Yochanan 10:4

4 When the Ro’eh has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the tzon follow the Ro’eh, because they have da’as of the Ro’eh’s voice.

Yochanan 10:4 Meaning and Commentary

John 10:4

And when he putteth forth his own sheep
The Ethiopic version reads, "when he leads them all out"; in order to bring them into proper pastures:

he goeth before them;
in allusion to the eastern shepherds, who when they put out their flocks, did not, as ours do, drive them before them, and follow after them, at least not always, but went before them: so Christ, the great shepherd, goes before his flock, not only to provide for them, but by way of example to them; in many instances he is an ensample to the flock, as under shepherds, according to the measure of grace received, should be: he has left them an example in many respects, that they should tread in his steps:

and the sheep follow him;
in the exercise of the graces of humility, love, patience, self-denial, and resignation of will to the will of God; and in the discharge of duty, walking, in some measure, as he walked.

For they know his voice;
in the Gospel, which directs and encourages them to exercise grace in him, and to walk in the path of duty: this they know by the majesty and authority of it; and by the power with which it comes to their souls; and by its speaking of him, and leading to him; and by the evenness, harmony, and consistency of it. The Persic version renders the whole thus; "when he calls and leads out the sheep, they go before him, and their lambs after them, for they know his voice".

Yochanan 10:4 In-Context

2 But the one entering through the derech hasha’ar is Ro’eh haTzon (Shepherd of the flock [of sheep]).

3 To this one the doorkeeper opens, and the tzon hears the Ro’eh’s voice and the Ro’eh calls b’shem (by name) each of his own tzon and leads them out. [TEHILLIM 95:7]

4 When the Ro’eh has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the tzon follow the Ro’eh, because they have da’as of the Ro’eh’s voice.

5 But a zar (stranger, foreigner) they will never follow, but will flee from him, because they do not have da’as of the voice of zarim (strangers, foreigners).

6 This figure of speech Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach told them. But those ones did not have binah (understanding) of what he was saying to them.