John 10:3 kjv
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
John 10:3 nkjv
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:3 niv
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:3 esv
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:3 nlt
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 10:1 | "He who enters by the door..." | Shepherd entering the sheep pen |
| John 10:2 | "He who enters by the door is..." | The shepherd of the sheep |
| John 10:3 | "The gatekeeper opens to him..." | Entrance granted by the overseer |
| John 10:4 | "He puts them out, he goes before them..." | Shepherd leads his sheep |
| John 10:7 | "I am the door of the sheep." | Jesus as the sole means of access |
| John 10:9 | "I am the door. If anyone enters..." | Salvation through Jesus |
| John 10:11 | "I am the good shepherd..." | Jesus' sacrificial love |
| John 10:14 | "I am the good shepherd..." | Intimate knowledge between Shepherd and sheep |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word..." | Christ's pre-existence |
| John 1:14 | "The Word became flesh..." | Incarnation |
| Acts 4:12 | "There is salvation in no one else..." | Christ as the only Savior |
| Eph 2:18 | "For through him we both have access..." | Access to the Father through Christ |
| Heb 10:19 | "Therefore, brethren, having confidence..." | Boldness to enter the holy places |
| Heb 10:20 | "By a new and living way..." | Christ as the living way |
| Heb 10:22 | "Let us draw near with a true heart..." | Drawing near to God |
| 1 Peter 2:25 | "For you were straying like sheep..." | Christ as the Shepherd of our souls |
| Ps 23:1 | "The Lord is my shepherd..." | God's shepherding care |
| Isa 40:11 | "He will feed his flock like a shepherd..." | God's tender care for His people |
| Ezek 34:11 | "For thus says the Lord God: Behold..." | God as the Shepherd of Israel |
| Ezek 34:12 | "As a shepherd seeks out his sheep..." | God's searching love |
| Luke 12:32 | "Fear not, little flock..." | Jesus' assurance to His followers |
| Rom 8:31 | "What then shall we say to these things?" | No one against us |
| Rev 7:17 | "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne..." | The Lamb as shepherd |
| Rev 21:4 | "He will wipe away every tear..." | Future dwelling with God |
John 10 verses
John 10 3 Meaning
The gatekeeper opens the gate to the sheep for the shepherd.
John 10 3 Context
This verse is part of Jesus' discourse in John chapter 10, where He uses the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep to describe His relationship with His followers. The preceding verses (John 10:1-2) set the scene of a sheep pen, and Jesus begins to establish Himself as the true shepherd, contrasting with the false shepherds and thieves who seek to harm the sheep. The context is the Feast of Tabernacles, and Jesus' words are challenging the religious leaders who were acting as shepherds but were not truly caring for the flock. This entire discourse is about Jesus asserting His divine authority and unique role in salvation.
John 10 3 Word Analysis
- Ho (ο): "The" (definite article). Indicates specificity.
- Thylen (θύρας): "Door," "gate." In the context of a sheep pen, this is the only entrance. Symbolically, it represents legitimate access.
- Oixei (οἴξῃ): "Opens." Third person singular, present active indicative of ἀνοίγω (anoigō), meaning to open, unbar, set open. This is an action performed by another for the shepherd.
- Auton (αὐτῷ): "To him," "for him" (dative pronoun). Refers to the one who enters by the door.
- Kai (καί): "And." A conjunction.
- O Anthropos (ὁ ἄνθρωπος): "The man," "the shepherd" (though the preceding verses refer to "the shepherd," this phrasing might allude to Jesus as "the Man" or generically, the one designated as the shepherd).
- Phulax (φύλαξ): "Gatekeeper," "keeper of the door." The one responsible for managing the entrance. This individual has the authority to allow or disallow entry.
Group of Words Analysis:
- "Ho thylen oixei auton": "The gatekeeper opens to him." This is a crucial link. The "shepherd" (referred to implicitly from v. 2) doesn't force his way in; his entry is authorized by the "gatekeeper." This highlights legitimate and recognized access, essential for true shepherding. It sets up Jesus' claim in verses 7-9 that He is the "door" through which access is granted, implying that He is the one by whom the gatekeeper would open.
John 10 3 Bonus Section
The concept of a gatekeeper is important in understanding appointed authority. In the Jewish context, there was an expectation of appointed leaders. This verse points to a legitimate appointment rather than illegitimate usurpation of authority. The gatekeeper's role is a figure of divine vetting. Furthermore, this establishes a distinct contrast with those who try to enter the sheepfold "some other way" (John 10:1), who are thieves and robbers. This imagery deeply resonates with Jesus' teaching elsewhere, like the Parable of the Sheepfold in John 10 itself, and His identification as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. It also alludes to the qualifications of leaders within the early church, who were recognized and appointed.
John 10 3 Commentary
This verse emphasizes that true shepherds, those who have legitimate access to the sheep, are recognized and admitted by the proper authority. The gatekeeper's action signifies divine sanction and order. It establishes a protocol: entrance is not by force or stealth but through authorized means. This verse immediately precedes Jesus' declaration in verses 7 and 9 that He is the door, making a profound statement about His identity. The gatekeeper's opening to the shepherd is an act that validates the shepherd's claim and authority. For believers, this means that access to God and the spiritual flock is divinely ordained through Jesus Christ. He is the one who grants entry, and all legitimate spiritual leadership and guidance flows through Him.