Paragraph 10:7–10

The people did not understand what Jesus meant in verses 1–5, so Jesus made his meaning clearer. He compared himself to two things in the illustration. In this paragraph, he said that he was the gate to the sheep pen. In the next paragraphs he said that he was the good shepherd. Also, the sheep represent Jesus’ followers, and thieves represent the religious leaders who rejected Jesus.

10:7a

So He said to them again: Because this is the beginning of a new paragraph, you may want to make explicit whom Jesus spoke to. For example:

Jesus said to the people there

So: The word So here introduces what Jesus said next. The people did not understand him, so he made things clearer. Here is another way to translate this word:

Therefore (New International Version)

He said to them again: The Greek word that Berean Standard Bible translates as again does not always mean “again.” Because Jesus did not repeat what he said before, the word could just mean that Jesus added to what he already said. So you might not want to use the word “again” if it implies that he said the same thing. Here are other ways that you can translate this phrase:

Jesus further said
-or-
he explained (New Living Translation (2004))

Truly, truly, I tell you: This expression introduces something important that Jesus said. Jesus wanted to emphasize the truth and importance of his next words. See how you translated this expression in 10:1a.

10:7b

I am the gate for the sheep: The words I am are emphasized in Greek and refer to Jesus. They indicate that Jesus alone, rather than anybody else, is the gate for the sheep. Consider how it is natural to indicate this emphasis in your language. For example:

It is I who am the gate for the sheep

This is a metaphor. Jesus compared himself to the gate or door of a sheep pen. There are at least two ways that they are similar: (1) they are the only right way to enter somewhere, and (2) the place entered is a good, safe place. In the metaphor, the sheep enter the sheepfold (sheep pen) through the gate. This represents people entering the kingdom of God through Jesus himself.

In some languages a literal translation of this metaphor may be difficult to understand. Here are some other ways to translate it:

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

I am like the gate to the sheep pen.

• Change the metaphor to a simile and make the point of comparison explicit. For example:

I am ⌊the way to God⌋ just as the gate ⌊is the way⌋ for the sheep ⌊into the sheep pen⌋ .

• Translate in a way that implies Jesus was speaking of spiritual reality. For example:

I am the ⌊real/true⌋ gate for the sheep
-or-
I am the ⌊spiritual⌋ door for the sheep

In some cultures they do not have gates to sheepfolds. It may be natural to say, for example:

I am the door for the sheep (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
I am the entrance to the sheep pen

the gate for the sheep: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the gate for the sheep is more literally “the door of the sheep.” The door led to a pen or courtyard where the sheep slept at night. For example:

the door of the sheepfold (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the gate that the sheep enter through

See how you translated the word gate in 10:1b, 10:2, and 10:3a.

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