Peter, Do You Love Me?
The present author will ask the reader to read first the article What is Love? for a better understanding of what “love” is from Hebraic perspectives. If this is already done, we proceed in reading from John 21, where Yeshua asked Shimon Kefa (Simon Peter) three peculiar questions. That was now the third time Yeshua was manifested to His disciples after He was raised from the dead (Joh 21:14). We read,
Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love (ἀγαπάω) Me more than these (the disciples)? John 21:15
To this question Peter replied, Yes, Master, You know that I love You.
The Messiah asked him again what seems to be the same question,
Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love Me? John 21:16
Peter again replied with an identical answer as the first time, Yes, Master, You know that I love You.
Yeshua asked Peter the third time,
Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love Me? John 21:17
This time Peter replied with sadness in his voice because He asked him the third time, Master, You know all, You know that I love You.
Now, we may ask ourselves the question, what was Yeshua’s intent to ask His disciple the same question three times after He had received identical answers.
In Greek, the first time Yeshua asked His question in v.15, the Greek word ἀγαπάω, ag-ap-ah’-o was used which has the meaning of to love in a social or moral sense. To which Peter (according to the Greek text) used another Greek word φιλέω fil-eh’-o which has the meaning of to be a friend, to fond of an individual or an object.
In v.16 both Yeshua and Peter used the same words ἀγαπάω and φιλέω respectively, again according to the Greek text.
In v.17, however, we see a change in Yeshua’s question when He asked Peter whether he loved Him. This time the word in the question is φιλέω to which Peter still gave the same answer.
Now, what seems to be the difference between these two Greek words used in our passage. The difference is that agapao is being “love” chiefly of the heart and phileo of the head. Or, at any rate we can see that in the Graeco-Roman mind love is an abstract word regardless of the nuances of the Greek concept of love.
There is no lack of suggestions as to what was the point of these three questions Yeshua asked. Some commentators have suggested that He thrice questioned Peter’s love, thus giving him the opportunity of canceling his threefold denial (F. B. Meyer). There are two Greek words for “love.” In His questions Yeshua chose the higher, while Peter in his replies humbly chose the lower till in His third question He came down to his level. Others say that the three questions were asked by “the three persons” in the Godhead (Holy Trinity) respectively.
Most regrettably, the Hebrew text of the Gospel According to John has been lost to us and we cannot say with a hundred percent of certainty what Hebrew words Yeshua and Peter used in their peculiar conversation. But since both were born and raised in a Hebraic culture, most certainly they spoke Hebrew. Coming from this perspective, we will try to restore the Hebrew word for “love” which most likely was used in John 21.
For this purpose, let us briefly recall the three Hebrew words for “love” as they were discussed in the article What is Love?
The first Hebrew word for “to love” is אָהַב ahav. The noun derived from it is אַהֲבָה ahavah, love. The literal meaning of ahav is to love in the sense of providing, giving, and caring. Hence, in the Hebraic mind the more we give and provide, the more we grow to love the recipient of our giving.
The second Hebrew words for “to love” is חָשַׁק chashak with its literal meaning of “to be attached emotionally to someone.”
And there is one more Hebrew word for love:דֹּד dod which can spelled also this way דּוֹד. From this root comes the word יְדִיד yedid, “beloved,” with the meaning to love in sense of passion including a sexual intercourse.
With that being said, we see that the highest among them is ahav which means to love in the sense of responsibility and compassion. When we provide for someone, we do not even know, we show the true love in us.
So, which of these Hebrew words Yeshua used to ask Peter whether he loved Him?
To answer this question, we need to apply textual criticism, since we do not have any Hebrew text of the gospel. Let us this time read the entire passage in context.
Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Master, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
He said to him again, the second time, Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Master, You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep.
He said to him the third time, Shimon, son of Yonah, do you love Me? Kefa was sad because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, Master, You know all, You know that I love You. Yeshua said to him, Feed My sheep.
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger you girded yourself and walked where you wished, but when you are old you shall stretch out your hands, and another shall gird you and bring you where you do not wish.
Now this He said, signifying by what death He would glorify Elohim. (Joh 21:15-19)
So, which Hebrew word for “love” did Yeshua the Messiah use to ask His disciple? Most certainly, we should take the word דֹּד dod out of consideration, with which we are left with two picks: אָהַב ahav or חָשַׁק chashak.
Considering their meanings, let us first substitute the English word “love” with chashak, which could be a reasonable pick. In this case, we read,
Shimon, son of Yonah, are you attached to Me more than these?
The only possible reply from Peter would have been:
Yes, Master, You know that I am. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
If this is the case, then it would seem that the Messiah’s concern was all about His selfness, His personal “self.” We should not entertain this notion because the Messiah’s life was all about the others and even giving His own life for them. In addition to it, the command “Feed My lambs (people)” would make little sense.
Therefore, we are left with the only possible conclusion that the Hebrew word ahav to love in the sense of providing, giving, and caring, is our word of choice. Only then we can see the deep meaning of Yeshua’s question to His disciple. If that was what Yeshua was asking Peter, then we read, as follows,
Shimon, son of Yonah, do you care for Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Master, You know that I care for You. He said to him, Feed My lambs.
He said to him again, the second time, Shimon, son of Yonah, do you care for Me? He said to Him, Yes, Master, You know that I care for You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep.
He said to him the third time, Shimon, son of Yonah, do you care for Me? Kefa was sad because He said to him the third time, “Do you care for Me?” And he said to Him, Master, You know all, You know that I care for You. Yeshua said to him, Feed My sheep.
Only in this choice of word we found a complete and full meaning of the whole conversation between Yeshua the Messiah and Shimon Kefa. In essence what He was asking Shimon Kefa was this: “Shimon, if you are My disciple and care for Me, as you say, then care for My people as I did.”
And how did the Messiah of Elohim care for His people, if not through His suffering and even through sacrifice of His own life? This is exactly what Yochanan (John) the Apostle understood from this conversation between Yeshua and Shimon Kefa (Peter) when he wrote, Now this He said, signifying by what death He would glorify Elohim.
The reader is encourage to read the article The Appointed Times of YHVH—the Festival of the Unleavened Breads and the Messiah for more insight on the sacrifice the Messiah the Lamb of Elohim did for all.
Only in this context we can understand why Yeshua asked Shimon three times the same question. Because three times Shimon was scared to death and did not acknowledge Him and say “I care for my Lord.” But with these questions the Messiah received what was due to Him and designated His disciple to care for the flock as He did.
We should also notice that Yeshua did not say “Feed on My Sheep” but “Feed My sheep.” For more on what Yeshua would say today, refer to the article Do Not Sell Wisdom, Instruction, and Understanding!
In conclusion, we are told to love the Messiah, not only in an emotional sense or in word sonly, but in the sense of our actions as we give, provide, and care for His people.
By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and guard His commands. (1Jn 5:2)
And Yeshua said to us,
‘You shall love Yehovah your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great command. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your fellow-man as yourself.’ (Mat 22:37-39)