Bible Strands
John 10:27
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the Jewish leaders who have just refused to believe (v. 26), drawing a hard line between "you" and "My sheep." This is the climax of the Good Shepherd discourse.
The words — ἀκούουσιν (akouousin, G191) is rendered "listen" in the BSB, but the Greek is simply "hear" (ἀκούω). The translation choice matters: the verse claims a hearing that is already responsive, not a passive reception of sound.
The thread — The same voice–hearing pattern recurs in John 10:16 (other sheep "will listen to My voice") and John 10:14 (mutual knowing between shepherd and sheep), and echoes in Revelation 3:20 ("hears My voice and opens the door").
Why it lands — The verse ties hearing, knowing, and following into a single sustained pattern rather than a one-time decision. It asks the reader to treat "following" as the evidence that the hearing was real, not a separate act of will.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Cross-references
- John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
- John 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
- Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
- 1 Corinthians 8:3 But the one who loves God is known by God.
- John 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
- Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice,
- John 5:25 Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
- John 8:12 Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- John 10:8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
- Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?