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 out all his own sheep, he goes in front of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger. They will run away from a stranger because they do not recognize his voice.’ Jesus told this story like a picture to teach the people. But they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So Jesus spoke again. He said, ‘I tell you this: I am like the gate for the sheep. 8All other men who came before me were like robbers. But the sheep did not listen to 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 Jewish leaders became angry and they argued with each other even more. They said, ‘This man cannot give his body to us so that we can eat it!’
• John 7:36He said, “You will look for me, but you will not find me.” And he also said, “You cannot go to the place where I will be.” What does he mean?’
• John 8:27They did not understand that he was speaking to them about his Father.
• Psalms 82:5The powerful leaders know nothing and they understand nothing. They walk about in a dark place. At the same time the foundation of the earth shakes!
• Psalms 106:7When our ancestors were in Egypt, they did not understand your miracles. They forgot the many ways that you showed them your faithful love. When they arrived at the Red Sea, they turned against you, Lord.
• Proverbs 28:5Evil people do not understand justice. But people who serve the Lord understand all about it.
• Isaiah 6:9The Lord said, ‘Go! Tell my message to those people: “You will continue to listen, but you will never understand! You will continue to look, but you will not see anything!”
• Isaiah 56:11They are like dogs who are always hungry. They eat a lot but they never have enough. They are like shepherds who do not understand what to do. They do whatever they want to do, so that it will help them get what they want.
• Daniel 12:10The time of trouble will cause many people to become clean and pure. But wicked people will continue to do evil things. No wicked people will understand what God is doing. But wise people will understand.
• Matthew 13:13The reason I use stories to talk to other people is this: These people look. But they do not really see clearly. They hear the words. But they do not really understand.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14If someone does not believe in God, they cannot accept the message that comes from God's Spirit. They think that God's message is silly. They cannot even understand those things. Only God's Spirit can explain them to people.
• 1 John 5:20We also know that the Son of God has come into the world. He has helped us to understand what is true. As a result, we know the only true God. We live together with this true God, because we belong to his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God. He is the one who gives us life with God for ever.

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