John 10:4
New International Version
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because 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.

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.

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.

Berean Literal Bible
When he has brought out all the own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

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

NASB 1995
“When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

NASB 1977
“When he puts forth all his own, he goes before 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After he has brought out all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize 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.

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.

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

NET Bible
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 Heart English Bible
Whenever he brings out his own sheep, 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.

Weymouth 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.

World English Bible
Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and when he may put forth his own sheep, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him, because they have known his voice;

Berean Literal Bible
When he has brought out all the own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

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;

Smith's Literal Translation
And when he would put forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Catholic Translations
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he has sent out his sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

New American Bible
When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.

New Revised Standard Version
When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when he has brought out his sheep, he goes before them; and his own sheep follow him, because they know his voice.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when he has brought forth his flock, he goes before it and his own sheep go after him, because they know his voice.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And when he puts his own sheep out, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.

Godbey New Testament
When He may put out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow Him: because they know his voice:

Haweis New Testament
And when he bringeth out his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: because they know his voice.

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

Weymouth 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.

Worrell New Testament
When he drives out all his own, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him; because they know his voice.

Worsley New Testament
And when he bringeth forth his sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him; because they know his voice.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus the Good Shepherd
3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”…

Cross References
Psalm 23:1-3
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. / He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

Isaiah 40:11
He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

Ezekiel 34:11-12
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. / As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Ezekiel 34:23
I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.

Jeremiah 31:9
They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Psalm 95:7
For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep under His care. Today, if you hear His voice,

Psalm 100:3
Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.

Isaiah 43:1
But now, this is what the LORD says—He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!

Isaiah 49:10
They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

Micah 2:12-13
I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob; I will collect the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in the midst of its pasture—a noisy throng. / One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate, and go out by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader.

Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 25:32-33
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

Luke 15:4-6
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? / And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, / comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!


Treasury of Scripture

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

he goeth.

John 12:26
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

John 13:15
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

John 14:2,3
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…

for.

John 10:8,16
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them…

John 3:29
He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

John 18:37
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

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John 10
1. Jesus is the door, and the good shepherd.
19. Diverse opinions of him.
23. He proves by his works that he is Jesus the Son of God;
31. escapes the Jews;
39. and goes again beyond Jordan, where many believe on him.














When he has brought out all his own
This phrase emphasizes the personal relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. The Greek word for "brought out" is "ekballo," which can mean to lead out or to guide. This suggests a deliberate and caring action by the shepherd, who ensures that none of his sheep are left behind. Historically, shepherds in ancient Israel were known for their intimate knowledge of each sheep, often naming them and understanding their individual needs. This reflects the personal care and attention Jesus, the Good Shepherd, provides to His followers, ensuring that each one is accounted for and led to safety.

he goes on ahead of them
The shepherd's role is not only to gather but also to lead. The phrase "goes on ahead" indicates leadership and protection. In the Greek, "proago" means to lead forward or to go before. This reflects the cultural practice of shepherds in the Middle East, who would walk in front of their flock, guiding them to green pastures and protecting them from potential dangers. Spiritually, this illustrates Jesus' role as a leader who guides His followers through life's challenges, always moving ahead to prepare the way and ensure their well-being.

and his sheep follow him
The relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is built on trust and recognition. The Greek word "akoloutheo" means to follow or accompany. This implies a voluntary action by the sheep, who choose to follow the shepherd because of their trust in him. In the biblical context, this signifies the believer's response to Christ's call, willingly following Him out of faith and trust in His guidance and provision.

because they know his voice
The intimate knowledge between the sheep and the shepherd is highlighted here. The Greek word "oida" for "know" suggests a deep, experiential knowledge. Sheep in ancient times were known to recognize the unique voice of their shepherd, distinguishing it from others. This reflects the spiritual truth that believers are attuned to the voice of Christ, discerning His guidance and truth amidst the many voices in the world. It underscores the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus, cultivated through prayer, scripture, and the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to recognize and respond to His call.

(4) And when he putteth forth his own sheep.--The majority of the better MSS. add the word "all." The tense is past. We should read, therefore, when he has put forth all his own sheep. The addition is important as marking the care of the shepherd to count his flock and see that none is missing. The word "put forth" is stronger than "lead out," in the previous verse, and represents the details of the action as it took place in the sheepfold. The shepherd would call each sheep by name, and when it answered to its name would drag it outside the fold. Though it knew its shepherd, it would be unwilling to separate itself from the whole flock. One by one, then, he calls his sheep, and places them outside the fold.

He goeth before them, and the sheep follow him.--This is one of the incidents in the management of an Eastern flock, which strikes all who see it for the first time, and is abundantly illustrated in books of Eastern travel. The details are here given with minute accuracy. When the last sheep has been brought out the shepherd places himself at their head, and the flock together follow him.

For they know his voice.--The word is stronger than the one in John 10:3, "and the sheep hear his voice." It expresses the familiar knowledge which the little flock has of the voice of their own shepherd who leads them day by day.

Verse 4. - In like manner, our Lord continues to describe what every true shepherd of men has done and ever will do: When he hath put forth all his own, and not another's, drawn them by the music of his voice, or constrained them by the sweet violence of his love, or even compelled them to go forth from a fold in which they may find security, but not pasture; and when he has marshaled them into obedience and into thankful trust by the strength of his sympathy and knowledge of their need, he goeth before them. He is their leader and example; he shows them in his own life the kind of provision made for them; he shares with them the perils of the wilderness, and first of all is prepared to grapple with their fierce foes, "He drinks of the brook in the way." The highest meaning, the only complete interpretation, of this passage is found when Christ himself is the Shepherd, who does summon from the old enclosure "all his own," all who have entered into living harmony with himself. And the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. Nothing is here said of "lost sheep" or of "goats;" these are all the "ideal sheep" of the flock, individuals who recognize the voice of the true Leader, and discriminate their own shepherd from all others, whether pretenders to their affections or destroyers of their lives - wolves or butchers, thieves or robbers. Should we persist in interpreting the apologue as it stands, a question arises about the πρόβατα that are not the shepherd's" own." Some have answered it by supposing that the latter are the chief of his own flock, who will bring the rest after them. The truth is not obscurely hinted of that election to highest privileges and duties, which does not declare that the rest are not sheep at all.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
When
Ὅταν (Hotan)
Conjunction
Strong's 3752: When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.

he has brought out
ἐκβάλῃ (ekbalē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1544: To throw (cast, put) out; I banish; I bring forth, produce. From ek and ballo; to eject.

all
πάντα (panta)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

[his]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

own,
ἴδια (idia)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2398: Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication, private or separate.

he goes on
πορεύεται (poreuetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

ahead of
ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen)
Preposition
Strong's 1715: From en and pros; in front of (literally or figuratively) or time).

them,
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Neuter 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

[his]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sheep
πρόβατα (probata)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4263: A sheep. Probably neuter of a presumed derivative of probaino; something that walks forward, i.e., a sheep.

follow
ἀκολουθεῖ (akolouthei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 190: To accompany, attend, follow. Properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. To accompany.

him
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

they know
οἴδασιν (oidasin)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

voice.
φωνὴν (phōnēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5456: Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.


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NT Gospels: John 10:4 Whenever he brings out his own sheep (Jhn Jo Jn)
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