The imagery of this verse is somewhat mixed, since later Jesus is pictured both as the gate (verse 7) and as the good shepherd (verse 11). The Greek text does not have the definite article before “shepherd,” and so New American Bible renders “is shepherd of the sheep”; all other translations seem to prefer is the shepherd of the sheep.

A shepherd may be described as “one who takes care of the sheep.” In some instances an expression for “takes care of” will focus upon the protection given to the sheep. In others a language may focus upon the provision made for the sheep in the sense of taking them out to pasture. There is no doubt that in some parts of the world it is anomalous to speak of a shepherd, since in certain tropical areas (for example, certain parts of Africa) sheep are primarily scavengers. However, the concept of protecting and providing for sheep is not an impossible one, though the translator may find it useful in some instances to provide a supplementary note telling something about the care and concern which ancient Semitic peoples had for their sheep.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .