John 10:18

Authorized King James Version

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No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Original Language Analysis

οὐδεὶς No man G3762
οὐδεὶς No man
Strong's: G3762
Word #: 1 of 29
not even one (man, woman or thing), i.e., none, nobody, nothing
αἴρει taketh G142
αἴρει taketh
Strong's: G142
Word #: 2 of 29
to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh
αὐτήν· it G846
αὐτήν· it
Strong's: G846
Word #: 3 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀπ' from G575
ἀπ' from
Strong's: G575
Word #: 4 of 29
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
ἐμοῦ me G1700
ἐμοῦ me
Strong's: G1700
Word #: 5 of 29
of me
ἀλλ' but G235
ἀλλ' but
Strong's: G235
Word #: 6 of 29
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
ἐγὼ I G1473
ἐγὼ I
Strong's: G1473
Word #: 7 of 29
i, me
θεῖναι down G5087
θεῖναι down
Strong's: G5087
Word #: 8 of 29
to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from g2476, which pr
αὐτήν· it G846
αὐτήν· it
Strong's: G846
Word #: 9 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀπ' from G575
ἀπ' from
Strong's: G575
Word #: 10 of 29
"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)
ἐμαυτοῦ myself G1683
ἐμαυτοῦ myself
Strong's: G1683
Word #: 11 of 29
of myself so likewise the dative case ?????? <pronunciation strongs="em-ow-to'"/>, and accusative case ??????? <pronunciation strongs="em-ow-ton'"/>
ἐξουσίαν power G1849
ἐξουσίαν power
Strong's: G1849
Word #: 12 of 29
privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o
ἔχω I have G2192
ἔχω I have
Strong's: G2192
Word #: 13 of 29
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
θεῖναι down G5087
θεῖναι down
Strong's: G5087
Word #: 14 of 29
to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from g2476, which pr
αὐτήν· it G846
αὐτήν· it
Strong's: G846
Word #: 15 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
καὶ and G2532
καὶ and
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 16 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐξουσίαν power G1849
ἐξουσίαν power
Strong's: G1849
Word #: 17 of 29
privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o
ἔχω I have G2192
ἔχω I have
Strong's: G2192
Word #: 18 of 29
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
πάλιν again G3825
πάλιν again
Strong's: G3825
Word #: 19 of 29
(adverbially) anew, i.e., (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand
ἔλαβον have I received G2983
ἔλαβον have I received
Strong's: G2983
Word #: 20 of 29
while g0138 is more violent, to seize or remove))
αὐτήν· it G846
αὐτήν· it
Strong's: G846
Word #: 21 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ταύτην G3778
ταύτην
Strong's: G3778
Word #: 22 of 29
the he (she or it), i.e., this or that (often with article repeated)
τὴν G3588
τὴν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 23 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐντολὴν commandment G1785
ἐντολὴν commandment
Strong's: G1785
Word #: 24 of 29
injunction, i.e., an authoritative prescription
ἔλαβον have I received G2983
ἔλαβον have I received
Strong's: G2983
Word #: 25 of 29
while g0138 is more violent, to seize or remove))
παρὰ of G3844
παρὰ of
Strong's: G3844
Word #: 26 of 29
properly, near; i.e., (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subj
τοῦ G3588
τοῦ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 27 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατρός Father G3962
πατρός Father
Strong's: G3962
Word #: 28 of 29
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
μου my G3450
μου my
Strong's: G3450
Word #: 29 of 29
of me

Analysis & Commentary

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself—Jesus insists on the voluntary nature of His death. The emphatic "no man" (οὐδεὪς/oudeis) demolishes any notion that Christ was a helpless victim. Though legally executed by Rome and religiously condemned by Jewish leaders, Jesus remained sovereign over His own death. The phrase "of myself" (ἀπ᾽ ἐμαυτοῦ/ap' emautou) emphasizes autonomous decision—no external force compelled Him.

I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again—The word "power" (ἐξουσίαν/exousian) means authority, not merely ability. Jesus possesses both the right and the capacity to surrender His life and to resume it. This twofold authority sets Christ apart from all humanity: we die involuntarily and cannot resurrect ourselves. Jesus does both voluntarily. He is Lord over life and death itself.

The parallel structure "power to lay it down... power to take it again" presents death and resurrection as equally authoritative acts. Resurrection isn't rescue from death's grip but Christ's sovereign reclamation of the life He voluntarily surrendered. This establishes Jesus as utterly unique—His death proves His love; His resurrection proves His deity.

This commandment have I received of my Father—The mission is both voluntary (Christ's willing choice) and appointed (the Father's command). The Greek ἐντολήν (entolēn, "commandment") indicates authoritative commission. Christ doesn't act independently of the Father but in perfect unity with the Father's redemptive will. The Son's obedience to the Father's command demonstrates Trinitarian cooperation in salvation while maintaining Christ's voluntary participation. He wasn't coerced but willingly embraced the Father's mission.

Historical Context

Roman crucifixion was designed to maximize helplessness and humiliation. Victims were stripped, mocked, tortured, and killed slowly. The entire procedure communicated: you are powerless, defeated, cursed. Yet Jesus reframes His crucifixion as an authoritative act: "I have power to lay down my life." This transforms Rome's instrument of domination into Christ's vehicle of redemption.

The Jewish leaders thought they condemned Jesus (Matthew 26:66); Pilate thought he wielded power over Jesus (John 19:10). Jesus corrects both: "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above" (John 19:11). Human actors play roles in God's sovereign plan, but Christ remains in control.

Early Christian preaching emphasized this sovereignty. Acts 2:23 declares Jesus was "delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God"—even in death, God's plan prevailed. This truth gave persecuted Christians confidence: their suffering, like Christ's, was under God's sovereign control.

Questions for Reflection

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