John 10:5

Easy-to-Read Version

But sheep will never follow someone they don't know. They will run away from him, because they don't know his voice."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.”

King James Version (1611)
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voyce of strangers.

King James Version
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

English Standard Version
A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

New American Standard Bible
"However, a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

New Century Version
But they will never follow a stranger. They will run away from him because they don't know his voice."

Amplified Bible
"They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

Legacy Standard Bible
A stranger they will never follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

Berean Standard Bible
But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice."

Contemporary English Version
The sheep will not follow strangers. They don't recognize a stranger's voice, and they run away.

Complete Jewish Bible
They never follow a stranger but will run away from him, because strangers' voices are unfamiliar to them."

Darby Translation
But they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they know not the voice of strangers.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And they will not follow a stranger, but they flee from him: for they know not the voyce of strangers.

George Lamsa Translation
The sheep do not follow a stranger, but they run away from him; because they do not know the voice of a stranger.

Good News Translation
They will not follow someone else; instead, they will run away from such a person, because they do not know his voice."

Lexham English Bible
And they will never follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

Literal Translation
But they will not follow a stranger, never! But they will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of the strangers.

American Standard Version
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Bible in Basic English
They will not go after another who is not their keeper, but will go from him in flight, because his voice is strange to them.

Hebrew Names Version
They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don't know the voice of strangers."

International Standard Version
They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not recognize the voice of strangers."

Etheridge Translation
But after a stranger the flock goeth not, but it fleeth from him; for it knoweth not the voice of a stranger.

Murdock Translation
But after a stranger the flock will not follow, but it fleeth from him; because it knoweth not the voice of a stranger.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
A straunger wyll they not folowe, but wyll flee from hym: for they knowe not the voyce of straungers.

English Revised Version
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

World English Bible
They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don't know the voice of strangers."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
They will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.

Weymouth's New Testament
But a stranger they will by no means follow, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But thei suen not an alien, but fleen from hym; for thei han not knowun the vois of aliens.

Update Bible Version
And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they don't know the voice of strangers.

Webster's Bible Translation
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

New English Translation
They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not recognize the stranger's voice."

New King James Version
Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

New Living Translation
They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't know his voice."

New Life Bible
They will not follow someone they do not know because they do not know his voice. They will run away from him."

New Revised Standard
They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, a stranger, will they in nowise follow, but will flee from him, because they know not the voice, of strangers.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers.

Revised Standard Version
A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
A straunger they will not folowe but will flye from him: for they knowe not the voyce of straungers.

Young's Literal Translation
and a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, because they have not known the voice of strangers.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
As for a straunger, they folowe him not, but flye from him: for they knowe not the voyce of straungers.

Mace New Testament (1729)
a stranger they will not follow, but flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Simplified Cowboy Version
They won't follow a stranger. They'll get boogered and run off when someone is walking through 'em on foot. They only recognize a cowboy who sits tall in the saddle and takes care of 'em."

Contextual Overview

¹ Jesus said, "It is certainly true that when a man enters the sheep pen, he should use the gate. If he climbs in some other way, he is a robber. He is trying to steal the sheep. ² But the man who takes care of the sheep enters through the gate. He is the shepherd. ³ The man who guards the gate opens the gate for the shepherd. And the sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep, using their names, and he leads them out. ⁴ 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. ⁵ But sheep will never follow someone they don't know. They will run away from him, because they don't know his voice." ⁶ Jesus told the people this story, but they did not understand what it meant. ⁷ So Jesus said again, "I assure you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All those who came before me were thieves and robbers. The sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will be able to come in and go out. They will find everything they need. ¹⁰ A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Kings 22:7, Proverbs 19:27, Mark 4:24, Luke 8:18, Ephesians 4:11-15, Colossians 2:6-10, 2 Timothy 3:5-7, 2 Timothy 4:3, 1 Peter 2:1-3, 1 John 2:19, 1 John 2:21, 1 John 4:5, 1 John 4:6, Revelation 2:2

Reciprocal: Song of Solomon 2:8 - voice John 10:8 - but 1 Corinthians 4:16 - General 1 John 2:20 - and ye

Cross-References

Genesis 10:1
This is the history of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. They are Noah's sons. These men had children after the flood.

Genesis 10:9
He was a great hunter before the Lord . That is why people compare other men to him and say, "That man is like Nimrod, a great hunter before the Lord ."

Genesis 10:20
All these people were descendants of Ham. They are arranged by families, languages, countries, and nations.

Genesis 10:25
Eber was the father of two sons. One son was named Peleg. He was given this name because the earth was divided during his life. The other son was named Joktan.

Psalms 72:10
May the kings of Tarshish and all the faraway lands by the sea bring gifts to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba bring their tribute to him.

Isaiah 24:15
They will say, "People in the east, praise the Lord ! People in faraway lands, praise the name of the Lord , the God of Israel."

Isaiah 40:15
Look, all the nations in the world are like one small drop in the bucket. If the Lord took all the faraway nations and put them on his scales, they would be like small pieces of dust.

Isaiah 41:5
People along the coast saw this, and they were frightened. Nations at the ends of the earth shook with fear. They have come near. They have arrived.

Isaiah 42:4
He will not grow weak or give up until he has brought justice to the world. And people in faraway places will hope to receive his teachings."

Isaiah 42:10
Sing a new song to the Lord ; praise him everywhere on earth— all you who sail on the seas, everything in the sea, and all you people in faraway places!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And a stranger will they not follow,.... One that knows not Christ, is not sent by him, and who does not preach him:

but will flee from him; shun him and his ministry, as not only disagreeable, but dangerous:

for they know not the voice of strangers: they do not approve of their doctrine, nor take any delight in it, or receive any profit from it. The Persic version, as before, reads, "neither will the lambs ever go after strange sheep, and if they see [them], they will flee [from them]".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A stranger ... - This was literally true of a flock. Accustomed to the voice and presence of a kind shepherd, they would not regard the command of a stranger. It is also true spiritually. Jesus by this indicates that the true people of God will not follow false teachers - those who are proud, haughty, and self-seeking, as were the Pharisees. Many may follow such, but humble and devoted Christians seek those who have the mild and self-denying spirit of their Master and Great Shepherd. It is also true in reference to those who are pastors in the churches. They have an influence which no stranger or wandering minister can have. A church learns to put confidence in a pastor; he knows the wants of his people, sees their danger, and can adapt his instructions to them. A stranger, however eloquent, pious, or learned, can have few of these advantages; and it is more absurd to commit the churches to the care of wandering strangers, of those who have no permanent relation to the church, than it would be for a flock to be committed to a foreigner who knew nothing of it, and who had no particular interest in it.

The pastoral office is one of the wisest institutions of heaven. The following extract from The Land and the Book (Thomson) will show how strikingly this whole passage accords with what actually occurs at this day in Palestine: “This is true to the letter. They are so tame and so trained that they follow their keeper with the utmost docility. He leads them forth from the fold, or from their houses in the villages, just where he pleases. Since there are many flocks in such a place as this, each one takes a different path, and it is his business to find pasture for them. It is necessary, therefore, that they should be taught to follow, and not to stray away into the unfenced fields of grain which lie so temptingly on either side. Anyone that thus wanders is sure to get into trouble. The shepherd calls sharply from time to time to remind them of his presence. They know his voice and follow on; but if a stranger call, they stop short, lift up their heads in alarm, and, if it is repeated, they turn and flee, because they do not know the voice of a stranger.

This is not the fanciful costume of a parable; it is simple fact. I have made the experiment repeatedly. The shepherd goes before, not merely to point out the way, but to see that it is practicable and safe. He is armed in order to defend his charge, and in this he is very courageous. Many adventures with wild beasts occur not unlike that recounted by David, and in these very mountains; for, though there are now no lions here, there are wolves in abundance; and leopards and panthers, exceedingly fierce, prowl about these wild wadies. They not unfrequently attack the flock in the very presence of the shepherd, and he must be ready to do battle at a moment’s warning. I have listened with intense interest to their graphic descriptions of downright and desperate fights with these savage beasts. And when the thief and the robber come (and come they do), the faithful shepherd has often to put his life in his hand to defend his flock. I have known more than one case in which he had literally to lay it down in the contest. A poor faithful fellow last spring, between Tiberias and Tabor, instead of fleeing, actually fought three Bedouin robbers until he was hacked to pieces with their khanjars, and died among the sheep he was defending.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 10:5. And a stranger will they not follow — That is, a man who, pretending to be a shepherd of the flock of God, is a stranger to that salvation which he professes to preach. His mode of preaching soon proves, to those whose hearts are acquainted with the truths of God, that he is a stranger to them; and therefore, knowing him to have got into the fold in an improper way, they consider him a thief, a robber, and a murderer; and who can blame them if they wholly desert his ministry? There are preachers of this kind among all classes.