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Read the Bible

Literal Standard Version

John 10:1

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who is not entering through the door to the fold of the sheep, but is going up from another side, that one is a thief and a robber;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Minister, Christian;   Sheep;   Shepherd;   Theft and Thieves;   Thompson Chain Reference - Parables;   Sheepfolds;   Truth;   Verily, Verily;   The Topic Concordance - Following;   Hearing;   Jesus Christ;   Shepherds/pastors;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;   Sheep;   Theft;   Titles and Names of Saints;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Sheep;   Shepherd;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Farming;   Pastor;   Shepherd;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amen;   Lamb, Lamb of God;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Soul;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fold;   Hall;   Parable;   Sheep;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Amen;   John, the Gospel According to;   Parable;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   John, the Gospel of;   Names of God;   Robbery;   Sheep;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Parable;   Sheep;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Allegory;   Court ;   Discourse;   Flock, Fold;   Gate (2);   Hall;   Lawlessness;   Parable;   Robber ;   Sheep, Shepherd;   Thief ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Door;   Fold;   Thief;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Christ;   Flock;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Sheep;   Shepherd;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Sheep;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Door;   Thief;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Door;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Sheepcote;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 18;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber.
King James Version (1611)
Uerily, verily I say vnto you, He that entreth not by ye doore into the sheepefold, but climeth vp some other way, the same is a theefe, and a robber.
King James Version
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
English Standard Version
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.
New American Standard Bible
"Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
New Century Version
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, the person who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Amplified Bible
"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.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
Berean Standard Bible
"Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Contemporary English Version
Jesus said: I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Yes, indeed! I tell you, the person who doesn't enter the sheep-pen through the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Darby Translation
Verily, verily, I say to you, He that enters not in by the door to the fold of the sheep, but mounts up elsewhere, *he* is a thief and a robber;
Easy-to-Read Version
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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Verely, verely I say vnto you, Hee that entreth not in by the doore into the sheepefolde, but climeth vp another way, he is a theefe and a robber.
George Lamsa Translation
TRULY, truly, I say to you, He who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from another place, is a thief and a bandit.
Good News Translation
Jesus said, "I am telling you the truth: the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Lexham English Bible
"Truly, truly I say to you, the one who does not enter through the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up at some other place—that one is a thief and a robber.
Literal Translation
Truly, truly, I say to you, The one not entering through the door into the sheepfold, but going up by another way, that one is a thief and a plunderer.
American Standard Version
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Bible in Basic English
Truly I say to you, He who does not go through the door into the place where the sheep are kept, but gets in by some other way, is a thief and an outlaw.
Hebrew Names Version
"Most assuredly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
International Standard Version
"Truly, truly I tell you, the person who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a bandit.
Etheridge Translation
AMEN, amen, I say to you, Whosoever entereth not by the door into the fold of the flock, but ascendeth by another place, he is a thief and a robber.
Murdock Translation
Verily, verily, I say to you, That he who doth not enter by the door into the fold of the flock, but climbeth up in some other place, he is a thief and a robber.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Veryly, veryly, I say vnto you: He that entreth not in by ye doore into the sheepfolde, but clymeth vp some other way, the same is a thiefe, and a robber.
English Revised Version
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
World English Bible
"Most assuredly, I tell you, he who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Verily, verily I say to you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, he is a thief and a robber.
Weymouth's New Testament
"In most solemn truth I tell you that the man who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs over some other way, is a thief and a robber.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Treuli, treuli, Y seie to you, he that cometh not in by the dore in to the foold of scheep, but stieth bi another weie, is a nyyt theef and a dai theef.
Update Bible Version
Truly, truly, I say to you, He that does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Webster's Bible Translation
Verily, verily, I say to you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
New English Translation
"I tell you the solemn truth, the one who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
New King James Version
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
New Living Translation
"I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!
New Life Bible
"For sure, I tell you, the man who goes into the sheep-pen some other way than through the door is one who steals and robs.
New Revised Standard
"Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Verily, verily, I say unto you: - He that entereth not, through the door, into the fold of the sheep, but goeth up from another place, that man, is, a thief, and, a robber.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Amen, amen, I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Revised Standard Version
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Verely verely I saye vnto you: he that entreth not in by ye dore into the shepefolde but clymeth vp some other waye: the same is a thefe and a robber.
Young's Literal Translation
`Verily, verily, I say to you, He who is not entering through the door to the fold of the sheep, but is going up from another side, that one is a thief and a robber;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Verely verely I saye vnto you: He yt entreth not in at the dore in to the shepefolde, but clymmeth vp some other waye, the same is a thefe & a murthurer.
Mace New Testament (1729)
I assure you, he that entreth not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, is a thief and a robber.
THE MESSAGE
"Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."
Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus said, "All y'all Pharisees better listen up. A fellow who goes over the fence and starts walking through the cows on foot must be a cattle rustler.

Contextual Overview

1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who is not entering through the door to the fold of the sheep, but is going up from another side, that one is a thief and a robber;2and he who is entering through the door is shepherd of the sheep; 3the doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep hear his voice, and his own sheep he calls by name, and leads them forth; 4and when he may put forth his own sheep, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him, because they have known his voice; 5and they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they have not known the voice of strangers." 6Jesus spoke this allegory to them, and they did not know what the things were that He was speaking to them; 7Jesus therefore said again to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I AM the door of the sheep; 8all, as many as came before Me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them; 9I AM the door, if anyone may come in through Me, he will be saved, and he will come in, and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief does not come, except that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Verily: John 3:3

He: John 10:9, Jeremiah 14:15, Jeremiah 23:16, Jeremiah 23:17, Jeremiah 23:21, Jeremiah 23:32, Jeremiah 28:15-17, Jeremiah 29:31, Jeremiah 29:32, Ezekiel 13:2-6, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 23:16-28, Romans 10:15, Ephesians 4:8-12, Hebrews 5:4, 1 Peter 1:10, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1

the same: John 10:8, John 10:10, Isaiah 56:10-12, Ezekiel 34:2-5, Zechariah 11:4, Zechariah 11:5, Zechariah 11:16, Zechariah 11:17, Romans 16:18, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14-19

Reciprocal: Jeremiah 3:15 - And I Ezekiel 46:2 - the porch Joel 2:9 - enter Matthew 5:18 - verily John 1:51 - Verily John 10:7 - I am Acts 1:21 - went

Cross-References

Genesis 2:4
These [are] the generations of the heavens and of the earth in their being created, in the day of YHWH God's making the earth and the heavens;
Genesis 5:1
This [is] an account of the generations of Adam. In the day of God's creating man, in the likeness of God He has made him;
Genesis 6:9
These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah [is] a righteous man; he has been perfect among his generations; Noah has habitually walked with God.
Genesis 9:1
And God blesses Noah and his sons, and says to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth;
Genesis 9:7
And you, be fruitful and multiply, teem in the earth, and multiply in it."
Genesis 9:19
These three [are] sons of Noah, and from these has all the earth been overspread.
Matthew 1:1
[The] scroll of the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of David, Son of Abraham.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Verily, verily, I say unto you,.... To the Scribes and Pharisees, who had taken it ill that they should be thought to be blind; and who had cast out the man that Christ had cured of blindness, for speaking in favour of him; and who had traduced Christ as an impostor, and a deceiver, and set up themselves to be the shepherds of the flock, and the guides and rulers of the people; all which occasion the following parable; the design of which is to show, that Christ is the true and only shepherd, who was appointed, called, and sent of God, whose the sheep are, whose voice they hear, and know, and whom they follow; and that they, the Scribes and Pharisees, were thieves and robbers, and not shepherds of the flock; who were not sent of God, nor did they come in at the right door, but in another way, and usurped a domination, which did not belong to them.

He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold: the sheepfold, with the Jews, was called דיר; and this, as their writers say o, was an enclosure sometimes in the manner of a building, and made of stone, and sometimes was fenced with reeds, and in it was a large door, at which the shepherd went in and out, when he led in, or brought out the sheep. At tithing, which was done in the sheepfold, they made a little door, so that two lambs could not come out together; and to this enclosure is the allusion here; and by the "sheepfold" is meant the church of God; see John 10:16; and a good fold it is, Ezekiel 34:14. The church may be compared to a sheepfold, because it is separated from the world: it is where the people of God, and sheep of Christ are gathered together; where there is a strict union between them; have society with each other; keep one another warm and comfortable; and where they are fed and nourished, and are preserved; and where they lie down and have rest; and which, like a sheepfold, will be taken down, and not always continue in the form it now is: and by "the door" into it, is meant Christ himself, as appears from John 10:7; faith in him, a profession of him, and authority from him. Now he that does not come into the church of God, whether as a member of it, or officer in it, at this door,

but climbeth up some other way; by hypocrisy and deceit: or, like the prophets of old, who ran and were not sent; prophesied when they were not spoken to, but took their place and post by usurpation:

the same is a thief and a robber; steals into the church, or into an office in it, and robs God or Christ of their power and authority; and such were the Scribes and Pharisees: the Persic version renders the words, "whoever does not introduce the sheep through the door of the sheepfold, know that that man is a thief and a robber"; which these men were so far from doing, that they would not suffer those that were entering to go in, Matthew 23:13. The difference between a thief and a robber, with the Jews, was, that the former took away a man's property privately, and the latter openly p.

o Maimon & Bartenora in Misn. Becorot, c. 9. sect. 7. p Maimon. Hilchot Genuba, c. 1. sect. 3.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Verily, verily - See the notes at John 3:3.

I say unto you - Some have supposed that what follows here was delivered on some other occasion than the one mentioned in the last chapter; but the expression verily, verily, is one which is not used at the commencement of a discourse, and the discourse itself seems to be a continuation of what was said before. The Pharisees professed to be the guides or shepherds of the people. Jesus, in the close of the last chapter, had charged them with being blind, and of course of being unqualified to lead the people. He proceeds here to state the character of a true shepherd, to show what was a hireling, and to declare that he was the true shepherd and guide of his people. This is called John 10:6 a parable, and it is an eminently beautiful illustration of the office of the Messiah, drawn from an employment well known in Judea. The Messiah was predicted under the image of a shepherd. Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:24; Zechariah 13:7. Hence, at the close of the discourse they asked him whether he were the Messiah, John 10:24.

Into the sheepfold - The sheepfold was an inclosure made in fields where the sheep were collected by night to defend them from robbers, wolves, etc. It was not commonly covered, as the seasons in Judea were mild. By the figure here we are to understand the Jewish people, or the church of God, which is often likened to a flock, Ezekiel 34:1-19; Jeremiah 23:1-4; Zechariah 13:1-9. By the door, here, is meant the Lord Jesus Christ, John 10:7, John 10:9. He is “the way, the truth, and the life,” John 14:6. And, as the only proper way of entering the fold was by the door, so the only way of entering the church of God is by believing on him and obeying his commandments. The particular application of this place, however, is to religious teachers, who cannot enter properly on the duties of teaching and guarding the flock except by the Lord Jesus that is, in the way which he has appointed. The Pharisees claimed to be pastors, but not under his appointment. They entered some other way. The true pastors of the church are those who enter by the influences of the Spirit of Jesus, and in the manner which he has appointed.

Some other way - Either at a window or over the wall.

A thief - One who silently and secretly takes away the property of another.

A robber - One who does it by violence or bloodshed. Jesus here designates those pastors or ministers of religion who are influenced not by love to him, but who seek the office from ambition, or the love of power, or wealth, or ease; who come, not to promote the welfare of the church, but to promote their own interests. Alas! in all churches there have been many - many who for no better ends have sought the pastoral office. To all such Jesus gives the names of thieves and robbers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

CHAPTER X.

Christ speaks the parable of the sheepfold, 1-6.

Proclaims himself the door of the sheepfold, 7-10,

and the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep,

11-18.

The Jews are again divided, and some revile and some vindicate

our Lord, 19-21.

His discourse with the Jews at the temple, on the feast of

dedication, 22-29.

Having asserted that he was one with the Father, the Jews

attempt to stone him, 30, 31.

He vindicates his conduct, and appeals to his works, 32-38.

They strive to apprehend him; he escapes, and retires beyond

Jordan, 39, 40.

Many resort to and believe on him there, 41, 42.

NOTES ON CHAP. X.

Verse John 10:1. Verily, verily, c.] From John 10:6, we learn that this is a parable, i.e. a representation of heavenly things through the medium of earthly things. Some think our Lord delivered this discourse immediately after that mentioned in the preceding chapter others think it was spoken not less than three months after. The former, says Bishop Pearce, was spoken at the feast of tabernacles, see chap. John 7:0, or about the end of September, and this at the feast of dedication, or in December. See John 10:22.

Christ, says Calmet, having declared himself to be the light of the world, which should blind some while it illuminated others, John 9:41, continues his discourse, and, under the similitude of a shepherd and his flock, shows that he was about to form his Church of Jews and Gentiles, and that into it he would admit none but those who heard his voice. The unbelieving and presumptuous Jews, who despised his doctrine, are the sheep which hear not the voice of the shepherd: the proud and self-sufficient Pharisees are those who imagine they see clearly while they are blind. The blind who become illuminated are the Gentiles and Jews who turn from their sins and believe in Jesus.

The light of the world, the good shepherd, and the door which leads into the sheepfold, are all to be understood as meaning Jesus Christ; the hireling shepherds, the wilfully blind; the murderers and robbers are the false Christs, false prophets, scribes, Pharisees, wicked hireling priests, and ungodly ministers of all sorts, whether among primitive Jews or modern Christians.

Our Lord introduces this discourse in a most solemn manner, Verily, verily!-Amen, amen!-it is true, it is true! - a Hebraism for, This is a most important and interesting truth; a truth of the utmost concern to mankind. At all times our Lord speaks what is infallibly true; but when he delivers any truths with this particular asseveration, it is either,

1. Because they are of greater importance; or,

2. because the mind of man is more averse from them; or,

3. because the small number of those who will practise them may render them incredible. Quesnel.

He that entereth not by the door — Christ assures us, John 10:7, that he is the door; whoever, therefore, enters not by Jesus Christ into the pastoral office, is no other than a thief and a robber in the sheepfold. And he enters not by Jesus Christ who enters with a prospect of any other interest besides that of Christ and his people. Ambition, avarice, love of ease, a desire to enjoy the conveniences of life, to be distinguished from the crowd, to promote the interests of one's family, and even the sole design of providing against want-these are all ways by which thieves and robbers enter into the Church. And whoever enters by any of these ways, or by simony, craft, solicitation, c. deserves no better name. Acting through motives of self-interest, and with the desire of providing for himself and his family, are innocent, yea, laudable, in a secular business but to enter into the ministerial office through motives of this kind is highly criminal before God.


 
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