Bible Commentaries
John 10

Verse 1

Verily, verily. The fifteenth occurance. Connecting the sign with the signification. See note on John 1:51 .

entereth = entereth in. Note the Figure of speech Parechesis ( App-6 ), the Aramaic ( App-94 ) being: min tar ' s' letira'.

not. Greek. me. App-105 . As in verses: John 10:37 , John 10:38 . Not the same as in John 10:5 .

by = by means of. Greek dia. App-104 .John 10:1 .

into . Greek eis. App-104 .

the sheepfold = the fold (Greek. stele) of the sheep; the two symbols being used separately. See John 10:16 .

climbeth up = mounts up [over the fence].

some other way = from another quarter. The "from" is significant. Greek. allachothen. Only here, in N.T.

the same = that one. thief.

Who uses craft . Greek. kleptes. Always correctly so rendered. Compare App-164 .

robber . One who uses violence. Greek. lestes. As in John 10:8 ; John 18:40 ; 2 Corinthians 11:26 . Elsewhere wrongly rendered "thief", as in Matthew 21:13 ; Matthew 26:55 ; Matthew 27:38 , Matthew 27:44 .Mark 11:17 ; Mark 14:48 ; Mark 15:27 . Luke 10:30 , Luke 10:36 ; Luke 19:46 ; Luke 22:52 .

Verse 2

the = a: i.e. one of many.

Verse 3

porter = door-keeper. Greek. thuroros. Occurs only here; John 18:16 , John 18:17 . Mark 13:34 . Compare App-160 .

hear = hear [and understand]. Compare John 8:43 .

calleth . Greek. kaleo. But all the texts read phoneo, generally implying a personal address. Compare John 13:13 .

by name = according to (Greek. kata. App-104 .) their name.

Verse 4

he putteth forth = he shall have put forth.

before = in front of. Not the same as in John 10:8 .

for = because,

know = know intuitively. From birth, not front having been taught. App-132 . See note on John 1:26 .

Verse 5

not = by no means, or in no wise. Greek. ou me. App-105 .

from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 . not. Greek. ou. App-105 .

Verse 6

This parable . See note on "and we", &c. (John 1:14 ).

parable = wayside saying. Greek paroimia. Not parable, which is parabole. Paroimia Occurs in John here; and translated "proverb" in John 16:25 , John 16:25 , John 16:29 , and 2 Peter 2:22 . Parabole occurs fifty times, but is not used in John. Paroimia is the Septuagint word for mashal = proverb in Proverbs 1:1 . See note there.

Jesus . App-98 .

understood not = did not get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . See note on John 1:10 .

what things they were = what it was, or what it meant.

Verse 7

Then = Therefore.

I say . . . I am = I say . . . that I am, &c.; hoti, putting the words that follow as a quotation. See App-173 .

of = for. Of the sheep, not of the fold.

Verse 8

All that ever = All whoever.

before . Greek pro. App-104 . The true Shepherd could not come till God's purpose was ripe in the fullness of the times (Galatians 1:4 , Galatians 1:4 ). Moses and the prophets were not "thieves and robbers". None of them claimed to do more than point, as John the Baptist did, to the coming One. All others were deceivers.

Verse 9

I am = I represent. See note on John 6:35 .

if, &c. A contingency which would be proved by the result. App-118 . Not the same word as in Joh 24:33 , Joh 24:37 , Joh 24:38 .

any man = any one. App-123 .

and out = and shall go out. The two expressions being the idiom used for life in general.

find = shall find.

Verse 10

but = except. Greek. ei me.

for to steals = sin order that (Greek. hina) he may steal. and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emph.

I am come = I came.

that = in order that (Greek. hina) .

life . Greek. zoe. App-170 . See note on John 1:4 .

might = may.

more abundantly , i.e. life in abundance.

Verse 11

I am , &c. See note on John 6:33 .

the good Shepherd = the Shepherd-the good [one]. Connect this with death, and Psalms 22:0 ; connect the "great" Shepherd with resurrection (Hebrews 13:20 ), and Psalms 23:0 ; and connect the "chief" Shepherd with glory (1 Peter 5:4 ), and Psalms 24:0 .

giveth His life = layeth down His life. The expression is frequent in John. See verses: John 10:15 , John 10:17 , John 10:18 ; John 13:37 , John 13:38 ; John 15:13 . 1 John 3:16 . Agreeing with the presentation in this Gospel. See page 1511. Compare Mat 20:35 .Mark 10:45 .

life = soul. Greek. psuche . See App-110 .

for = on behalf of. Greek huper. App-104 .

Verse 12

he that is an hireling = the hired servant. Greek. misthotos. Only here, John 10:13 , and Mark 1:20 .

and not = and not being.

seeth . Greek. theoreo = to view [with fixed gaze], i.e. with terror or fascination. See App-133 .

and . Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emph.

catcheth them = catcheth or snatcheth them away. Same as "pluck", verses: John 10:28 , John 10:29 . Compare Acts 8:39 . 2 Corinthians 12:2 , 2Co 12:4 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:17 , &c.

Verse 13

The hireling fleeth . [L] Tm. Trm. WI R omit, but not the Syriac. See App-94 . note 3, p. 136.

because . Greek. hoti. Same as "for" in John 10:4 .

careth not for = is not himself concerned about.

for = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

Verse 14

know . . . am known = get to know . . . am known. Greek. ginosko. App-132 . Not the same as in verses: John 4:5 . See note on John 1:10 .

of = by. Greek. hupo. App-104 .

Verse 15

As = According as. the Father. See note on John 1:14 .

even so know I = I also know.

lay down. Same as "give", John 10:11 .

Verse 16

other . Greek altos. See App-124 .

of = out of. Greek. ek. App-104 .

fold . Greek aule = a place in the open air, as in John 10:1 , not the same word as in the next clause.

I must = it behoves Me.

shall = will.

be = become.

fold = flock. Greek poimne. Only here, Matthew 26:31 . Luk 2:8 . 1 Corinthians 9:7 .

Verse 17

Therefore = On account of (Greek. dia. App-104 .John 10:2; John 10:2 ) this.

My Father. See note on John 2:16 .

love . Greek agapao. App-135 . See note on John 3:16 .

Verse 18

No man = No one. Greek. oudeis, i.e. no being, man or devil. Until 1660 the Authorized Version read "none".

of = from. Greek apo. App-104 .

power = authority. App-172 .

of = from. Greek para. App-104 .

Verse 19

was = arose.

a division . This was the third of three. See note on John 7:43 .

among . Greek. en. App-104 .

Jews . See note on John 1:19 . for = on account of. Greek. dia. App-104 .John 10:2 .

sayings = words. Greek. Plural of logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .

Verse 20

devil = demon. Greek. daimonion. Compare John 8:48 , and Matthew 12:24 .

Verse 21

words . Greek. Plural of rhema. See note on Mark 9:32 .

him that hath a devil = one possessed by a demon.

Can a devil. . . ? = Surely a demon is not (Greek. me, App-105 ) able to . . . is he?

Verse 22

And. Figure of speech Chronographia. App-6 .

at. Greek. en. App-104 .

the feast of the dedication. Greek. enkainia = renewal, from kainos, new, i.e. the cleansing of Ezra's temple after its defilement by Antiochus Epiphanes, 25th Chislen (= December), 164 B.C. Compare 1 Macc. 4:52 - 59.

Verse 23

walked = was walking. in. Greek. en. App-104 .

temple . Greek. hieron. See note on Matthew 23:18 .

Solomon's porch. According to Josephus (Antiquities xx. 9, 7), this was a relic from Solomon's temple (compare Acts 3:11 ; Acts 5:12 ).

Verse 24

came . . . round about = encircled. Compare Psalms 88:17 .

make us to doubt? Greek. raise our souls, i.e. hold us in suspense, or excite our expectations.

us = our souls. App-110 .

If , &c. App-118 .

Christ , i.e. Messiah. App-98 .

plainly . Same Greek. word as "openly", John 18:20 .

Verse 25

told . He had not spoken to them as He did in John 4:26 ; John 9:35-37 , but the works were evidence enough to those who had eyes to see. Compare John 5:36 ; John 7:31 ; John 9:32 ; John 15:24 . believed. App-150 .

My Father's name . Only occurs here and John 5:43 . Compare Revelation 14:1 .

of = concerning. Greek. peri. App-104 .

Verse 27

and . Fig, Polysyndeton. App-6 .

Verse 28

eternal . Greek aionios. App-151 .

never = by no means (Greek. ou me. App-105 ) unto the age (Greek. eis ton aiona. App-151 ).

neither = and not (Greek. ou. App-105 ).

pluck = snatch. See John 10:12 .

out of . Greek. ek: App-104 .

Verse 30

one. Greek hen. Neut., one in essence, not one person which would be heir, masculine. This is the climax of His claim to oneness with the Father in verses: John 10:18 , John 10:25 , John 10:28 , John 18:29 . Compare also John 10:38 ; John 14:11 .Revelation 22:3 .

Verse 31

again . See John 8:59 .

to . Greek hina, as in John 10:10 .

Verse 32

from . Greek. ek. App-104 .

Verse 33

blasphemy . See Leviticus 24:16 .

God = Jehovah. See App-98 .

Verse 34

law. The usual division is "the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms "(Luke 24:44 ). Here the Psalms are included in the Law. Compare John 15:25 .

gods . See App-98 . Quoted from Psalms 82:6 . Psa 82:38

unto . Greek. pros. App-104 .

Verse 35

cannot = is not (Greek. ou. App-105 ) able to.

broken . Compare John 7:23 .

Verse 36

sanctified = set apart for a holy purpose. Compare John 17:19 .

sent . App-174 .

world . App-129 .,

the Son of God . App-98 .

Verse 37

believe . App-160 .

Verse 38

though = even if. Greek. kan = kai ean. App-118 . the works. These have a voice of their own. Compare Psalms 19:1-4 .

believe . App-150 . that, &c. With this profound statement Compare John 14:10 , John 14:11 , John 14:20 ; John 17:11 , John 17:21 . See also Matthew 11:27 .

Verse 39

take = arrest. See John 7:30 , John 7:32 , John 7:44 .

escaped = went forth. Compare John 8:59 and Luke 4:30 .

Verse 40

went , away, &c. This was in December, and He remained away till April, visiting Bethany (John 11:1 ) in the interval, and spending the latter part of the time at the city Ephraim (John 11:54 ).

where , &c. See John 1:28 .

baptized = was baptizing. App-115 .

Verse 41

resorted = came.

said = kept saying.

did, &c. Miracles were not necessarily the credentials

of a prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-3 ).

no . Greek. ouden.

miracle = sign, a characteristic word in this Gospel. See note on John 2:11 , and p. 1511.

true. Greek alethes. App-175 .

Verse 42

believed. See App-150 .

on. Greek eis. App-104 .

there . Emphatic, in contrast with His treatment in Jerusalem.