Focused Passage

John 21:15-25

The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness

The risen Jesus reveals himself through abundant provision, feeds his disciples, restores Peter through a threefold love-question, commissions him to shepherd his flock, foretells Peter’s God-glorifying death, corrects comparison about the beloved disciple, and closes the Gospel with true testimony concerning the inexhaustible works of Jesus.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”

16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

17 Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

18 Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.”

20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”

21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you? You follow Me!”

23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. However, Jesus did not say that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I return, what is that to you?”

24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who has written them down. And we know that his testimony is true.

25 There are many more things that Jesus did. If all of them were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

vvv οὖν G3767 Conjunction When Ὅτε G3753 Adverb they had finished eating ἠρίστησαν G709 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular asked λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Simon Σίμωνι G4613 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρῳ G4074 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Simon Σίμων G4613 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular [son] of John Ἰωάννου G2491 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular do you love ἀγαπᾷς G25 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular more πλέον G4119 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative than these τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural Yes Ναί G3483 Particle Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular he answered Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular know οἶδας G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I love φιλῶ G5368 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular [Jesus] replied Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Feed Βόσκε G1006 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural lambs ἀρνία G721 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 16

Original words

[Jesus] asked Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular vvv πάλιν G3825 Adverb a second time δεύτερον G1208 Adverb Simon Σίμων G4613 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular [son] of John Ἰωάννου G2491 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular do you love ἀγαπᾷς G25 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular Yes Ναί G3483 Particle Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular he answered Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular know οἶδας G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I love φιλῶ G5368 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular [Jesus] told Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Shepherd Ποίμαινε G4165 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural sheep πρόβατά G4263 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 17

Original words

[Jesus] asked Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular a τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular third time τρίτον G5154 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Simon Σίμων G4613 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular [son] of John Ἰωάννου G2491 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular do you love φιλεῖς G5368 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular was deeply hurt Ἐλυπήθη G3076 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction [Jesus] had asked εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular a third time τρίτον G5154 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Do you love Φιλεῖς G5368 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular know οἶδας G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural - Καὶ G2532 Conjunction he replied εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular You σὺ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular know γινώσκεις G1097 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I love φιλῶ G5368 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular said Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Feed Βόσκε G1006 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural sheep πρόβατά G4263 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 18

Original words

Truly Ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you σοι G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular when ὅτε G3753 Adverb you were ἦς G1510 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular young νεώτερος G3501 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparative you dressed ἐζώννυες G2224 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular yourself σεαυτὸν G4572 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction walked περιεπάτεις G4043 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular where ὅπου G3699 Adverb you wanted ἤθελες G2309 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction when ὅταν G3752 Conjunction you are old γηράσῃς G1095 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singular you will stretch out ἐκτενεῖς G1614 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular your σου G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular - τὰς G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Plural hands χεῖράς G5495 Noun - Accusative Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction someone else ἄλλος G243 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular will dress ζώσει G2224 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular you σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction lead [you] οἴσει G5342 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular where ὅπου G3699 Adverb vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you do not want to go θέλεις G2309 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Or others
Verse 19

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction [Jesus] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular to indicate σημαίνων G4591 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [the kind of] death θανάτῳ G2288 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular by which ποίῳ G4169 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular [Peter] would glorify δοξάσει G1392 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular God Θεόν G2316 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular And [after] Καὶ G2532 Conjunction He had said εἰπὼν G2036 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular this τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He told λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Follow Ἀκολούθει G190 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 20

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Peter Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular turned Ἐπιστραφεὶς G1994 Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular [and] saw βλέπει G991 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular disciple μαθητὴν G3101 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular whom ὃν G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular loved ἠγάπα G25 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular following [them] ἀκολουθοῦντα G190 Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular [He was the one] καὶ G2532 Conjunction who ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular had leaned back ἀνέπεσεν G377 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular vvv ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition vvv αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular vvv τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular [against Jesus] στῆθος G4738 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular at ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular supper δείπνῳ G1173 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction to ask εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular who τίς G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is going to ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular betray παραδιδούς G3860 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular You σε G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Greek reclined on His bosom
Verse 21

Original words

[When] οὖν G3767 Conjunction [Peter] saw ἰδὼν G3708 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular him τοῦτον G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular [he] Πέτρος G4074 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular asked λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Singular . . . Ἰησοῦ G2424 Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Lord Κύριε G2962 Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular - δὲ G1161 Conjunction what about τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular [him] οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 22

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular answered Λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular If Ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction I want θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to remain μένειν G3306 Verb - Present Infinitive Active until ἕως G2193 Conjunction I return ἔρχομαι G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular what [is that] τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition you σέ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular You σύ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular follow ἀκολούθει G190 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Me μοι G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 23

Original words

Because of οὖν G3767 Conjunction this οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular rumor λόγος G3056 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular spread ἐξῆλθεν G1831 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular among εἰς G1519 Preposition the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural brothers ἀδελφοὺς G80 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction this ἐκεῖνος G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular disciple μαθητὴς G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular {would} not οὐκ G3756 Adverb die ἀποθνήσκει G599 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular However δὲ G1161 Conjunction - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb did not say εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb he would not die ἀποθνήσκει G599 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular but only ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction If Ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction I want θέλω G2309 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular to remain μένειν G3306 Verb - Present Infinitive Active until ἕως G2193 Conjunction I return ἔρχομαι G2064 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular what [is that] τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition you σέ G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 24

Original words

This Οὗτός G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular disciple μαθητὴς G3101 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular testifies μαρτυρῶν G3140 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular to περὶ G4012 Preposition these things τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction who G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular has written γράψας G1125 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular [them down] ταῦτα G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural And καὶ G2532 Conjunction we know οἴδαμεν G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction his αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular testimony μαρτυρία G3141 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular is ἐστίν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular true ἀληθὴς G227 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

- δὲ G1161 Conjunction There are Ἔστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular many πολλὰ G4183 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural more things ἄλλα G243 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction that G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular Jesus Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular did ἐποίησεν G4160 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - ἅτινα G3748 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural If ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction all of them καθ’ G2596 Preposition . . . ἕν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular were written down γράφηται G1125 Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular I suppose that οἶμαι G3633 Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular not even οὐδ’ G3761 Adverb the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular world κόσμον G2889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular itself αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular would have space χωρήσειν G5562 Verb - Future Infinitive Active for the τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural books βιβλία G975 Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural that would be written γραφόμενα G1125 Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Accusative Neuter Plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.