John 21:16 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹⁶ Jesus asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John; do you [really] love me?” Peter answered Him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus replied to him, “[Then] take care of my sheep.”

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹⁶ 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁶ Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹⁶ He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep.

Common English Bible

¹⁶ Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁶ He said to him again: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁶ He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.

John 21:16 Cross References

Matthew 2:6

‘And you, Bethlehem in the country of Judah, are not among the least [towns in furnishing] rulers for Judah, for you will produce a leader who will become shepherd of my [i.e., God’s] people Israel.’”

Matthew 25:32

And people from all the nations will be assembled in front of Him and He will separate them from one another, like a shepherd separating his sheep from the goats.

Matthew 26:72

And he denied [it] again, [this time] with an oath, saying, “I do not [even] know the man.”

Luke 19:10

For the Son of man came to search for and save those who were lost.”

John 18:17

So, the slave-girl gatekeeper asked Peter, “Are you not one of this man’s disciples, too?” “[No], I am not,” Peter replied.

John 18:25

Now Simon Peter had been standing and warming himself [by the outdoor charcoal fire]. So, someone asked him, “Are you not one of His disciples, too?” Peter denied it, saying, “[No], I am not.”

John 21:17

Then Jesus asked him a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [truly] love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you [even] love me?” So, he said to Jesus, “Lord, you know all things. You [surely] know that I love you.” Jesus replied to him, “[Then] feed my sheep.

Acts 20:28

So, pay close attention to your [own] lives, and to all [members] of the flock [i.e., the congregation] of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers [i.e., elders, shepherds or pastors]. Provide [spiritual] food for the church of the Lord which He purchased by [shedding] His own blood.

Hebrews 13:20

Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep [i.e., the church], through the blood of the never ending Agreement [i.e., Christ’s blood],

1 Peter 2:25

For you people were wandering away like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 5:2

You should serve as shepherds of God’s flock [i.e., the church], among whom you minister, providing careful oversight [of the people], not because you feel forced to, but because you want to, as this is in accordance with the way God wants it to be. Do not [serve as elders] simply out of a desire for the income you receive, but because your heart is in it.

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb, who is at the center of the throne, will be their Shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”