Section 10:1–21

Jesus is the good shepherd

In this section Jesus talked about how he related to his people, his followers. He compared himself to the door of the sheep pen and to the shepherd. This comparison is something like a parable, but there is no actual story or narrative. It is more like a word picture, or a series of word pictures linked by the theme of sheep farming. It can also be described as an extended metaphor.

First Jesus compares himself to the door of the sheep pen because he is the way to salvation. Then he compares himself to the good shepherd because he leads and cares for his people as a shepherd does his sheep.

Here are other possible section headings:

Jesus is the shepherd of his people
-or-
Jesus told the parable/story of the good shepherd and his sheep
-or-
Jesus compared himself to a shepherd and the door/gate to a sheep pen

Paragraph 10:1–6

In this paragraph, Jesus described the situation of sheep in a sheep pen surrounded by a wall. He talked about thieves and bandits, who climb into the sheep pen to steal the sheep. The sheep do not follow them. He also described the shepherd who comes in through the gate. The shepherd calls his sheep to come with him and they follow him. Jesus did not say here who he compared himself to, but he will do that in the next paragraphs.

10:1a

This is the beginning of a new section and paragraph. Because public Bible readings may begin here, it is good to indicate that Jesus is speaking. For example:

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth….” (Good News Translation)

Truly, truly, I tell you: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly, truly, I tell you introduces something important that Jesus said. Jesus wanted to emphasize the truth and importance of his next words. See the notes on 3:3a, 3:11a, and see how you translated this expression there. Avoid implying that Jesus did not always tell the truth. Here are other ways to translate this expression:

I tell you the truth (New International Version)
-or-
Believe me when I tell you that (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

10:1b

whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate: These words introduce an illustration or extended metaphor taken from the customs of sheep farming in ancient Israel. If sheep are not known in your culture, it may be necessary to provide footnotes or pictures. See 2:14a for one picture that you can use.

whoever: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as whoever can refer to any person, man or woman. In this context it more naturally refers to men. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

the person who (New Century Version)
-or-
those who
-or-
he who (English Standard Version)

does not enter the sheepfold by the gate: The normal way to enter a sheepfold was to go through the gate. The only other way was to climb over the wall.

the sheepfold: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as sheepfold is more literally “courtyard of the sheep.” The courtyard was probably attached to a house and was surrounded by a stone wall. As a sheepfold it was where the sheep stayed at night. People who owned sheep kept them safe by locking them in there at night. Apparently, sheep belonging to several owners were kept together in one sheepfold, guarded by one gatekeeper (guard). Use a term that can refer to a large pen or courtyard like this. For example:

sheep pen (New International Version)
-or-
place where sheep are protected

See the note explaining “sheep” in 2:14a. Also see how you translated the word there.

the gate: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as gate is more literally “door.” It refers to the entrance to the sheepfold or pen, an entrance that could be closed and locked. Use the normal word for such an entrance. For example:

door (NET Bible Bible)

10:1c

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (10:1b) to a positive statement (10:1c). 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 Berean Standard Bible.

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

a person does not enter by the correct entrance; rather he climbs over the wall

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

Thieves and bandits do not enter the sheep pen through the door. They climb over the wall in a different place.

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

A person who climbs into the sheep pen instead of going through the gate
-or-
the person who climbs over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than enter through the gate

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

climbs in some other way: Instead of walking into the pen through the gate or door, this person climbs in over the wall. A person normally opened the gate and walked into the pen through it. The person climbing over the wall does something that is not normal or right. In some languages a literal translation may imply that a person would normally climb over the gate. It may be possible to avoid this wrong meaning by saying the following:

but enters another way, by climbing

In some languages it may be necessary to make it explicit that this person climbs over the wall. For example:

but gets in another way, by climbing ⌊over the wall⌋
-or-
but instead climbs in ⌊over the wall⌋

10:1d

is a thief and a robber: By climbing over the wall, this man shows that he really is a robber. He demonstrates that he intends to steal by entering the sheep pen without permission. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

is nothing but a thief and a robber (Revised English Bible)
-or-
must surely be a thief and a robber (New Living Translation (2004))

a thief and a robber: A thief is a person who steals secretly, and a robber is someone who steals violently and publicly. But in this context the words thief and robber mean the same thing, someone who steals. They do not refer to two different people. If a literal translation suggests two different people, it may be better to combine them. For example:

a sheep stealer

General Comment on 10:1b–d

In some languages it may be natural to reorder 10:1b–d. You may want to indicate at the beginning that the subject of the sentence is the sheep stealer. For example:

The thief and the robber do not go through the gate but instead climb over the wall to enter the sheepfold.
-or-
only thieves and robbers climb over the wall instead of going through the door to enter the courtyard where the sheep sleep

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