John 10:4 kjv
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
John 10:4 nkjv
And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
John 10:4 niv
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:4 esv
When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
John 10:4 nlt
After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.
John 10 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 10:3 | The gatekeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice | John 10:3 (Direct) |
| John 10:11 | I am the good shepherd; I lay down my life for the sheep | John 10:11 (Good Shepherd) |
| John 10:14 | I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me | John 10:14 (Intimate Knowledge) |
| John 10:27 | My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me | John 10:27 (Hear & Follow) |
| Ps 23:1 | The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want | Ps 23:1 (Shepherd Theme) |
| Isa 40:11 | He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms | Isa 40:11 (Shepherding Action) |
| Eze 34:11-12 | I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out | Eze 34:11-12 (Seeking Sheep) |
| Acts 20:28 | Pay attention to yourselves and to the whole flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood | Acts 20:28 (Shepherding the Church) |
| Rom 8:14 | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God | Rom 8:14 (Led by the Spirit) |
| 1 Pet 2:25 | For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls | 1 Pet 2:25 (Return to Shepherd) |
| Heb 13:20 | Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus, through the blood of the eternal covenant | Heb 13:20 (Great Shepherd) |
| John 1:29 | Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! | John 1:29 (Jesus as Lamb) |
| John 6:37 | All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out | John 6:37 (Jesus secures His Own) |
| Jer 23:4 | I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no longer, nor be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, declares the Lord | Jer 23:4 (True Shepherds) |
| Song of Sol 1:7 | Tell me, you whom my soul loves, where do you feed your flock, where do you make it lie down at noon | Song of Sol 1:7 (Intimate Question) |
| Gen 4:7 | If you do well, will you not be accepted? If you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it | Gen 4:7 (Obedience to Voice) |
| Luke 15:4-7 | What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the one that was lost, until he finds it? | Luke 15:4-7 (Searching for the Lost) |
| John 10:30 | I and the Father are one | John 10:30 (Unity with Father) |
| 1 Cor 1:30 | He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption | 1 Cor 1:30 (Christ as Source) |
John 10 verses
John 10 4 Meaning
The sheep hear the shepherd's voice. The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. This highlights the intimate relationship between the shepherd and his sheep, where the sheep recognize and respond to his unique call.
John 10 4 Context
This verse is part of Jesus' discourse in the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. Jesus has just healed a man blind from birth (John 9) and contrasted the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees with the sight of those who believe in Him. The Pharisees questioned Jesus' authority and identity, leading Him to use the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep to explain His relationship with His followers and His divine mission. This immediate context highlights a division: some are receptive to Jesus' words (like the man healed of blindness), while others are resistant and hostile (like the Pharisees). The broader context of John's Gospel emphasizes Jesus as the source of life and the divine Son of God.
John 10 4 Word analysis
kai (και) - and, also, even. A common conjunction connecting clauses and ideas.
auta (αὐτά) - them (neuter plural accusative). Refers back to "his own sheep."
phone (φωνὴν) - voice, sound. The audible sound of the shepherd.
akouousin (ἀκούουσιν) - hear, listen. Present tense, active voice, indicative mood. Indicates ongoing action of hearing and understanding.
autou (αὐτοῦ) - his (genitive singular masculine). Possessive, belonging to the shepherd.
kai (και) - and, also, even.
idion (ἴδιον) - own, private, particular. Emphasizes possession and belonging.
poimnion (ποίμνίον) - flock, sheep. Can refer to a single flock or a collective group of sheep.
probaton (πρόβατον) - sheep. Individual sheep.
onoma (ὄνομα) - name. A specific identifier.
kaleï (καλεῖ) - calls. Present tense, active voice, indicative mood. Action of calling.
exagei (ἐξάγει) - leads out, brings out. Present tense, active voice, indicative mood. Action of leading out.
John 10 4 Bonus section
The concept of a shepherd was deeply embedded in the Old Testament and Israelite culture, where shepherding was a primary livelihood. Kings and leaders were often referred to as shepherds of their people. Jesus, by adopting this metaphor, identifies Himself as the true, ultimate Shepherd. The emphasis on calling sheep by "name" signifies a deep personal knowledge and care, distinguishing His flock from any other. This contrasts with the way intruders or thieves would interact with a flock—impersonally and to exploit them. The action of leading "out" implies bringing them from a place of vulnerability or bondage into safety and nourishment, pointing towards liberation from sin and leading them into God's provision and presence. This intimate knowledge and personal calling is foundational to faith.
John 10 4 Commentary
Jesus employs the familiar imagery of shepherding to illustrate His profound connection with believers. The "sheep" represent those who belong to Him, those the Father has given Him. They are not merely part of a mass, but individuals recognized by the Shepherd. The core of the verse lies in the unique relationship: the sheep recognize the Shepherd's voice, and He calls them by name, leading them. This is not a generic call but a personal one, signifying intimate knowledge and care. It speaks to the discernment of believers who, by God's Spirit, recognize the true Shepherd's voice amidst many false ones. The act of calling and leading them out signifies deliverance from spiritual danger and movement towards true pasture and life.