John 10:18 net — No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have th…

NET Bible

"No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”"

— John 10:18, NET Bible

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John 10:18 in Other Translations

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John 10 — Context

15

just as the Father knows me and I know the Father– and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16

I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold. I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17

This is why the Father loves me– because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again.

18

No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”

19

Another sharp division took place among the Jewish people because of these words.

20

Many of them were saying,“He is possessed by a demon and has lost his mind! Why do you listen to him?”

21

Others said,“These are not the words of someone possessed by a demon. A demon cannot cause the blind to see, can it?”

John 10:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 10:18 say?
John 10:18 in the NET Bible reads: “No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.””
Where is John 10:18 in the Bible?
John 10:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 10, verse 18.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 10:18.
What translation should I read John 10:18 in?
John 10:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 10:18?
John 10:18 reads (NET): “No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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