John 10:4

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:4 in Other Translations

4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

4 After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.

4 When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.

4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.

John 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".

John 10:4 In-Context

2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 3