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 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.” Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So Jesus said to them again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. 8All who came before me were thieves and 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 Jews who were hostile to Jesus began to argue with one another, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
• John 7:36What did he mean by saying, ‘You will look for me but will not find me, and where I am you cannot come’?”
• John 8:27(They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father.)
• Psalms 82:5They neither know nor understand. They stumble around in the dark, while all the foundations of the earth crumble.
• Psalms 106:7Our ancestors in Egypt failed to appreciate your miraculous deeds, they failed to remember your many acts of loyal love, and they rebelled at the sea, by the Red Sea.
• Proverbs 28:5Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it all.
• Isaiah 6:9He said, “Go and tell these people: ‘Listen continually, but don’t understand! Look continually, but don’t perceive!’
• Isaiah 56:11The dogs have big appetites; they are never full. They are shepherds who have no understanding; they all go their own way, each one looking for monetary gain.
• Daniel 12:10Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand.
• Matthew 13:13For this reason I speak to them in parables: Although they see they do not see, and although they hear they do not hear nor do they understand.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• 1 John 5:20And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us insight to know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This one 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