inherent and absolute, reflecting their co-equality and shared divine essence.
* **"even so know I the Father":** This parallel clause asserts the Son's equally profound, perfect, and reciprocal knowledge of the Father. Jesus, as God incarnate, possesses the same intimate understanding of the Father's character, will, and nature. This mutual, comprehensive knowledge underscores their unity and Jesus' unique authority to reveal the Father to humanity.
* **"and I lay down my life":** This is a pivotal declaration of Jesus' sovereign intent and sacrificial purpose. The conjunction "and" links His divine intimacy with the Father to His redemptive mission. The phrase "I lay down" emphasizes the voluntary nature of His act; His death was not a forced event but a deliberate, willed offering. This highlights His divine authority even over His own life and death.
* **"for the sheep":** This specifies the beneficiaries and purpose of Jesus' voluntary sacrifice. "The sheep" refers to those who hear His voice and follow Him, His chosen flock. His laying down of His life is not a random act but a purposeful, substitutionary act undertaken on behalf of His people, to secure their salvation, protection, and eternal life.

#### Literary Devices
John 10:15 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Simile**, evident in the phrase "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father." This comparison highlights the perfect, reciprocal, and unified knowledge shared between the Father and the Son, underscoring their co-equality and divine intimacy. The entire discourse in [John 10](/john/10 "John 10 - The Good Shepherd") is built upon the central **Metaphor** of Jesus as the "Good Shepherd." In this verse, the metaphor is extended as Jesus declares His willingness to "lay down my life for the sheep," vividly portraying His protective and self-sacrificial love for His followers. This declaration also functions as **Foreshadowing** and **Prophecy**, as Jesus directly foretells His impending death on the cross, an event that will be entirely voluntary and purposeful. Implicitly, there is also **Contrast** with the "hired hand" ([John 10:12](/john/10-12 "John 10:12 - The Hired Hand")) who abandons the sheep, highlighting Jesus' unique and unwavering commitment to His flock.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 10:15 is a theological cornerstone, intricately weaving together the doctrines of the Trinity, the Incarnation, and Atonement. The perfect, reciprocal knowledge between the Father and the Son speaks to the eternal, co-equal relationship within the Godhead, affirming Jesus' full deity. This divine intimacy is not merely an abstract concept but the very foundation for Jesus' authority and ability to perfectly execute the Father's redemptive plan. His declaration, "I lay down my life for the sheep," is the ultimate expression of divine love and the core of the Gospel message. It reveals the substitutionary nature of His sacrifice, where the sinless Son of God willingly offers Himself to atone for the sins of humanity, securing eternal life for His chosen flock. This act demonstrates God's profound love for humanity, a love that is active, costly, and redemptive.

* [John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Seeing the Father through Jesus")
* [John 15:13](/john/15-13 "John 15:13 - Greater Love")
* [1 John 4:10](/1_john/4-10 "1 John 4:10 - God's Love in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 10:15 offers profound assurance and a deep call to trust for every believer. Knowing that Jesus possesses the same intimate, perfect knowledge of the Father as the Father has of Him should instill immense confidence in His leadership, wisdom, and divine authority. We can rest assured that our Shepherd knows us fully, understands our needs, and perfectly comprehends the Father's will for our lives. More profoundly, the declaration "I lay down my life for the sheep" reveals the boundless, self-sacrificial love of Christ. This voluntary act of atonement means that our salvation is not based on our merit but on His perfect, uncoerced offering. This truth should lead us to deep gratitude, unwavering trust in His provision and protection, and a desire to live in faithful obedience to the Shepherd who gave everything for us. It invites us to respond to such love by listening to His voice, following His lead, and finding our security and identity in being His beloved sheep.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' intimate knowledge of the Father, and vice versa, deepen your understanding of His divine nature and authority?**
* **What specific comfort or assurance do you draw from Jesus' declaration, "I lay down my life for the sheep," knowing it was a voluntary act?**
* **In what ways can you practically respond to the sacrificial love of the Good Shepherd in your daily life?**

### FAQ
**What does "knoweth" mean in the context of Jesus and the Father?**

Answer: In John 10:15, the Greek word for "knoweth" is _ginṓskō_ (G1097), which signifies a deep, personal, and experiential knowledge, not merely an intellectual understanding. When Jesus says, "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father," He is asserting a perfect, reciprocal, and intimate understanding that exists between them. This knowledge is unique to their divine relationship, reflecting their co-equality and shared essence as God. It implies a complete comprehension of each other's being, will, and purposes, underscoring their profound unity and the Son's unique revelation of the Father.

**Was Jesus' death forced upon Him, or was it His choice?**

Answer: John 10:15 explicitly states, "and I lay down my life for the sheep," using the Greek verb _títhēmi_ (G5087) for "lay down." This verb strongly emphasizes a voluntary, deliberate, and sovereign act. Jesus is not a victim whose life is taken from Him; rather, He willingly and purposefully offers it. This is further reinforced in [John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - No Man Takes My Life From Me"), where Jesus declares, "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." His death was the ultimate act of obedience to the Father and an expression of His profound love for humanity, freely chosen for the purpose of atonement.

**Who are "the sheep" for whom Jesus lays down His life?**

Answer: In the context of John 10, "the sheep" refer to those who hear Jesus' voice and follow Him, those whom the Father has given to Him. These are the believers, His chosen flock, who recognize Him as their true Shepherd and respond to His call. Jesus elaborates on this in [John 10:27](/john/10-27 "John 10:27 - My Sheep Hear My Voice"), stating, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." His sacrifice is specifically for those who are His own, securing their salvation and eternal life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 10:15 stands as a profound Christ-centered declaration, revealing the very essence of who Jesus is and what He came to accomplish. The first part, "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father," speaks directly to His divine nature and His co-equality with God the Father. This perfect, reciprocal knowledge is foundational to His role as the unique mediator between God and humanity, for only one who fully knows God can perfectly reveal Him and perfectly fulfill His will. This divine intimacy is not merely a theological point but the very power that enables Him to be the perfect High Priest who understands both God's holiness and humanity's need. The second part, "and I lay down my life for the sheep," is the ultimate fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning a suffering servant and a shepherd who would die for his flock. This voluntary act of laying down His life is the very heart of the Gospel, demonstrating God's ultimate love and providing the atoning sacrifice necessary for the redemption of humanity. It is through this willing surrender of His life that Jesus takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offers eternal life to all who believe ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")), and establishes His new covenant in His blood ([Luke 22:20](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant in My Blood")). His death, therefore, is not a defeat but the triumphant act by which He secures victory over sin and death, fulfilling His mission as the Good Shepherd who gives His life that His sheep might have life, and have it more abundantly ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Life Abundantly")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Galatians 1:4

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Isaiah 53:10

¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

1 John 2:2

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

Matthew 11:27

All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and [he] to whomsoever the Son will reveal [him].

1 Peter 3:18

¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Timothy 2:5

For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;