John 10:3
Context10:3 The doorkeeper 1 opens the door 2 for him, 3 and the sheep hear his voice. He 4 calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 5
John 10:16
Context10:16 I have 6 other sheep that do not come from 7 this sheepfold. 8 I must bring them too, and they will listen to my voice, 9 so that 10 there will be one flock and 11 one shepherd.
John 10:27
Context10:27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
1 tn Or “porter” (British English).
sn There have been many attempts to identify who the doorkeeper represents, none of which are convincing. More likely there are some details in this parable that are included for the sake of the story, necessary as parts of the overall picture but without symbolic significance.
2 tn The words “the door” are not in the Greek text but are implied. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context.
3 tn Grk “For this one.”
4 tn Grk “And he.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
5 sn He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Some interpreters have suggested that there was more than one flock in the fold, and there would be a process of separation where each shepherd called out his own flock. This may also be suggested by the mention of a doorkeeper in v. 3 since only the larger sheepfolds would have such a guard. But the Gospel of John never mentions a distinction among the sheep in this fold; in fact (10:16) there are other sheep which are to be brought in, but they are to be one flock and one shepherd.
6 tn Grk “And I have.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.
7 tn Or “that do not belong to”; Grk “that are not of.”
8 sn The statement I have other sheep that do not come from this sheepfold almost certainly refers to Gentiles. Jesus has sheep in the fold who are Jewish; there are other sheep which, while not of the same fold, belong to him also. This recalls the mission of the Son in 3:16-17, which was to save the world – not just the nation of Israel. Such an emphasis would be particularly appropriate to the author if he were writing to a non-Palestinian and primarily non-Jewish audience.
9 tn Grk “they will hear my voice.”
10 tn Grk “voice, and.”
11 tn The word “and” is not in the Greek text, but must be supplied to conform to English style. In Greek it is an instance of asyndeton (omission of a connective), usually somewhat emphatic.