10:29a

My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all: There is a textual problem here:

(1) Some Greek manuscripts say that the Father is greater than all else. For example:

My Father gave my sheep to me. He is greater than all. (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, NET Bible Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) Some manuscripts say that the gift is greater than all else. For example:

What my Father has given me is greater than everything. (Good News Translation)

(New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), following the Berean Standard Bible and most English translations. However, experts in the Greek text agree that the exact original text is quite uncertain. If the translations in your area follow option (2), you may want to do the same.

In this verse part, Jesus said that God the Father gave him his sheep (his people). He also said that God was greater than anyone or anything else. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else (New Living Translation (2004))

My Father who has given them to Me: God has given these people to Jesus to care for, providing for their needs.

is greater than all: This clause means that God rules over everything else and has more power than anyone else. Nobody can defeat him. So his people are safe and secure.

10:29b

No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand: In this metaphor, God has given people to Jesus, but they are still in God’s hands. This indicates that they are safe, and that God is protecting them. Refer to your translation of 10:28b. In some languages a literal translation would have no meaning or would wrongly indicate that God has physical hands. If that is true in your language, you may want to explain the metaphor. For example:

no one can snatch them out of the Father’s care (Revised English Bible)

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