John 10:17

The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again.

BSB

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

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KJV

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

ASV

Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.

YLT

`Because of this doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that again I may take it;

DBT

On this account the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again.

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Commentary voices

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Voices6

On this verse

If we see ourselves in our own child, we are drawn to an intensity of love whenever we see that child. In the same way, I think God the Father is said to love his own Son, who lays down his own life for us and takes it again. For it is a work of love to have chosen to suffer—and to suffer shamefully—for the salvation of some.

Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 6, 444patristic

Related commentary

Therefore doth my Father love me,....

John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed

I lay down my life - I give myself to die for my people, in Jewish and pagan lands. I offer myself a sacrifice to show the willingness of my Father to save them; to provide an atonement, and thus to open the way for their salvation. This proves that the salvation of man was an object dear to God, and that it was a source of special gratification to him that his Son was willing to lay down his life to accomplish his great purposes of benevolence.

Albert Barnes· Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)evangelical

It is the riches and the poverty of "the Word made flesh"--one glorious Person reaching at once up to the Throne and down even to the dust of death, "that we might live through Him." A candid interpretation of the words, "for the sheep," ought to go far to establish the special relation of the vicarious death of Christ to the Church.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871reformed

I lay down my life that I may take it again - I cheerfully die to expiate the sins of men, to the end I may rise again for their justification.

John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1755evangelical

Therefore doth my Father love me, that is, me, and all that by faith become one with me; me, and the mystical body, because I lay down my life. [ b. ] That his laying down his life was in order to his resuming it: I lay down my life, that I may receive it again. First, This was the effect of his Father's love, and the first step of his exaltation, the fruit of that love.

Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan

Voices on this verse

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Rabbinic commentary

How the Hebraic tradition has read this verse — and Marcus Brown’s own reading of it.

Cross-references

20 linked verses

The verses this one reaches12

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
John 10:18
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
John 10:15
just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 2:19
Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”
Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Matthew 28:6
He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay.
John 15:9–10
As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.
John 17:4–5
I have glorified You on earth by accomplishing the work You gave Me to do.
Isaiah 53:7–12
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
Ephesians 1:6
to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
John 17:24–26
Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Isaiah 42:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.

8 more linked verses are grouped by book below ↓

Cross-references

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The quotation web

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Original language

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More cross-references8 further linked verses, grouped by book▾ open

Every other verse the study tradition links to this one, in the Bible’s own order. The first links in each book carry a line of their text; every reference opens its full verse page.

Genesis1

Genesis 22:9When they arrived at the place God had designated, Abraham built the altar there…

Numbers1

Numbers 19:2“This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Instruct the…

Isaiah1

Isaiah 42:21The LORD was pleased, for the sake of His righteousness, to magnify His law…

John2

Acts1

Acts 13:30But God raised Him from the dead,

Galatians1

Galatians 1:4who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age,…

1 Thessalonians1

1 Thessalonians 5:10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may…

Cross-references are drawn from classic Bible study tools and open, shareable Bible data.

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first — the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
leads to
- Psalms 23:1
  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- John 10:14–15
  I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- John 15:13
  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
- Revelation 7:17
  For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
- Isaiah 40:11
  He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.
Through
Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death…
leads to
- Philippians 2:7–9
  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
- Revelation 5:9
  And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and…
Through
John 10:18
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received…
leads to
- Titus 2:14
  He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

The whole web at once: see the Arc.

Where the connections lead

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