Devine Scripture

John 10:29

What does John 10:29 mean?

A plain-English look at John 10:29 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 10:29 means

Jesus adds a second layer of security: the Father who gave the sheep to Him “is greater than all,” and no one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The sheep are a gift from the Father to the Son, and both divine hands hold them. Ultimate protection rests in the Father’s supremacy. This is not a cold decree but a loving commitment. The combined testimony of Son and Father guarantees the flock’s safety. Assurance is thus Trinitarian—secured by the unified will and power of God. What God gives, God keeps, and no adversary can overturn His purpose.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

That which my Father has given to me has more value than all; and no one is able to take anything out of the Father's hand.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

my Father, who hath given to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck out of the hand of my Father;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That which my Father hath given me is greater than all: and no one can snatch them out of the hand of my Father.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

My Father who has given [them] to me is greater than all, and no one can seize out of the hand of my Father.

Context

Building on the promise of verse 28, verse 29 locates the sheep’s security in the Father’s unsurpassed greatness and protective hand. This prepares for the climactic assertion in verse 30, “I and the Father are one,” which explains why the Son’s hand and the Father’s hand are equally trustworthy. That claim will immediately provoke an attempted stoning in verse 31 for perceived blasphemy.

v.28and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.

v.29This passage

v.30I and the Father are one.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 145:3

    Great is Jehovah, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.

  • Exodus 18:11

    Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.

  • John 17:6

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

  • Daniel 4:3

    How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

  • John 17:11

    And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are.

  • John 14:28

    Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I.

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