Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: John 21:16 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Joh 21:16 |
King James |
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
He saith to him . . . the second time . . . lovest thou me, &c.--In this repetition of the question, though the wound was meant to be reopened, the words "more than these" are not repeated; for Christ is a tender as well as skilful Physician, and Peter's silence on that point was confession enough of his sin and folly. On Peter's repeating his protestation in the same words, our Lord rises higher in the manifestation of His restoring grace.
Feed--keep.
my sheep--It has been observed that the word here is studiously changed, from one signifying simply to feed, to one signifying to tend as a shepherd, denoting the abiding exercise of that vocation, and in its highest functions. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Feed my sheep - The word here rendered "feed," as has been remarked, is different from the word in the previous verse. It has the sense of governing, caring for, guiding, protecting - the kind of faithful vigilance which a shepherd uses to guide his flock, and to make provision against their wants and dangers. It may be implied here that the care needed for the young in the church is to instruct them, and for those in advanced years both to instruct and govern them.
My sheep - This term commonly denotes the church in general, without respect to age, John 10. |
The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
lovest
(Greek, "agapaō", "deeply love"; used of "divine love") (Joh 14:21); and of that love which the law demands (Luk 10:27).
love
(Greek, "phileō", "am fond of"). It is a lesser degree of love than agapas.
Feed
See (Pe1 5:2). |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Lovest (ἀγαπᾷς)
Again the colder word, but more than these is omitted.
I love (φιλῶ)
Peter reiterates his former word expressive of personal affection.
Feed (ποίμαινε)
A different word: tend, as Rev. See on Pe1 5:2.
Sheep (πρόβατα)
Some of the best texts read προβάτια, diminutive, little sheep. |
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;