The Meaning of John 21:17 Explained

John 21:17

KJV: He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

YLT: He saith to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonas, dost thou dearly love me?' Peter was grieved that he said to him the third time, 'Dost thou dearly love me?' and he said to him, 'Lord, thou hast known all things; thou dost know that I dearly love thee.' Jesus saith to him, 'Feed my sheep;

Darby: He says to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, art thou attached to me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Art thou attached to me? and said to him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I am attached to thee. Jesus says to him, Feed my sheep.

ASV: He saith unto him the third time, Simon,'son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He saith  unto him  the third  time, Simon,  [son] of Jonas,  lovest  thou me?  Peter  was grieved  because  he said  unto him  the third  time, Lovest  thou me?  And  he said  unto him,  Lord,  thou  knowest  all things;  thou  knowest  that  I love  thee.  Jesus  saith  unto him,  Feed  my  sheep. 

What does John 21:17 Mean?

Study Notes

lovest Our Lord here takes Peter's word, phileis.
love (Greek - καταφιλέω , am fond of). It is a lesser degree of love than agapas.
Feed , John 21:15 ; John 10:9
love (Greek - καταφιλέω , am fond of). It is a lesser degree of love than agapas.
Feed , John 21:15 ; John 10:9

Context Summary

John 21:10-19 - "lovest Thou Me?"
Christ thrice questioned Peter's love, thus giving him the opportunity of canceling his threefold denial. There are two Greek words for "love." In His questions our Lord chose the higher, while Peter in his replies humbly chose the lower till in His third question our Lord came down to his level. Christ forecasted the hatred and opposition of the world, and suggested to Peter and the rest that the only way to combat and overcome was in the fervent love that they had for Him. Only this could give them the necessary tenderness and delicacy in leading and feeding the flock. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 21

1  Jesus appearing again to his disciples is known of them by the great catch of fish
12  He dines with them;
15  earnestly commands Peter to feed his lambs and sheep;
18  foretells him of his death;
22  rebukes his curiosity
24  The conclusion

Greek Commentary for John 21:17

Lovest thou me? [πιλεις με]
This time Jesus picks up the word πιλεω — phileō used by Peter and challenges that. These two words are often interchanged in the N.T., but here the distinction is preserved. Peter was cut to the heart Many MSS. both here and in John 21:16 read προβατα — probata (sheep) instead of προβατια — probatia (little sheep or lambs). [source]
Lovest [φιλεῖς]
Here Jesus adopts Peter's word. Canon Westcott, however, ascribes Peter's use of φιλέω to his humility, and his hesitation in claiming that higher love which is implied in ἀγαπᾷς . This seems to me to be less natural, and to be refining too much. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 21:17

John 2:24 Because He knew [διὰ τὸ αὐτὸν γινώσκειν]
Literally, on account of the fact of His knowing. John describes the Lord's knowledge by two words which it is important to distinguish. Γινώσκειν , as here, implies acquired knowledge; knowledge which is the result of discernment and which may be enlarged. This knowledge may be drawn from external facts (John 5:6; John 6:15) or from spiritual sympathy (John 10:14, John 10:27; John 17:25). Εἰδέναι (John 1:26) implies absolute knowledge: the knowledge of intuition and of satisfied conviction. Hence it is used of Christ's knowledge of divine things (John 3:11; John 5:32; John 7:29), Of the facts of His own being (John 6:6; John 8:14; John 13:1), and of external facts (John 6:61, John 6:64; John 13:11). In John 21:17the two words appear together. Peter says to Jesus, appealing to His absolute knowledge, “Thou knowest ( οἶδας ) all things:” appealing to his discernment, “Thou knowest or perceivest ( γινώσκεις ) that I love Thee.” [source]
John 13:38 Wilt thou lay down thy life? []
For a similar repetition of Peter's own words, see on John 21:17. [source]
John 13:38 Wilt thou lay down? [τησεισ]
Jesus picks up Peter‘s very words and challenges his boasted loyalty. See such repetition in John 16:16, John 16:31; John 21:17. Shall not crow Aorist active subjunctive of πωνεω — phōneō to use the voice, used of animals and men. Note strong double negative ου μη — ou mē Mark adds δις — dis (twice). John‘s report is almost identical with that in Luke 22:34. The other disciples joined in Peter‘s boast (Mark 14:31; Matthew 26:35). Till thou hast denied Future middle indicative or aorist middle subjunctive second person singular (form identical) with compound conjunction εως ου — heōs hou (until which time), “till thou deny or deniest” (futurum exactum needless). Peter is silenced for the present. They all “sat astounded and perplexed” (Dods). [source]
John 20:2 Runneth [τρεχει]
Vivid dramatic present indicative of τρεχω — trechō John deals only with Mary Magdalene. She left the tomb at once before the rest and without seeing the angels as told in the Synoptics (Mark 16:2-8; Matthew 28:5-8; Luke 24:1-8). Luke (Luke 24:9-12) does not distinguish between the separate report of Mary Magdalene and that of the other women. To Simon Peter Full name as usual in John and back with John and the other disciples. The association of Peter and the other disciple in John 18-21 is like that between Peter and John in Acts 1-5. Loved Imperfect of πιλεω — phileō for which see John 5:20; John 11:3 and for distinction from αγαπαω — agapaō see John 11:5; John 13:23; John 21:7, John 21:15, John 21:17. They have taken away First aorist active indicative of αιρω — airō indefinite plural. We know not Mary associates the other women with her in her ignorance. For ετηκαν — ethēkan (have laid) see John 19:42. Mary fears a grave robbery. She has no idea of the resurrection of Jesus. [source]
John 5:20 Loveth [πιλει]
In John 3:35 we have αγαπαι — agapāi from αγαπαω — agapaō evidently one verb expressing as noble a love as the other. Sometimes a distinction (John 21:17) is made, but not here, unless πιλεω — phileō presents the notion of intimate friendship Τουτων — Toutōn is ablative case after the comparative μειζονα — meizona (from μεγας — megas great). John often uses εργα — erga for the miracles of Christ (John 5:36; John 7:3, John 7:21; John 10:25, John 10:32, John 10:38, etc.). It is the Father who does these works (John 14:10). There is more to follow. Even the disciples will surpass what Christ is doing in the extent of the work (John 14:12). Δειχει — Deixei is future active indicative of δεικνυμι — deiknumi to show. See also John 10:32. That ye may marvel Purpose clause with ινα — hina and present active subjunctive of ταυμαζω — thaumazō Wonder belongs to childhood and to men of knowledge. Modern science has increased the occasion for wonder. Clement of Alexandria has a saying of Jesus: “He that wonders shall reign, and he that reigns shall rest.” [source]
1 Peter 5:2 Feed [ποιμάνατε]
Better, Rev., tend, since the verb denotes all that is included in the office of a shepherd - guiding, guarding, folding, no less than feeding, which latter is expressed by βόσκω . There is, doubtless, a reminiscence in the word of Christ's charge to Peter (John 21:15-17). Both words are used there: “Feed ( Βόσκε ) my lambs” (John 21:15); “tend ( ποίμαινε ) my sheep” (John 21:16); “feed ( βόσκε ) my sheep” (John 21:17). The A. V. obliterates the distinction by rendering all three feed. Bengel rightly remarks, “Feeding is part of tending.” See on Matthew 2:6. [source]
1 John 3:20 Because God is greater than our heart [οτι μειζων εστιν της καρδιας ημων]
Ablative καρδιας — kardias after the comparative μειζων — meizōn knoweth all things Just so Peter replied to Jesus in spite of his denials (John 21:17). God‘s omniscience is linked with his love and sympathy. God knows every secret in our hearts. This difficult passage strikes the very centre of Christian truth (Brooke). [source]
Revelation 2:2 I know [οιδα]
Rather than γινωσκω — ginōskō and so “emphasizes better the absolute clearness of mental vision which photographs all the facts of life as they pass” (Swete). So also in Revelation 2:9, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 2:19; Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:8, Revelation 3:15. For the distinction see John 21:17, “where the universal knowledge passes into the field of special observation.” [source]

What do the individual words in John 21:17 mean?

He says to him the third time Simon [son] of John do you dearly love Me Was grieved - Peter because He said And Lord all things You know know that I dearly love You Says - Jesus Feed the sheep of Me
Λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον Σίμων Ἰωάννου φιλεῖς με Ἐλυπήθη Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν Καὶ Κύριε πάντα σὺ οἶδας γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε Λέγει ‹ὁ› Ἰησοῦς Βόσκε τὰ πρόβατά μου

Λέγει  He  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
τρίτον  third  time 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τρίτον 
Sense: the third.
Σίμων  Simon 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: Σίμων  
Sense: Peter was one of the apostles.
Ἰωάννου  [son]  of  John 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰωάννης 
Sense: John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, the forerunner of Christ.
φιλεῖς  do  you  dearly  love 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: φιλέω  
Sense: to love.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Ἐλυπήθη  Was  grieved 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λυπέω  
Sense: to make sorrowful.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πέτρος  Peter 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πέτρος  
Sense: one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.
ὅτι  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Κύριε  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
πάντα  all  things 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
οἶδας  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
γινώσκεις  know 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
φιλῶ  I  dearly  love 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: φιλέω  
Sense: to love.
Λέγει  Says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
‹ὁ›  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Βόσκε  Feed 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: βόσκω  
Sense: to feed.
πρόβατά  sheep 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: προβάτιον 
Sense: any four footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opp. to large cattle, horses, etc.), most commonly a sheep or a goat.
μου  of  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.