John 10:4

John 10:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
• New International Version (NIV)When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
• English Standard Version (ESV)When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Context of John 10:4

2The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not recognize the stranger’s voice.” 6Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

John 10:4 word by word

ὅταν τὰ ἴδια πάντα ἐκβάλῃ, ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν πορεύεται, καὶ τὰ πρόβατα αὐτῷ ἀκολουθεῖ, ὅτι οἴδασιν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
• he putteth forthἐκβάλλωekballō · to expelG1544
• his ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• sheepπρόβατονprobaton · sheepG4263
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• goethπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
• before themἔμπροσθενemprosthen · beforeG1715
• the sheepὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• followἀκολουθέωakoloutheō · to followG190
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• they knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456

Cross-references for John 10:4

• John 12:26If anyone wants to serve me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant will be too. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
• John 13:15For I have given you an example – you should do just as I have done for you.
• John 14:2There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you.
• Deuteronomy 1:30The Lord your God is about to go ahead of you; he will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt
• Micah 2:12I will certainly gather all of you, O Jacob, I will certainly assemble those Israelites who remain. I will bring them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in the middle of a pasture; they will be so numerous that they will make a lot of noise.
• Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
• 1 Corinthians 11:1Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
• Ephesians 5:1Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children
• Philippians 2:5You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
• Hebrews 6:20where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
• Hebrews 12:2keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
• 1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps.
• 1 Peter 4:1So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,
• 1 Peter 5:3And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.
• John 10:8All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
• John 3:29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete.

Commentaries on John 10:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4He goeth before them - A sixth mark of a true pastor is, he gives them a good example: he not only preaches, but he lives, the truth of the Gospel; he enters into the depths of the salvation of God; and, having thus explored the path, he knows how to lead those who are entrusted to his care into the fullness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace. He who does not endeavor to realize in his own soul the truths which he preaches to others will soon be as…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4He putteth forth - Or leads them out of the fold. He goeth before them - He leads them, and guides them, and does not leave them. A shepherd spent his time with his flocks. He went before them to seek the best pastures and watering-places, and to defend them from danger. In this is beautifully represented the tender care of him who watches for souls as one that must give account.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4A good shepherd goes ahead of the sheep and leads them. He does not force them from behind. When the sheep recognize his voice, they trust him and follow.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 10:4

• Character
• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian
• Righteous
• Sheep
• Shepherd
• Wisdom

In the dictionaries

• Fold
• Lay
• Parable
• Sanctify
• Sheep
• Thief
• Allegory
• God
• Jesus Christ
• John, Gospel of

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