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

15When 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.”

16Jesus 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.”

17Jesus 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.

18Truly, 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.”

19Jesus 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.”

20Peter 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?”

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

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

23Because 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?”

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

25There 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

vvvοὖνG3767ConjunctionWhenὍτεG3753Adverbthey had finished eatingἠρίστησανG709Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularaskedλέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularSimonΣίμωνιG4613Noun - Dative Masculine Singular-τῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine SingularPeterΠέτρῳG4074Noun - Dative Masculine SingularSimonΣίμωνG4613Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular[son] of JohnἸωάννουG2491Noun - Genitive Masculine Singulardo you loveἀγαπᾷςG25Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularMeμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularmoreπλέονG4119Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparativethan theseτούτωνG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine PluralYesΝαίG3483ParticleLordΚύριεG2962Noun - Vocative Masculine Singularhe answeredΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularYouσὺG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person SingularknowοἶδαςG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular-ὅτιG3754ConjunctionI loveφιλῶG5368Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularYouσεG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular[Jesus] repliedΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularFeedΒόσκεG1006Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person SingularMyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τὰG3588Article - Accusative Neuter PlurallambsἀρνίαG721Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 16

Original words

[Jesus] askedΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular-αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularvvvπάλινG3825Adverba second timeδεύτερονG1208AdverbSimonΣίμωνG4613Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular[son] of JohnἸωάννουG2491Noun - Genitive Masculine Singulardo you loveἀγαπᾷςG25Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularMeμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularYesΝαίG3483ParticleLordΚύριεG2962Noun - Vocative Masculine Singularhe answeredΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularYouσὺG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person SingularknowοἶδαςG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular-ὅτιG3754ConjunctionI loveφιλῶG5368Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularYouσεG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular[Jesus] toldΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularhimαὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularShepherdΠοίμαινεG4165Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person SingularMyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τὰG3588Article - Accusative Neuter PluralsheepπρόβατάG4263Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 17

Original words

[Jesus] askedΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular-αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularaτὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter Singularthird timeτρίτονG5154Adjective - Accusative Neuter SingularSimonΣίμωνG4613Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular[son] of JohnἸωάννουG2491Noun - Genitive Masculine Singulardo you loveφιλεῖςG5368Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularMeμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularPeterΠέτροςG4074Noun - Nominative Masculine Singularwas deeply hurtἘλυπήθηG3076Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person SingularthatὅτιG3754Conjunction[Jesus] had askedεἶπενG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularhimαὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular-τὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter Singulara third timeτρίτονG5154Adjective - Accusative Neuter SingularDo you loveΦιλεῖςG5368Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularMeμεG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person SingularLordΚύριεG2962Noun - Vocative Masculine SingularYouσὺG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person SingularknowοἶδαςG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singularall thingsπάνταG3956Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural-ΚαὶG2532Conjunctionhe repliedεἶπενG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular-αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularYouσὺG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person SingularknowγινώσκειςG1097Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular-ὅτιG3754ConjunctionI loveφιλῶG5368Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularYouσεG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularsaidΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularto himαὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularFeedΒόσκεG1006Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person SingularMyμουG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular-τὰG3588Article - Accusative Neuter PluralsheepπρόβατάG4263Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Verse 18

Original words

TrulyἈμὴνG281Hebrew WordtrulyἀμὴνG281Hebrew WordI tellλέγωG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularyouσοιG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person SingularwhenὅτεG3753Adverbyou wereἦςG1510Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularyoungνεώτεροςG3501Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Comparativeyou dressedἐζώννυεςG2224Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularyourselfσεαυτὸνG4572Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 2nd Person SingularandκαὶG2532ConjunctionwalkedπεριεπάτειςG4043Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularwhereὅπουG3699Adverbyou wantedἤθελεςG2309Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularbutδὲG1161ConjunctionwhenὅτανG3752Conjunctionyou are oldγηράσῃςG1095Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Singularyou will stretch outἐκτενεῖςG1614Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person SingularyourσουG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular-τὰςG3588Article - Accusative Feminine PluralhandsχεῖράςG5495Noun - Accusative Feminine PluralandκαὶG2532Conjunctionsomeone elseἄλλοςG243Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singularwill dressζώσειG2224Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularyouσεG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person SingularandκαὶG2532Conjunctionlead [you]οἴσειG5342Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularwhereὅπουG3699AdverbvvvοὐG3756Adverbyou do not want to goθέλειςG2309Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Or others
Verse 19

Original words

-δὲG1161Conjunction[Jesus] saidεἶπενG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularthisτοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singularto indicateσημαίνωνG4591Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular[the kind of] deathθανάτῳG2288Noun - Dative Masculine Singularby whichποίῳG4169Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular[Peter] would glorifyδοξάσειG1392Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular-τὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularGodΘεόνG2316Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularAnd [after]ΚαὶG2532ConjunctionHe had saidεἰπὼνG2036Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularthisτοῦτοG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter SingularHe toldλέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularhimαὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularFollowἈκολούθειG190Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person SingularMeμοιG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 20

Original words

-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularPeterΠέτροςG4074Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularturnedἘπιστραφεὶςG1994Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular[and] sawβλέπειG991Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingulartheτὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingulardiscipleμαθητὴνG3101Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularwhomὃνG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularlovedἠγάπαG25Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularfollowing [them]ἀκολουθοῦνταG190Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Singular[He was the one]καὶG2532ConjunctionwhoὃςG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singularhad leaned backἀνέπεσενG377Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularvvvἐπὶG1909PrepositionvvvαὐτοῦG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person SingularvvvτὸG3588Article - Accusative Neuter Singular[against Jesus]στῆθοςG4738Noun - Accusative Neuter SingularatἐνG1722PrepositiontheτῷG3588Article - Dative Neuter SingularsupperδείπνῳG1173Noun - Dative Neuter Singular-καὶG2532Conjunctionto askεἶπενG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularLordΚύριεG2962Noun - Vocative Masculine SingularwhoτίςG5101Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singularis going toἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularbetrayπαραδιδούςG3860Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularYouσεG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular

BSB notes

  • Greek reclined on His bosom
Verse 21

Original words

[When]οὖνG3767Conjunction[Peter] sawἰδὼνG3708Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularhimτοῦτονG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine Singular[he]ΠέτροςG4074Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularaskedλέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .τῷG3588Article - Dative Masculine Singular. . .ἸησοῦG2424Noun - Dative Masculine SingularLordΚύριεG2962Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular-δὲG1161Conjunctionwhat aboutτίG5101Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular[him]οὗτοςG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Verse 22

Original words

-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularansweredΛέγειG3004Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularIfἘὰνG1437ConjunctionI wantθέλωG2309Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person SingularhimαὐτὸνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singularto remainμένεινG3306Verb - Present Infinitive ActiveuntilἕωςG2193ConjunctionI returnἔρχομαιG2064Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singularwhat [is that]τίG5101Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter SingulartoπρὸςG4314PrepositionyouσέG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person SingularYouσύG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person SingularfollowἀκολούθειG190Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person SingularMeμοιG1473Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Verse 23

Original words

Because ofοὖνG3767ConjunctionthisοὗτοςG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine SingulartheG3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularrumorλόγοςG3056Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularspreadἐξῆλθενG1831Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularamongεἰςG1519PrepositiontheτοὺςG3588Article - Accusative Masculine PluralbrothersἀδελφοὺςG80Noun - Accusative Masculine PluralthatὅτιG3754ConjunctionthisἐκεῖνοςG1565Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingulardiscipleμαθητὴςG3101Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular{would} notοὐκG3756AdverbdieἀποθνήσκειG599Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularHoweverδὲG1161Conjunction-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularvvvοὐκG3756Adverbdid not sayεἶπενG2036Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular. . .αὐτῷG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularthatὅτιG3754ConjunctionvvvοὐκG3756Adverbhe would not dieἀποθνήσκειG599Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singularbut onlyἀλλ’G235ConjunctionIfἘὰνG1437ConjunctionI wantθέλωG2309Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 1st Person SingularhimαὐτὸνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singularto remainμένεινG3306Verb - Present Infinitive ActiveuntilἕωςG2193ConjunctionI returnἔρχομαιG2064Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singularwhat [is that]τίG5101Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter SingulartoπρὸςG4314PrepositionyouσέG4771Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Singular
Verse 24

Original words

ThisΟὗτόςG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine SingularisἐστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingulartheG3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingulardiscipleμαθητὴςG3101Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularwhoG3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingulartestifiesμαρτυρῶνG3140Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingulartoπερὶG4012Prepositionthese thingsτούτωνG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter PluralandκαὶG2532ConjunctionwhoG3588Article - Nominative Masculine Singularhas writtenγράψαςG1125Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular[them down]ταῦταG3778Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter PluralAndκαὶG2532Conjunctionwe knowοἴδαμενG1492Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person PluralthatὅτιG3754ConjunctionhisαὐτοῦG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular-G3588Article - Nominative Feminine SingulartestimonyμαρτυρίαG3141Noun - Nominative Feminine SingularisἐστίνG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingulartrueἀληθὴςG227Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular
Verse 25

Original words

-δὲG1161ConjunctionThere areἜστινG1510Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person SingularmanyπολλὰG4183Adjective - Nominative Neuter Pluralmore thingsἄλλαG243Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural. . .καὶG2532ConjunctionthatG3739Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Plural-G3588Article - Nominative Masculine SingularJesusἸησοῦςG2424Noun - Nominative Masculine SingulardidἐποίησενG4160Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular-ἅτιναG3748Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter PluralIfἐὰνG1437Conjunctionall of themκαθ’G2596Preposition. . .ἕνG1520Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singularwere written downγράφηταιG1125Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 3rd Person SingularI suppose thatοἶμαιG3633Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singularnot evenοὐδ’G3761AdverbtheτὸνG3588Article - Accusative Masculine SingularworldκόσμονG2889Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularitselfαὐτὸνG846Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singularwould have spaceχωρήσεινG5562Verb - Future Infinitive Activefor theτὰG3588Article - Accusative Neuter PluralbooksβιβλίαG975Noun - Accusative Neuter Pluralthat would be writtenγραφόμεναG1125Verb - 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.