John 10:2 kjv
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:2 nkjv
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:2 niv
The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:2 esv
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10:2 nlt
But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
John 10 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 10:1 | "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door | John 10:1 (Context of legitimate entry) |
| Isaiah 44:28 | "Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,’ | Isaiah 44:28 (God appoints leaders) |
| Jeremiah 23:1-2 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!" | Jer 23:1-2 (Warning against false shepherds) |
| Ezekiel 34:2-4 | "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel... | Ezek 34:2-4 (Critique of unfaithful leaders) |
| Micah 3:5 | "Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who make my people stray, | Micah 3:5 (Those who lead astray for gain) |
| John 10:7-9 | "Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ... He who enters by Me has life" | John 10:7-9 (Jesus as the true door) |
| Acts 4:12 | "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” | Acts 4:12 (Jesus as the exclusive way to salvation) |
| 1 Peter 5:2-4 | "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you...when the Chief Shepherd appears" | 1 Pet 5:2-4 (Role of elders as shepherds) |
| Matthew 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." | Matt 7:15 (Warning against false prophets) |
| 2 Corinthians 11:13 | "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ." | 2 Cor 11:13 (Deception of false ministers) |
| Hebrews 5:4 | "And no one takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was." | Heb 5:4 (Calling to the priesthood) |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." | John 10:11 (Jesus as the good shepherd) |
| John 10:26-27 | "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." | John 10:26-27 (Discernment of true followers) |
| Psalm 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." | Ps 23:1 (The Lord as the ultimate shepherd) |
| Isaiah 53:5-6 | "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities..." | Isa 53:5-6 (Jesus' sacrificial role) |
| Romans 8:32 | "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" | Rom 8:32 (God's ultimate sacrifice through Christ) |
| Galatians 1:8-9 | "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." | Gal 1:8-9 (Warning against a different gospel) |
| 1 Timothy 3:1-7 | "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work." | 1 Tim 3:1-7 (Qualifications for leaders) |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" | John 14:6 (Jesus as the exclusive way) |
| John 9:41 | "Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ therefore your sin remains.”" | John 9:41 (Spiritual blindness and sin) |
| Acts 20:29 | "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock." | Acts 20:29 (Warning of false teachers within) |
John 10 verses
John 10 2 Meaning
The verse states that whoever enters the sheepfold by another way is a thief and a robber. This signifies that true spiritual leadership and access to God's people must come through legitimate means, appointed by God, not by illicit or deceitful methods.
John 10 2 Context
John chapter 10 presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd, contrasting Him with false shepherds who prey on the sheep. This discourse occurs in the context of the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem. Jesus' healing of the blind man (John 9) has led to His rejection by the religious leaders. In response, Jesus uses the analogy of a sheepfold to explain His unique relationship with His followers and to expose those who lack genuine spiritual authority. The religious elite are likened to those who try to enter the sheepfold by illegitimate means, unlike Jesus, who enters through the door, signifying His divinely appointed authority and origin.
John 10 2 Word Analysis
Hostos (ὅς): "whoever." A relative pronoun introducing a subordinate clause, referring to any individual.
Ou (οὐ): "not." A primary negative particle.
Dia (διά): "through" (as in, "through the gate"). Indicates a pathway or means.
Tas (τῆς): "the." Definite article, singular, feminine, genitive case. Refers to a specific entity.
Thuras (θύρας): "door" or "gate." The means of entry or access.
Erhetai (ἔρχεται): "comes" or "enters." Present indicative verb, third person singular from ἔρχομαι (erchomai), meaning "to come." Denotes action.
Ekei (ἐκεῖ): "there" or "in the sheepfold." Adverb of place, referring to the enclosed area for the sheep.
Allēthei (ἀλληθεῖ): "another" (referring to a different one, not the proper one). Adjective, dative singular neuter.
Epibleposmenē (ἐπιβλεπόμενη): "looking up at" or "overseeing." A participle suggesting observation or perhaps even a lack of proper inspection by legitimate means.
Ho (ὁ): "the." Definite article, nominative singular masculine.
Kleps (κλέπτης): "thief." Noun, nominative singular masculine. Refers to someone who steals secretly.
Kai (καὶ): "and." A coordinating conjunction.
Lēistēs (ληστής): "robber." Noun, nominative singular masculine. Refers to someone who takes by force or violence.
Estei (ἔστιν): "is." Present indicative verb, third person singular of εἰμί (eimi), meaning "to be." States existence or identity.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Hostos ou dia tas thuras erhetai ekei en tē probatōni": "Whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door." This phrase emphasizes illegitimate access. The use of "dia tas thuras" highlights the normal, ordained way of entry.
- "Kleps kai lēistēs estei": "is a thief and a robber." This powerfully categorizes anyone who bypasses the proper entrance. "Thief" suggests cunning deception, while "robber" implies forceful intent or disruption. Together, they signify a hostile outsider aiming to harm or exploit.
John 10 2 Bonus Section
The analogy of the shepherd and sheepfold was common in the ancient Near East. Shepherds would often gather their flocks into a common pen at night for protection. Entry and exit were strictly controlled by a single gate, guarded by the shepherd. Anyone found outside the gate was an intruder. This imagery powerfully communicated Jesus' divine authority and the danger posed by those who sought to lead astray. The contrast with thieves and robbers underscores Jesus' pure motives and protective role, as demonstrated later when He offers His life for the sheep.
John 10 2 Commentary
Jesus’ statement immediately establishes a stark contrast between Himself and all others who would present themselves as leaders or guides to God's people. The sheepfold represents God's people, and the door is the legitimate, God-ordained means of access. Jesus presents Himself as this unique door (John 10:7, 9), signifying His exclusive role as the way to the Father and to true spiritual life. Anyone who bypasses Jesus, seeking to lead God's flock through other means, or who enters through deceptive or forceful methods rather than the path Jesus provides, is categorized as a thief and a robber. This indictment applies to false teachers, religious leaders who seek personal gain rather than the well-being of the sheep, and anyone who promotes a way to salvation or spiritual leadership apart from Christ. The language is strong, indicating that such individuals are not merely mistaken but are actively harmful and possess malicious intent towards God's flock.