John 10 16

John 10:16 kjv

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

John 10:16 nkjv

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:16 niv

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:16 esv

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

John 10:16 nlt

I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.

John 10 verses

John 10 16 Meaning

Jesus declares His intention to gather two distinct groups of people—the existing Jewish believers ("this fold") and future Gentile believers ("other sheep")—into one unified spiritual community. This new community, the Church, will recognize and obey His authority alone. The ultimate outcome is a singular, undivided flock under His unique and sovereign leadership as the one and only Shepherd, fulfilling God's universal plan of salvation.

John 10 16 Context

John 10:16 is part of Jesus' profound discourse on the Good Shepherd, delivered after the healing of the man born blind and following His condemnation of the Pharisees as spiritual "thieves and robbers." In the preceding verses (1-15), Jesus describes Himself as both the "door" to the sheepfold and the "Good Shepherd" who lays down His life for His sheep. He distinguishes true shepherds (like Himself) from "hirelings" who abandon the flock and "thieves and robbers" who seek to exploit or destroy it. The immediate context establishes the identity of His flock as those who "hear His voice." Verse 16 extends this concept, prophesying a future expansion of His flock beyond the traditional boundaries of Israel, setting the stage for the universal appeal of His message. Historically, the audience would primarily be Jewish, making the mention of "other sheep" and "one flock" a significant and potentially provocative statement against the ethnocentric expectations of salvation prevalent at the time.

John 10 16 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ, Kai): A simple connective particle, signaling a continuation of Jesus' thought, expanding upon the nature of His sheep.
• other sheep (ἄλλα πρόβατα, alla probata): "Other" (alla) here implies distinction, not just numerical addition. These are different sheep from those explicitly in "this fold." This is a clear reference to the Gentiles, those not belonging to the literal or covenantal community of Israel.
• I have (ἔχω, echō): Signifies possession and present reality. Jesus already acknowledges these "other sheep" as belonging to Him, even before their active inclusion.
• which are not (οὐκ εἰσίν, ouk eisin): Emphasizes their present distinction and separate status from the current "fold."
• of this fold (ἐκ τῆς αὐλῆς ταύτης, ek tēs aulēs tautēs): "Fold" (aulē) refers to the enclosure where sheep are kept, symbolizing the established religious and covenantal community of Israel. This phrase explicitly states the "other sheep" are not part of the Jewish people.
• them also (κἀκεῖνα, kakeina): "Them also" underscores an inclusive expansion, demonstrating that the Gentile sheep will receive the same Shepherd and care as the Jewish sheep.
• I must bring (ἀγαγεῖν με δεῖ, agagein me dei): The phrase "I must" (δεῖ, dei) indicates divine necessity and an appointed purpose in God's sovereign plan. "Bring" (agagein) means to lead or gather, implying active Shepherdly guidance.
• and they will hear My voice (καὶ τῆς φωνῆς μου ἀκούσονται, kai tēs phōnēs mou akousontai): This highlights their voluntary response and submission. Hearing Jesus' voice signifies recognizing His authority and truth, distinguishing them as His genuine followers (Jn 10:3, 27).
• and there will be (γενήσεται, genēsetai): A declarative statement of a future outcome, assuring the certainty of this prophesied event.
• one flock (μία ποίμνη, mia poimnē): "One" (mia) signifies singularity and unity. "Flock" (poimnē) denotes the entire company of sheep, the unified spiritual community. This is distinct from "fold" (aulē). The emphasis is on a single, integrated spiritual body, not merely a single enclosure or institution.
• and one Shepherd (εἷς ποιμήν, heis poimēn): "One" (heis) emphasizes the singular authority. "Shepherd" (poimēn) clearly refers to Jesus Himself, signifying His unique, undisputed headship over this unified global flock.

• "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold": This phrase clearly articulates the distinction between the "other sheep" (Gentiles) and the "fold" of Israel. Jesus asserts pre-emptive ownership of the Gentile believers even before their formal incorporation, underscoring God's universal redemptive plan.
• "them also I must bring": This signifies God's divine imperative and Jesus' active, necessary role in initiating and accomplishing the ingathering of these distinct groups. It is not an accidental event but a foundational element of His mission.
• "and they will hear My voice": This defines the means by which the gathering occurs and confirms the character of these "other sheep." They will respond obediently and trustingly to Jesus' teaching, marking them as His true disciples.
• "and there will be one flock and one Shepherd": This is the culmination and goal of Jesus' work. The establishment of a unified, singular body of believers (the "one flock") comprising both Jews and Gentiles, under the absolute, unchallenged leadership of Jesus as the "one Shepherd." This signifies spiritual unity, not necessarily national uniformity.

John 10 16 Bonus section

A crucial point for in-depth understanding is the distinction in Greek between "fold" (αὐλή, aulē) and "flock" (ποίμνη, poimnē). Jesus states, "other sheep I have which are not of this fold (αὐλῆς); them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock (ποίμνη) and one Shepherd." While some early English translations mistakenly rendered both as "fold," the original Greek differentiates them. The aulē signifies a physical enclosure, representative of the national or institutional boundaries of Judaism. The poimnē, on the other hand, represents the collective body of sheep, the community itself. This means Jesus does not bring the Gentiles into the Jewish fold (as in, making them Jews through conversion to the Law of Moses), but rather gathers both Jews and Gentiles into a unified spiritual flock—a singular new covenant community, the Church, where ethnic or previous religious distinctions no longer define identity in Christ. This "one flock" maintains its identity distinct from any singular historical "fold," emphasizing a deeper spiritual unity under the exclusive leadership of Christ.

John 10 16 Commentary

John 10:16 serves as a pivotal theological declaration, revealing the expansive and inclusive nature of Jesus' salvific mission. Beyond the confines of a particular nation or religious heritage (the Jewish "fold"), Jesus foretells the gathering of "other sheep" – clearly identified as the Gentiles – into His care. The divine imperative "I must bring" highlights the necessity of this inclusion within God's sovereign plan, indicating that the Good Shepherd's work is universally purposed. The phrase "they will hear My voice" underscores the active role of faith and obedience, characteristic of all who truly belong to Him, irrespective of their origin. The ultimate outcome is not merely adding more sheep, but fusing disparate groups into "one flock." This "one flock" refers to the Church, a new community united not by bloodline or ceremonial law, but by their common allegiance to and communion with "one Shepherd"—Jesus Christ Himself. This verse rejects religious ethnocentrism, affirming that salvation is for all peoples, and that Christ is the singular, supreme authority over His entire, unified spiritual household.