My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Parallel translations
- WEB My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
- BSB My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
- NKJV My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
- NASB My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
- NLT My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus' sheep hear His voice, are known by Him, and follow Him. True believers are marked by hearing, being known, and obeying their shepherd.
Overview
These three marks describe the genuine relationship between Christ and His people. Hearing His voice means responding in faith, and following means a life of obedience. The verse describes the secure and responsive flock of the Good Shepherd.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- John 10:16And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
- John 10:14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
- Rev 3:20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
- 1 Cor 8:3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
- John 10:3–4To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
- Heb 3:7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,
- John 5:25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
- John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- Gal 4:9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
- John 10:8All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
- John 12:26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
- John 8:43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
- Luke 9:23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
- 1 Kgs 18:21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
- Matt 17:5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
- 2 Tim 2:19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
- John 21:22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
- Mark 8:34And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
- Matt 16:24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
- Luke 13:27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
- Matt 7:23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
- Matt 25:12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
- Acts 3:23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
- Mark 10:21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
- Rev 14:4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 10:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.