John 10:29

My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.

My {G3450} Father {G3962}, which {G3739} gave {G1325} them me {G3427}, is {G2076} greater than {G3187} all {G3956}; and {G2532} no {G3762} man is able {G1410} to pluck {G726} them out of {G1537} my {G3450} Father's {G3962} hand {G5495}.

My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hands.

My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

John 10:29 is a profound declaration by Jesus, emphasizing the absolute security of His followers, known as His "sheep." This verse reinforces the promise of eternal security, grounding it in the supreme power and authority of God the Father.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' discourse at the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, where He identifies Himself as the Good Shepherd. Having just declared that His sheep "shall never perish" and that "no man shall pluck them out of my hand" (John 10:28), Jesus immediately elevates the source of this security to His Father. He is responding to the unbelief and questioning of the Jews, providing an undeniable assurance of His followers' safety, rooted in divine omnipotence and unity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Security: The core message is the unshakeable safety of believers. Once given to Christ by the Father, they are held securely in God's omnipotent hand, beyond the reach of any opposing force or individual.
  • God's Supreme Power: The phrase "My Father...is greater than all" asserts God's absolute sovereignty and unmatched strength. This highlights that no human or spiritual adversary can overcome God's will or protection.
  • The Father's Gift: The sheep (believers) are explicitly stated as being "given" to Jesus by the Father, underscoring God's initiating role in salvation and the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son in the plan of redemption.
  • Unity of Father and Son: While not explicitly stating the Trinity, this verse, combined with John 10:30 ("I and my Father are one"), reveals the perfect unity and shared purpose of God the Father and God the Son in protecting those who believe.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "pluck" is harpazō (ἁρπάζω), which means to seize, snatch away, or carry off by force. Its use here powerfully conveys the impossibility of any external power forcibly removing a believer from the protective grip of God. The phrase "greater than all" (meizōn pantōn - μείζων πάντων) emphatically states the Father's supreme authority and power over everything and everyone.

Practical Application

John 10:29 offers immense comfort and assurance to believers today. It is a foundational verse for understanding the eternal protection and faithfulness of God.

  • Assurance for Believers: This verse provides profound peace, knowing that one's salvation and spiritual well-being are not dependent on human strength or perseverance alone, but on the invincible power of God the Father.
  • Confidence in God's Sovereignty: It encourages trust in God's ultimate control and ability to keep His promises, even amidst life's challenges or spiritual attacks.
  • Motivation for Trust: Understanding that we are held in the Father's hand should deepen our reliance on Him and diminish fear, knowing that no force can ultimately harm those whom God protects.
  • Understanding God's Love: The act of the Father giving His sheep to the Son and then securing them in His hand is a testament to the depth of God's love and commitment to His children.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 6:37

    All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

  • John 17:9

    I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

  • John 14:28

    Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come [again] unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

  • John 17:2

    As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

  • John 17:6

    I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.

  • John 17:11

    And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we [are].

  • Malachi 1:14

    But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.

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