10:4a
When he has brought out all his own: The shepherd takes all of his sheep out of the sheep pen and does not leave any behind. Apparently some of the sheep in the sheep pen belong to other shepherds, and he does not lead those out. He leads out all the sheep that belong to him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
When he has led out all of his sheep (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
After he has brought out all his sheep (God’s Word)
all his own: The words all his own mean “all his own sheep,” that is, every sheep the shepherd owns.
10:4b
he goes on ahead of them: The shepherd walks in front of the sheep and shows them the right way to go. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
he walks ahead of them (God’s Word)
-or-
he leads/guides them
10:4c
his sheep follow him because they know his voice: The sheep walk along behind their shepherd, going wherever he goes. They are willing to follow because they recognize the sound of his voice. Here are other ways to translate these clauses:
they follow, because they know his voice (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they go behind him, because they recognize his voice
his sheep: See how you translated the word sheep in 10:2. The phrase his sheep refers to the sheep that belong to the shepherd and follow him.
because: This word introduces the reason the sheep follow their shepherd. They recognize his voice and trust him.
they know his voice: This clause means that they recognize the sound of the shepherd’s voice. They have heard it many times before.
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