John 10:4

Amplified Bible

"When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice.

King James Version (1611)
And when he putteth foorth his owne sheepe, he goeth before them, and the sheepe follow him: for they know his voyce.

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

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

New American Standard Bible
"When he puts all his own sheep outside, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

New Century Version
When he brings all his sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Legacy Standard Bible
When he brings all his own out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

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

Contemporary English Version
When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice.

Complete Jewish Bible
After taking out all that are his own, he goes on ahead of them; and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.

Darby Translation
When he has put forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

Easy-to-Read Version
He brings all of his sheep out. Then he goes ahead of them and leads them. The sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And when hee hath sent foorth his owne sheepe, he goeth before them, and the sheepe follow him: for they know his voyce.

George Lamsa Translation
And when he has brought out his sheep, he goes before them; and his own sheep * follow him, because they know his voice.

Good News Translation
When he has brought them out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

Lexham English Bible
Whenever he sends out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Literal Translation
And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes in front of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

American Standard Version
When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Bible in Basic English
When he has got them all out, he goes before them, and the sheep go after him, for they have knowledge of his voice.

Hebrew Names Version
Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

International Standard Version
When he has driven out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.

Etheridge Translation
and when his flock hath gone forth, he goeth before it, and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

Murdock Translation
And when he hath led out his flock, he goeth before it; and his sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when he hath sent foorth his owne sheepe, he goeth before them, and the sheepe folowe hym: for they knowe his voyce.

English Revised Version
When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

World English Bible
Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And when he hath led forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Weymouth's New Testament
When he has brought out his own sheep--all of them--he walks at the head of them; and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne he hath don out his owne scheep, he goith bifor hem, and the scheep suen hym; for thei knowun his vois.

Update Bible Version
When he has put forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

New English Translation
When he has brought all his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice.

New King James Version
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

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

New Life Bible
When the shepherd walks ahead of them, they follow him because they know his voice.

New Revised Standard
When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
As soon as, all his own, he hath put forth, before them, he moveth on, and, the sheep, follow him, because they know his voice;

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

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

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And when he hath sent forthe his awne shepe he goeth before them and the shepe folowe him: for they knowe his voyce.

Young's Literal Translation
and when his own sheep he may put forth, before them he goeth on, and the sheep follow him, because they have known his voice;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And whan he hath sent forth his awne shepe, he goeth before them, and the shepe folowe him: for they knowe his voyce.

Mace New Testament (1729)
when he lets out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: because they know his voice.

Simplified Cowboy Version
When he gets them all out of the pasture, he doesn't have to push because they will follow.

Contextual Overview

¹"I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber. ²"But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep [the protector and provider]. ³"The doorkeeper opens [the gate] for this man, and the sheep hear his voice and pay attention to it. And [knowing that they listen] he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [to pasture]. ⁴"When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call.⁵"They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers." ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about. ⁷So Jesus said again, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. ⁸"All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them. ⁹"I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). ¹⁰"The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he goeth: John 12:26, John 13:15, John 14:2, John 14:3, Deuteronomy 1:30, Micah 2:12, Micah 2:13, Matthew 16:24, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Ephesians 5:1, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 2:21, 1 Peter 4:1, 1 Peter 5:3

for: John 10:8, John 10:16, John 3:29, John 18:37, Song of Solomon 2:8, Song of Solomon 5:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 33:3 - passed Numbers 9:17 - and in the Numbers 27:17 - go out 2 Samuel 5:2 - feed 1 Kings 3:7 - to go 1 Chronicles 11:2 - that leddest Psalms 80:1 - leadest Psalms 95:7 - people Isaiah 49:10 - he that Jeremiah 33:13 - shall John 10:3 - the sheep John 10:26 - because John 10:27 - sheep 1 Corinthians 4:16 - General 1 John 2:20 - and ye

Cross-References

Numbers 24:24
"But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And shall afflict Asshur (Assyria) and Eber; So they (the victors) also will come to destruction."

Isaiah 23:1
The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Tyre: Wail, O ships of Tarshish, For Tyre is destroyed, without house, without harbor; It is reported to them from the land of Cyprus (Kittim).

Isaiah 23:12
He has said, "You shall never again exult [in triumph], O crushed Virgin Daughter of Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus; even there you will find no rest."

Ezekiel 27:12
"Tarshish [in Spain] was your customer and traded with you because of the abundance of your riches of all kinds; with silver, iron, tin, and lead they paid for your wares.

Ezekiel 27:25
"The ships of Tarshish were the caravans for your merchandise, And you [Tyre] were replenished and very glorious [heavily laden with an imposing fleet] In the heart of the seas.

Daniel 11:30
"For ships of Cyprus [in Roman hands] will come against him; therefore he will be discouraged and turn back [to Israel] and carry out his rage against the holy covenant and take action; so he will return and show favoritism toward those [Jews] who abandon (break) the holy covenant [with God].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 10:4. He 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 fulness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace. He who does not endeavour to realize in his own soul the truths which he preaches to others will soon be as salt without its savour; his preaching cannot be accompanied with that unction which alone can make it acceptable and profitable to those whose hearts are right with God. The minister who is in this state of salvation the sheep, genuine Christians, will follow, for they know his voice. It was the custom in the eastern countries for the shepherd to go at the head of his sheep, and they followed him from pasture to pasture. I have seen many hundreds of sheep thus following their shepherd on the extensive downs in the western parts of England.