Devine Scripture

John 10:5

What does John 10:5 mean?

A plain-English look at John 10:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 10:5 means

Sheep refuse the voice of a stranger; instead of following, they flee. Instinctively, they sense danger in unfamiliar guidance. Jesus portrays His people as having a Spirit-given discernment that protects them from false teachers. This does not mean they never err, but that their settled response to deceptive leadership is resistance, not allegiance. The safeguard is not clever argument but recognition of the shepherd’s authentic voice. False leaders can mimic forms, but they cannot reproduce the relationship that breeds trust. The verse underscores that holiness includes separation from impostors as well as attachment to the true Shepherd.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

They will not go after another who is not their keeper, but will go from him in flight, because his voice is strange to them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, because they have not known the voice of strangers.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But they will not follow a stranger, but will flee from him, because they know not the voice of strangers.

Context

Verses 3–4 emphasized recognition and following; verse 5 completes the picture by showing rejection of voices that do not match the shepherd’s. This sharpens the contrast introduced in verse 1 between thieves and the rightful shepherd. The next verse records the audience’s failure to understand the parable, providing a narrative reason for Jesus to shift from imagery to explicit claims. Verses 7–9 will reframe the metaphor around Jesus as the door, and verses 11–15 will present Him as the Good Shepherd, intensifying the stakes of hearing His voice.

v.4When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

v.5This passage

v.6This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Peter 2:1

    Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

  • 1 Kings 22:7

    But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him?

  • 1 John 2:21

    I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

  • Revelation 2:2

    I know thy works, and thy toil and patience, and that thou canst not bear evil men, and didst try them that call themselves apostles, and they are not, and didst find them false;

  • 2 Timothy 3:5

    holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.

  • Ephesians 4:11

    And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

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