YHN 21:16 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) Then he asked again, “Simon, son of Yohan, do you love me?”
¶ Peter replied, “Yes, master, you know that I love you.”
¶ Yeshua responded, “Shepherd my sheep.”

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, magenta:vocative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT He says to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He says to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He says to him, “Take care of my sheep.”

UST Jesus asked him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Take care of those who trust in me.”

BSB [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.”

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

BLB He says to him again a second time, "Simon son of John, do you love Me?" He says to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I dearly love You." He says to him, "Shepherd My sheep."

AICNT He says to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John,[fn] do you love me?” He says to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He says to him, “Shepherd my sheep.”

21:16, John: Some manuscripts read “Jonah.”

OEB Then, a second time, Jesus asked, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
¶ ‘Yes, Master,’ he answered, ‘you know that I am your friend.’
¶ ‘Tend my sheep,’ said Jesus.

WEBBE He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?”
¶ He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.”
¶ He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.”

LSV He says to him again, a second time, “Simon, [son] of Jonas, do you love Me?” He says to Him, “Yes, Lord; You have known that I cherish You”; He says to him, “Tend My sheep.”

FBV “Take care of my lambs,” Jesus told him. “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” he asked for the second time.
¶ “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know I love you.”

TCNT Jesus said to him a second time, “Simon, son of [fn]Jonah, do yoʋ love me?” Peter said to him, “Yes, Lord, yoʋ know that I care for yoʋ.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my [fn]sheep.”

21:16 Jonah ¦ John CT

21:16 sheep ¦ little sheep WH

T4T Jesus said to him again, “John’s son Simon, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that you are dear to me (OR, that I love you).” Jesus said to him, “Take care of those who belong to me, like [MET] a shepherd takes care of his sheep.”

LEB He said to him again a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep!”

BBE Again, a second time, he said to him, Simon, son of John, have you any love for me? Yes, Lord, he said, you are certain of my love for you. Then take care of my sheep, said Jesus.

Moff Again he asked him, for the second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Why, Lord,” he said, “you know I love you.” “Then be a shepherd to my sheep,” said Jesus.

Wymth Again a second time He asked him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master," he said, "you know that you are dear to me." "Then be a shepherd to my sheep," He said.

ASV 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.

DRA 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.

YLT He saith to him again, a second time, 'Simon, [son] of Jonas, dost thou love me?' he saith to him, 'Yes, Lord; thou hast known that I dearly love thee;' he saith to him, 'Tend my sheep.'

Drby He says to him again a second time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? He says to him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I am attached to thee. He says to him, Shepherd my sheep.

RV 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.
(He saith/says to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest/love thou/you me? He saith/says unto him, Yea, Lord; thou/you knowest/know that I love thee/you. He saith/says unto him, Tend my sheep. )

SLT Jesus says to him again the second time, Simon of Jonas, lovest thou me? He says to him, Yes, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He says to him, Feed my sheep.

Wbstr He saith to him again the second time, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith to him, Yes, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him, Feed my sheep.

KJB-1769 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.
(He saith/says to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest/love thou/you me? He saith/says unto him, Yea, Lord; thou/you knowest/know that I love thee/you. He saith/says unto him, Feed my sheep. )

KJB-1611 He saith to him againe the second time, Simon sonne of Ionas, louest thou me? He saith vnto him, Yea Lord, thou knowest that I loue thee. He saith vnto him, Feed my sheepe.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Bshps He sayth to hym agayne the seconde tyme: Simon Ioanna, louest thou me? He sayth vnto hym: Yea Lorde, thou knowest that I loue thee. He sayde vnto hym: feede my sheepe.
(He saith/says to him again the second time: Simon Yoanna, lovest/love thou/you me? He saith/says unto him: Yea Lord, thou/you knowest/know that I love thee/you. He said unto him: feed my sheep.)

Gnva He said to him againe the second time, Simon the sonne of Iona, louest thou me? He said vnto him, Yea Lord, thou knowest that I loue thee. He said vnto him, Feede my sheepe.
(He said to him again the second time, Simon the son of Yona, lovest/love thou/you me? He said unto him, Yea Lord, thou/you knowest/know that I love thee/you. He said unto him, Feed my sheep. )

Cvdl He sayde vnto him agayne the seconde tyme: Symo Iohana, louest thou me? He sayde vnto him: Yee LORDE, thou knowest, yt I loue ye. He sayde vnto him: Fede my shepe.
(He said unto him again the second time: Symo Yohana, lovest/love thou/you me? He said unto him: Ye/You_all LORD, thou/you knowest/know, it I love ye/you_all. He said unto him: Feed my sheep.)

TNT He sayde to him agayne the seconde tyme: Simon Ioana lovest thou me? He sayde vnto him: ye lorde thou knowest that I love the. He sayde vnto him: fede my shepe.
(He said to him again the second time: Simon Yoana lovest/love thou/you me? He said unto him: ye/you_all lord thou/you knowest/know that I love them. He said unto him: feed my sheep. )

Wycl Eft he seith to hym, Symount of Joon, louest thou me? He seith to him, Yhe, Lord, thou woost that Y loue thee. He seith to him, Fede thou my lambren.
(Eft he saith/says to him, Simon of Yohn, lovest/love thou/you me? He saith/says to him, Yhe, Lord, thou/you know that I love thee/you. He saith/says to him, Feed thou/you my lambs.)

Luth Spricht er zum andernmal zu ihm: Simon Johanna, hast du mich lieb? Er spricht zu ihm: Ja, HErr, du weißt, daß ich dich liebhabe. Spricht er zu ihm: Weide meine Schafe!
(Speakt he for_the another_time to/for him: Simon Yohanna, have you(sg) me kind/sweet/dear? He speaks/says to/for him: Yes, LORD, you(sg) you_know, that I you/yourself love(v). Speakt he to/for him: pasture/meadow my sheep!)

ClVg Dicit ei iterum: Simon Joannis, diligis me? Ait illi: Etiam Domine, tu scis quia amo te. Dicit ei: Pasce agnos meos.
(Sayit to_him again: Simon Yoannis, you_love me? He_said them: Yes Master, you(sg) scis because amo you(sg). Sayit to_him: Pasce lambs mine. )

UGNT λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον, Σίμων Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με? λέγει αὐτῷ, ναί, Κύριε; σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ, ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου.
(legei autōi palin deuteron, Simōn Yōannou, agapas me? legei autōi, nai, Kurie; su oidas hoti filō se. legei autōi, poimaine ta probata mou.)

SBL-GNT λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον· Σίμων ⸀Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ· Ναί, κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ· Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου.
(legei autōi palin deuteron; Simōn ⸀Yōannou, agapas me; legei autōi; Nai, kurie, su oidas hoti filō se. legei autōi; Poimaine ta probata mou.)

RP-GNT Λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον, Σίμων Ἰωνᾶ, ἀγαπᾷς με; Λέγει αὐτῷ, Ναὶ κύριε· σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. Λέγει αὐτῷ, Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου.
(Legei autōi palin deuteron, Simōn Yōna, agapas me; Legei autōi, Nai kurie; su oidas hoti filō se. Legei autōi, Poimaine ta probata mou.)

TC-GNT Λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον, Σίμων [fn]Ἰωνᾶ, ἀγαπᾷς με; Λέγει αὐτῷ, Ναὶ Κύριε· σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. Λέγει αὐτῷ, Ποίμαινε τὰ [fn]πρόβατά μου.
(Legei autōi palin deuteron, Simōn Yōna, agapas me; Legei autōi, Nai Kurie; su oidas hoti filō se. Legei autōi, Poimaine ta probata mou. )

21:16 ιωνα ¦ ιωαννου NA SBL TH ¦ ιωανου WH

21:16 προβατα ¦ προβατια WH

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 21:15–19: Jesus restored Peter

After breakfast Jesus spoke with Simon Peter, restoring him and encouraging him. Three times he asked if Peter, calling him Simon, loved him. When Peter said that he did, Jesus told him to feed or care for his sheep, meaning his followers.

Here are other possible section headings:

Jesus asked Peter if he loved him

Jesus again gave Peter a ministry

Jesus asked Peter to feed his sheep

Paragraph 21:15–19

Just before Jesus’ death, Peter had denied knowing him. Now Jesus spoke with Peter. He restored their relationship and gave him a ministry in which Peter could serve him.

In this paragraph Jesus asked Peter three questions, and Peter replied each time. Each question and answer used one of two different Greek words that the BSB translates as “love.” Jesus used one word (agapaō) when he asked the first two questions. He used the other Greek word (phileō) when he asked the third question. Peter used the second word in all his answers. There are two ways to interpret the word choice here:

Both words mean the same thing. In this context (as in other places in John) they are used as synonyms. For example:
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” (NCV) (BSB, GNT, ESV, NLT, RSV, NRSV, NIV2011, KJV, NASB, REB, NJB, GW, NCV, CEV)
One Greek word refers to a stronger love than the other. Jesus used the stronger word (agapaō) in his first two questions. All the other times that the word “love” appears, it is the weaker Greek word. This second word (phileō) means “to be fond of” or “to be a friend.” For example:
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” (NIV84) (NIV84)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and most Bible scholars.See the footnote in the NET (21:15, footnote d) and Carson for more details. You may follow this interpretation by using the same word for love or by using synonyms. Do what is more natural in your language. For example:

do you love me?…am I dear to you?

21:16a

Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”

Jesus asked Simon Peter for the second time, “Simon son of John, do you^(sing) love me?”
Jesus asked Simon Peter the question again. He said, “Simon son of John, do you^(sing) love me?”

Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?”: This second time Jesus did not ask Peter to compare his love for him with the other disciples’ love. He just asked him if he, Peter, loved Jesus. He used the same verb for love that he used in 21:15a. For a discussion of the word love, see the note on Paragraph 21:15–19 above.

21:16b

“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”

Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord. You^(sing) know that I love you.”
Peter answered Jesus, “My Lord, you^(sing) know that I love you.”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.”: Peter replied the same way he did before. See how you translated this sentence in 21:15c. For a discussion of the word love, see the note on Paragraph 21:15–19 above.

21:16c

Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Jesus said to him, “Take care^(sing) of my flock.”
Jesus told him, “Look after^(sing) my people like a shepherd looks after his sheep.”

Shepherd My sheep: This clause is another metaphor, meaning the same thing as “Feed my lambs” in 21:15d. The Greek verb that the BSB translates as Shepherd describes the activity of a shepherd. A shepherd will tend (care for) his sheep by leading them to good food, protecting them, and rescuing them. It is a different verb from the one in 21:15d, where Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” However, here it is used as a synonym, both words meaning the same thing. Like the clause in 21:15d, this is a metaphor and there are several ways to translate it:

Use a metaphor, like the BSB.
Explain all or part of the meaning of the metaphor. For example:
Take care of my sheep. (NIV)
Change all or part of the metaphor into a simile. For example:
Look after my people like a shepherd looks after his sheep.

Tending Jesus’ sheep was what Peter should do because he loved Jesus. You may want to indicate the connection with 21:16b by supplying a connector. For example:

Then take care of my sheep. (NLT)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture

λέγει & λέγει & λέγει

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον Σίμων Ἰωάννου ἀγαπᾷς μέ Λέγει αὐτῷ Ναί Κύριε σύ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σέ Λέγει αὐτῷ Ποίμαινε τά πρόβατα μού)

Here John uses the present tense in past narration in order to call attention to a development in the story.

Note 2 topic: translate-ordinal

δεύτερον

secondly

If your language does not use ordinal numbers, you can use a cardinal number here. Alternate translation: [time number 2.]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀγαπᾷς με & φιλῶ σε

˱you˲_˓are˒_loving (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον Σίμων Ἰωάννου ἀγαπᾷς μέ Λέγει αὐτῷ Ναί Κύριε σύ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σέ Λέγει αὐτῷ Ποίμαινε τά πρόβατα μού)

The two occurrences of love in this verse are two different words in the original language. See how you translated these phrases in the previous verse.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου

This sentence has the same meaning as “Feed my lambs” in the previous verse. See how you translated that similar sentence there. Alternate translation: [Take care of the people who believe in me like a shepherd takes care of lambs]

Parallel YHN 21:16

Section 21:15–19: Jesus restored Peter

Paragraph 21:15–19

21:16a

21:16b

21:16c