John 10:1 kjv
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.
John 10:1 nkjv
"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.
John 10:1 niv
"Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.
John 10:1 esv
"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.
John 10:1 nlt
"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!
John 10 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 10:2-3 | "The one who enters by the door is the shepherd... the sheep hear his voice." | Contrasts with the thief/robber. |
| Jn 10:7-9 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep... through Me, he will be saved." | Jesus identifies Himself as the Door. |
| Jn 10:11-13 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life... hired hand deserts the sheep." | Contrast with thieves/robbers/hirelings. |
| Jer 23:1-2 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" | Condemnation of negligent shepherds. |
| Ezek 34:2-10 | "Woe, shepherds of Israel... You feast on milk, you clothe yourselves... but you do not feed the flock." | Extensive indictment of false shepherds. |
| Zech 11:17 | "Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock!" | Prophecy against uncaring shepherds. |
| Mt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | Warning against deceptive, destructive leaders. |
| Acts 20:29 | "Savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." | Paul's warning about internal threats to the church. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "False prophets also arose among the people... exploiting you with deceptive words." | Describes how false teachers deceive and exploit. |
| Jude 1:12 | "These are hidden reefs at your love feasts... shepherds feeding themselves." | Describes selfish, dangerous infiltrators. |
| Ps 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | The archetype of the True Shepherd, Yahweh. |
| Isa 40:11 | "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in his arms." | Prophecy of God's tender shepherding. |
| Heb 13:20 | "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus... the great Shepherd of the sheep." | Jesus as the ultimate Shepherd. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-4 | "Shepherd the flock of God... not under compulsion, but willingly... not greedy for dishonest gain." | Instruction for legitimate undershepherds. |
| Jn 3:3 | "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." | Importance of proper entry into God's domain. |
| Jn 14:6 | "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." | Jesus as the exclusive path to God. |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven... by which we must be saved." | Exclusivity of salvation through Christ. |
| Lk 12:39 | "If the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming..." | Concept of a "thief" and unexpected entry. |
| Rev 3:20 | "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him..." | Jesus' offer to enter, requires proper opening of door. |
| Mt 9:36 | "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." | Highlights the need for a true shepherd. |
| Rom 10:15 | "How are they to preach unless they are sent?" | Emphasizes the necessity of legitimate calling/sending. |
| Gal 2:4 | "Because of false brethren secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom." | "Stealing in" (like a thief) to undermine. |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ." | Describes disguised illegitimate leaders. |
| Phil 3:2 | "Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil doers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh!" | Warning against those who harm the flock. |
John 10 verses
John 10 1 Meaning
In John 10:1, Jesus initiates an allegorical teaching that sharply distinguishes between legitimate and illegitimate spiritual leaders. He emphatically declares that anyone who seeks to lead or interact with God's people, metaphorically referred to as the "sheepfold," must enter through the rightful "door." Those who attempt to bypass this authorized entrance by "climbing up some other way" are unequivocally identified as "a thief and a robber." This highlights that unauthorized access implies malicious intent, where individuals exploit and harm the flock for selfish gain, rather than genuinely caring for their well-being. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent declaration of Himself as both the true Door and the Good Shepherd, emphasizing that true spiritual authority and salvation come only through Him.
John 10 1 Context
John 10:1 directly follows the narrative of Jesus healing the man born blind (John 9) and the subsequent interrogation of the man by the Pharisees, who, despite undeniable evidence, remain spiritually blind and refuse to acknowledge Jesus' authority. They cast the healed man out of the synagogue, effectively acting as "false shepherds" who expel a sheep that has been touched by the true Shepherd. Jesus' parable in John 10, particularly verse 1, is a direct indictment of these self-appointed and corrupt religious leaders (like the Pharisees) who have historically failed to genuinely care for God's flock, Israel, but instead have oppressed and exploited them. It shifts the discourse from physical sight and blindness to spiritual sight and authentic leadership, setting the stage for Jesus to reveal Himself as the ultimate authority, the true "door" for all who genuinely seek entry to God's flock, and the "Good Shepherd" who provides ultimate care and protection.
John 10 1 Word analysis
- Truly, truly (Greek: amēn, amēn): An emphatic declaration, uniquely used by Jesus throughout John's Gospel to introduce a profound truth or solemn statement that demands serious attention and carries divine authority. Its repetition signifies certainty and gravity.
- I say to you (Greek: legō humin): Indicates a direct, personal address from Jesus, affirming the source of the truth as His divine authority and knowledge.
- he who does not enter (Greek: ho mē eiserchomenos): Describes anyone attempting to gain access to the sheepfold by an improper method. It implies a lack of proper commissioning, authorization, or spiritual legitimacy.
- by the door (Greek: dia tēs thyras): Refers to the singular, legitimate, and authorized point of entry into the sheepfold. In the subsequent verses (Jn 10:7, 9), Jesus reveals that He is this exclusive "door," symbolizing His unique role as the only access to God's flock and salvation.
- into the sheepfold (Greek: eis tēn aulēn tōn probatōn): An enclosed area where sheep were kept safe, particularly overnight, either an open-air enclosure or part of a village dwelling. It metaphorically represents God's people, His covenant flock (Israel and subsequently all believers), who are under His care and protection.
- but climbs up (Greek: alla anabainei): Contrasts sharply with "enters by the door." To "climb up" implies a surreptitious, illicit, and effortful attempt to circumvent the rightful entrance, bypassing proper procedure or divine appointment through human means or guile.
- some other way (Greek: allachothen): Means "from another place" or "by another route." It emphasizes that any path other than the divinely appointed "door" is inherently illegitimate, unauthorized, and contrary to God's will.
- the same is (Greek: houtos estin): A direct and definitive identification, leaving no ambiguity about the nature and character of such individuals.
- a thief (Greek: klēptēs): Denotes one who steals secretly, stealthily, or by deception, motivated by personal gain rather than the welfare of the sheep. Such a person seeks to exploit the flock for self-enrichment without any rightful claim.
- and a robber (Greek: lēstēs): Denotes a bandit, one who plunders by force, openly and violently. This term signifies someone whose intent is to harm, scatter, and destroy, contrasting sharply with the protective role of a true shepherd. The combination of "thief" and "robber" paints a picture of comprehensive malevolence, indicating both deceitful exploitation and aggressive destruction.
- "Truly, truly, I say to you": This opening phrase emphasizes the absolute certainty and profound importance of Jesus' subsequent pronouncement. It acts as a divine warrant for the truth that follows, requiring His listeners' full attention.
- "he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold": This group of words defines the method of illegitimate entry. It highlights that proper access, divinely ordained, is crucial for leadership within God's people. It specifically points to anyone who bypasses the rightful way to connect with or lead God's flock.
- "but climbs up some other way": This phrase vividly describes the nature of the illegitimate entry—not by humble, recognized passage, but by stealthy or forceful means. It implies bypassing the authority or structure God has established for entering into spiritual leadership, indicating a self-serving rather than God-honoring motivation.
- "the same is a thief and a robber": This strong declaration exposes the character and malicious intent behind the illegitimate entry. It condemns such individuals as not merely misguided, but as actively harmful, seeking to exploit (thief) and potentially destroy (robber) God's flock for their own selfish ends, in stark contrast to the care of a true shepherd.
John 10 1 Bonus section
Historically, sheepfolds (aule) could refer to two types: either temporary, open-air enclosures built with stone walls for protection in open country, or more permanent structures attached to a village home, where a common gatekeeper oversaw multiple pens. The custom for the true shepherd was always to enter through the guarded door. Bypassing this entrance was a clear sign of malicious intent, reinforcing the imagery of the "thief and robber." This verse functions as an overt polemic against the corrupt religious establishment of Jesus' time, specifically the Jewish leaders who were meant to shepherd Israel but instead acted with self-interest, oppressing the people. Jesus implicitly charges them with illegitimate access and destructive intent towards God's flock. The context of "being cast out" of the synagogue in John 9, followed by this parable, underscores the hypocrisy of these "false shepherds" who, by rejecting the blind man who saw Jesus, were actively denying legitimate access to those touched by God's grace and thus robbing God of His sheep.
John 10 1 Commentary
John 10:1 inaugurates one of Jesus' most significant self-declarations and parables concerning true spiritual leadership and His unique role. It lays down an foundational principle: access to God's flock is divinely ordained and exclusively granted through a proper channel—the "door." Any individual who attempts to assume a position of leadership over God's people without this authorized entry is unequivocally categorized as a malevolent "thief and a robber." This highlights that unauthorized religious leadership is not merely misguided; it is fundamentally hostile and exploitative, preying upon the very flock it purports to serve. The "thief" operates deceptively for personal gain, while the "robber" acts violently, bringing harm and scattering. This indictment served as a sharp critique against the corrupt religious authorities of Jesus' day, such as the Pharisees, who sought their own glory and profit from the people rather than genuinely guiding them according to God's will. It subtly establishes the groundwork for Jesus to present Himself as the singular, true, and legitimate "Door" (verses 7, 9) through whom both shepherds and sheep must enter to find true salvation and life, distinguishing legitimate pastoral care from self-serving exploitation.