10:10a

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy: This sentence indicates why the thieves and robbers come to the sheep pen. Their only purpose is to steal the sheep and kill them. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
The only reason that the thief goes to the sheep pen is to steal, kill, and destroy.

The thief: This phrase is also a metaphor and refers to someone who wants to destroy God’s people. He is like a thief who wants to kill sheep to eat. It refers to any thief. For example:

A thief (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Thieves

comes only to steal and kill and destroy: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as comes only to indicates that the thief has no other purpose than to do harmful things. He does not want to help anyone but to harm or destroy them. A literal translation of the word only may be unnatural here, as there are three purposes mentioned (steal, kill, and destroy). If that is the case in your language, here are other ways to translate this sentence:

A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy (New Century Version)
-or-
The purposes of the thief is to steal and kill and destroy and that is all.

kill: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as kill refers mainly to the killing of animals.

destroy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as destroy is a general word meaning “ruin” or “destroy.” The thief ruins/destroys by stealing and killing, so it may be natural to mention this first. For example:

bring ruin, stealing and killing

10:10b

I have come that they may have life: Jesus came to earth with the purpose of giving life to his sheep, that is, his followers. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I came in order to give them life
-or-
I came to bring them life (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

In some languages it is not natural to think of life as a possession, something that people have. Instead it may be possible to use a verb:

I have come so that they may live.

they: The pronoun they refers to the sheep, the people of God. It does not refer to the thieves, that is, the religious leaders opposed to Jesus. If using the pronoun they does not make this clear, it may be necessary to say:

I have come in order that you might have life. (Good News Translation)
-or-
I came that my sheep may have life. (God’s Word)

life: The word life in the gospel of John usually refers to eternal, spiritual life. That life is described as knowing God the Father and his Son Jesus (see 17:3). Here, because Jesus was also talking about sheep, it is best to not explain what the word life means.

10:10c

and have it in all its fullness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in all its fullness means “in a way that is more than enough.” This phrase indicates that Jesus came to give his people full, spiritual life that is more than enough. This refers to things like good relationships with Jesus and the Father, and enjoying God’s spiritual blessings. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

and have it abundantly (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
and have it to the full (New International Version)
-or-
and may enjoy the very good life that has no lack
-or-
and may really live with plenty of everything that they need

General Comment on 10:10b–c

These clauses are connected by the conjunction “and” but they refer to the same thing. 10:10c is more specific and describes the life mentioned in 10b, making it even better. In some languages it may be natural to combine these clauses, using just one verb. For example:

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
I came to give life—life in all its fullness (New Century Version)

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