John 10:6

John 10:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
• New International Version (NIV)Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.

Context of John 10:6

4When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call. 5They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about. 7So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. 8All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them.

John 10:6 word by word

Ταύτην τὴν παροιμίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τίνα ἦν ἃ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• parableὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• parableπαροιμίαparoimia · proverbG3942
• spakeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• butδέde · thenG1161
• theyἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• understoodγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• notοὐou · noG3756
• what thingsτίςtis · which?G5101
• they wereεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he spakeλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980

Cross-references for John 10:6

• John 6:52Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
• John 7:36What does this statement of His mean, ‘You will look for Me, and will not [be able to] find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?”
• John 8:27They did not realize [or have the spiritual insight to understand] that He was speaking to them about the Father.
• Psalms 82:5The rulers do not know nor do they understand; They walk on in the darkness [of complacent satisfaction]; All the foundations of the earth [the fundamental principles of the administration of justice] are shaken.
• Psalms 106:7Our fathers in Egypt did not understand nor appreciate Your miracles; They did not remember the abundance of Your mercies nor imprint Your lovingkindnesses on their hearts, But they were rebellious at the sea, at the Red Sea.
• Proverbs 28:5Evil men do not understand justice, But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully.
• Isaiah 6:9And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on listening, but do not understand; Keep on looking, but do not comprehend.’
• Isaiah 56:11And the dogs are greedy; they never have enough. They are shepherds who have no understanding; They have all turned to their own way, Each one to his unlawful gain, without exception.
• Daniel 12:10Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand.
• Matthew 13:13This is the reason I speak to the crowds in parables: because while [having the power of] seeing they do not see, and while [having the power of] hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand and grasp [spiritual things].
• 1 Corinthians 2:14But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].
• 1 John 5:20And we [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given us understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Commentaries on John 10:6

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6This parable - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. They understood not … - They did not understand the meaning or design of the illustration.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-9Verses 6-9 Many who hear the word of Christ, do not understand it, because they will not. But we shall find one scripture expounding another, and the blessed Spirit making known the blessed Jesus. Christ is the Door. And what greater security has the church of God than that the Lord Jesus is between it and all its enemies? He is a door open for passage and communication. Here are plain directions how to come into the fold; we must come in by Jesus Christ…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-21This illustration of a shepherd and his sheep comes from a Middle Eastern perspective of shepherding and Old Testament traditions in first-century AD Jewish culture. God was the shepherd of Israel (Genesis 49:24; Psalms 23; 78:52–53; Isaiah 40:10–11). Spiritual and political leaders of Israel were also shepherds of God’s people, the flock of God (Isaiah 56:9–12; Jeremiah 23:1–4; Ezekiel 34). Jesus spoke these words during the Feast of Dedication (see John…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-21This discourse seems plainly to be a continuation of the closing verses of the ninth chapter. The figure was familiar to the Jewish ear (from Jr 23:1-40; Eze 34:1-31; Zec 11:1-17, &c.). "This simple creature [the sheep] has this special note among all animals, that it quickly hears the voice of the shepherd, follows no one else, depends entirely on him, and seeks help from him alone--cannot help itself, but is shut up to another's aid" [Luther in Stier]…Read the comment

Topics related to John 10:6

• Apostles
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Sheep
• Shepherd

In the dictionaries

• Jesus
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Fold
• Lay
• Parable
• Sanctify
• Thief
• Allegory
• God
• Jesus Christ

Commentaries on John 10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings