10:5a

But: The Greek text introduces this clause with a word that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as But. It indicates a contrast. The sheep follow the shepherd but they do not follow the stranger. Indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

they will never follow a stranger: The sheep will not follow someone they do not know. The Greek text emphasizes the word never in the verb phrase will never follow.

a stranger: This clause refers to any and every stranger. In some languages it may be natural to use a plural form. For example:

The sheep will not follow strangers. (Contemporary English Version)

The Greek text emphasizes the word stranger. This contrasts a stranger that the sheep do not follow with the shepherd that the sheep do follow. For example:

A stranger they simply will not follow (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
But a stranger is someone that they will never follow

10:5b

in fact: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in fact here connects a negative statement (10:5a) to a positive statement (10:5b). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction “but” as in the New Revised Standard Version.

• Use a conjunction other than “but” as the Berean Standard Bible does. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

They won’t follow a stranger. Instead, they will run away from a stranger….

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

They will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him (Revised English Bible)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

They will run away from a stranger and not follow him

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

they will flee from him: The word they refers to the sheep. Use an expression that describes how frightened sheep scatter and run from someone that they do not know.

because: This word here introduces the reason why the sheep will run away.

they do not recognize his voice: This clause indicates that the sheep do not recognize the sound of a stranger’s voice. They run away because they do not trust him. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

they do not recognize a stranger’s voice (New International Version)
-or-
they don’t know his voice (New Century Version)

his voice: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his voice is literally “the voice of strangers.” In some languages it may be natural to use a plural form. For example:

the voices of strangers

General Comment on 10:5b

In some languages it may be natural to translate 10:5b as a separate sentence and reverse the order of the clauses. For example:

They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away. (Contemporary English Version)

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