“γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ καὶ γινώσκομαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν”: Reciprocal Knowing and Shepherd Identity in John 10:14

Introduction: The Shepherd Who Knows and Is Known

In John 10:14, Jesus states:

Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός,
καὶ γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ καὶ γινώσκομαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν.
“I am the good shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me.”

This verse hinges on two reciprocal clauses:
– γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ – “I know those who are mine”
– γινώσκομαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν – “I am known by those who are mine”

The parallelism and grammatical symmetry deepen the theological truth: intimacy between Christ and His followers.

Let’s explore the rich grammar and theology of John 10:14, focusing especially on the reciprocal verbs and the identity formula in:

Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός, καὶ γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ καὶ γινώσκομαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν.

This verse contains a powerful present copula construction (ἐγώ εἰμι), attributive adjectives, and a beautiful contrast between active and passive forms of γινώσκω, all while echoing Old Testament shepherd imagery.

Morphological Breakdown

1. Ἐγώ {egó} –
   Form: 1st person singular pronoun;
   Function: emphatic subject—“I myself”
2. εἰμι {eimí} –
   Root: εἰμί {eimí};
   Form: present active indicative, 1st person singular;
   Meaning: “I am”;
   Usage: identity statement; frequently used in Johannine theology with theological depth.
3. ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός {ho poimḕn ho kalós} –
   Form: nominative masculine singular noun + attributive adjective;
   Meaning: “the good shepherd”;
   Notes: The second article (ὁ) makes ὁ καλός attributive: “the shepherd, the good one.”
   It’s not merely descriptive but a title of identity and mission.
4. γινώσκω {ginṓskō} –
   Root: γινώσκω;
   Form: present active indicative, 1st person singular;
   Meaning: “I know”;
   Usage: denotes intimate, experiential knowledge—not just cognitive.
5. τὰ ἐμὰ {ta emá} –
   Form: neuter plural accusative article + possessive adjective;
   Meaning: “the things/ones that are mine”;
   Notes: Here, context makes it clear this refers to “my own people” (i.e., believers/sheep).
6. γινώσκομαι {ginṓskomai} –
   Form: present passive indicative, 1st person singular;
   Meaning: “I am known”;
   Notes: Reciprocal to γινώσκω; emphasizes mutuality.
7. ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν {hypò tōn emṓn} –
   Form: preposition + genitive plural masculine;
   Meaning: “by those who are mine”;
   Function: agent of the passive verb γινώσκομαι.

Syntactical Analysis: Identity and Reciprocal Knowledge

The structure:

– Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός – Strong subject + copula + predicate nominative.
– γινώσκω τὰ ἐμὰ – Verb + direct object = “I know my own.”
– γινώσκομαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐμῶν – Passive verb + agent = “I am known by my own.”

This parallelism creates symmetry:
> Christ knows His sheep,
> and they know Him.

Semantic and Theological Implications

The present tenses suggest continuous, ongoing relationship.

γινώσκω and γινώσκομαι refer not to abstract knowledge but to relational intimacy. This echoes:

– Genesis 4:1 – “Adam knew Eve…”
– John 17:3 – “This is eternal life: to know You…”

Here, the knowledge is:
– Mutual: not one-sided.
– Relational: built on trust and presence.
– Identifying: to be known by Christ is to belong to Him.

Literary and Johannine Significance

In the Gospel of John:
– “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμι) statements = divine self-revelation
– “The good shepherd” = fulfillment of Ezekiel 34, where YHWH promises to shepherd His people.
– The grammar reflects pastoral theology: Christ not only saves, but knows and is known.

The Shepherd Knows His Own

This verse doesn’t just describe relationship—it grammatically embodies it:

– He knows (γινώσκω)
– He is known (γινώσκομαι)
– He is the Good Shepherd (ὁ ποιμὴν ὁ καλός)

And in that structure lies our hope:
To be His is to be known.
To be known is to belong.