The thief sneaks into the sheep pen rather than use the gate, which is symbolic of the soul.
John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
John 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
For this one here, the gatekeeper opens up. And not only do the sheep hear that voice of his but also, those his own sheep, he voices individually a name and he leads them out.
The word translated as "to him" or "for him" is not the simple pronoun that means "that one there" or "this one here." Using it is a subtle way of Jesus suggesting that he is the shepherd. The verb translated as "opens" also means to "disclose" or "reveal." It is not the simple verb "open," but one that means literally "opens up." The idea is that the sheep are revealed by the gatekeeper, which is a subtle way of suggesting that the gatekeeper is the Father.
The noun translated as "voice" and the verb translated as "calls" are from the same root. There is another Greek word that is usually translated as "call," which is the source of the English word "call." For this word, which is the root of our word "phonograph," I prefer "voice" because it, like "call," works both as a noun and a verb. The sense is "hear his voice" and "he voices individually a name." However, the concept is more of a "sound" than of spoken words, so the "sound of his voice" and "voices the sounds of each name" may be closer. The word for "sheep" has a sense of "flock" because a plural neuter word in Greek works more like a singular noun. So the "by name" phrase turns the group into individuals.
The last verb is translated as "lead out," but this verb is much more meaningful in Greek. The focus is on the "out" not the "lead." The concept is freeing "the heard" from the "pen" in which they are enclosed. The verb is used to describe birds leaving their nest. We talk about children going out on their own in the same way, but here, they are guided on their way as they are released into the larger world.
Being called by our true name frees us.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "him" is not the common pronoun usually translated as "him."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "voice" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "call" is not the common verb usually translated as "call."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "his own" is not shown in the English translation.
- IP - Inserted Phrase-- The phrase "the gate" doesn't exist in the source.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "him" is not the common pronoun usually translated as "him."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "voice" is not shown in the English translation.
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "and" is not shown in the English translation.
- CW - Confusing Word -- The "call" is not the common verb usually translated as "call."
- MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "his own" is not shown in the English translation.
To -- This word "to" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
him -- (CW) The word translated as "him" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." It is not the simple pronoun for "him."
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
porter -- "Porter" is a noun that means "doorkeeper," and "porter." Jesus only uses here and in one other verse.
openeth; -- The verb translated as "opens" means "to open up," "to disclose" or "to lay open." It is the root verb. meaning "open" with the prefix meaning "up." It means revealing something that is there, but that you cannot access.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
sheep -- "Sheep" is Christ's symbol for his followers. The Greek word refers to any domesticated animal and works better if translated simply as "flock" or "herd." The flock follows the shepherd, which is above them. It is also together, a united group.
hear -- "Hear" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. It is the most common verb that Christ uses meaning "to hear." It also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent."
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
voice: -- The noun translated as "voice" means "sound", "speech", "voice", "cry" [of animals], "sounds" [of inanimate objects], and "report."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
calleth -- (CW) The word translated as "call" simply means "to utter cries." It means the cries of animals, but it also refers specifically to someone calling another name. It is not the common word that means "called." It is the verb form of the word translated as "voice" above.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
his own -- The word translated as "his own" is a very unusual word. It is not the very common pronoun usually translated as "his," but a specific word that means "one's own," "pertaining to oneself," and "private."
sheep - "Sheep" is Christ's symbol for his followers. The Greek word refers to any domesticated animal and works better if translated simply as "flock" or "herd." The flock follows the shepherd, which is above them. It is also together, a united group.
by -- The word translated as "by" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."
name, -- The Greek word translated as "name" is much more complicated than it might at first appear. It can simply mean a "name" as it does in English, but it doesn't mean the things themselves, but what people call it. For example, it can mean a "false name," or "a pretense" as we say "this is a marriage in name only." It can also mean representing another person's authority, as we say, "he is acting in the name of the boss." See this article for more.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
leadeth - "Leadeth" is a verb that means "to lead out", "to lead away", "to bring forth into the world", "to lead out of the nest", "to march out", "to draw out from", "to release," [of merchandise] "to export," [of water] to draw off", "to bring forth", "to produce", "to lead on", "to carry away", "to excite," [of instructions] "to exercise," and "to carry out." Jesus only uses it hear..
them -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. It matches "sheep" in form.
out. - This is from the prefix of the verb which means "out."
The -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
gatekeeper -- "Gatekeeper" is a noun that means "doorkeeper," and "porter." Jesus only uses here and in one other verse.
opens -- The verb translated as "opens" means "to open up," "to disclose" or "to lay open." It is the root verb. meaning "open" with the prefix meaning "up." It means revealing something that is there, but that you cannot access.
the gate -- (IP) There is nothing that can be translated as "the gate" in the Greek source.
for -- This word "for" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object. However, the translator can choose other prepositions: "with," "in," "of," "as," "by," "for," "at," or "on" depending on the context.
him -- (CW) The word translated as "him" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." It is not the simple pronoun for "him."
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
the -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more.
sheep -- "Sheep" is Christ's symbol for his followers. The Greek word refers to any domesticated animal and works better if translated simply as "flock" or "herd." The flock follows the shepherd, which is above them. It is also together, a united group.
listen to - "Listen to" is from a Greek verb that means "to hear" and "to listen." It has the same sense as the English not only of listening but of understanding. It is the most common verb that Christ uses meaning "to hear." It also means "to listen" and "to understand," but amusingly, it also means "to be silent."
his -- The word translated as "his" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. This pronoun follows the noun so "of his."
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
voice: -- The noun translated as "voice" means "sound", "speech", "voice", "cry" [of animals], "sounds" [of inanimate objects], and "report."
missing "and" -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
He -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.
calls -- (CW) The word translated as "call" simply means "to utter cries." It means the cries of animals, but it also refers specifically to someone calling another name. It is not the common word that means "called." It is the verb form of the word translated as "voice" above.
missing "the" -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article,"the," which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
his own -- The word translated as "his own" is a very unusual word. It is not the very common pronoun usually translated as "his," but a specific word that means "one's own," "pertaining to oneself," and "private."
sheep - "Sheep" is Christ's symbol for his followers. The Greek word refers to any domesticated animal and works better if translated simply as "flock" or "herd." The flock follows the shepherd, which is above them. It is also together, a united group.
by -- The word translated as "by" means "down from," "down into," "against," "opposite," "separately," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally."
name, -- The Greek word translated as "name" is much more complicated than it might at first appear. It can simply mean a "name" as it does in English, but it doesn't mean the things themselves, but what people call it. For example, it can mean a "false name," or "a pretense" as we say "this is a marriage in name only." It can also mean representing another person's authority, as we say, "he is acting in the name of the boss." See this article for more.
and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").
leads - "Leads" is a verb that means "to lead out", "to lead away", "to bring forth into the world", "to lead out of the nest", "to march out", "to draw out from", "to release," [of merchandise] "to export," [of water] to draw off", "to bring forth", "to produce", "to lead on", "to carry away", "to excite," [of instructions] "to exercise," and "to carry out." Jesus only uses it hear..
them -- The word translated as "them" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English. It matches "sheep" in form.
out. - This is from the prefix of the verb which means "out."
τούτῳ [93 verses](adj sg masc dat) "To him" is touto, which means "from here," "from there," "this [thing] there," or "that [person] here."
ὁ [821 verses](article sg masc nom) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
θυρωρὸς [2 verses](noun sg masc nom) "Porter" is thyroros, which means "door keeper," and "porter."
ἀνοίγει, [9 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Openeth" is anoigo, which means "to open", "to throw open," and "to disclose."
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
πρόβατα [26 verses](noun pl neut acc) "Sheep" is probaton, which means any domesticated four-footed animal, "sheep," "cattle," "herds," and "flocks.
τῆς [821 verses](article sg fem gen) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). -
φωνῆς [13 verses] (noun sg fem gen) "Voice" is phone, which means "sound", "tone", "sound of a voice", "speech", "voice", "utterance", "cry" [of animals], "sounds" [of inanimate objects], "faculty of speech", "phrase", "saying", "rumor," and "report." --
αὐτοῦ [720 verses](adj sg masc gen) "His" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."
ἀκούει, [95 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Hear" is akouo, which means "hear of," "hear tell of," "what one actually hears," "know by hearsay," "listen to," "give ear to," "hear and understand," and "understand." The accusative object is the person/thing heard about, while the genitive is the person/thing heard from. However, two genitives can be used with the sense of "hear of a thing from a person." -
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
τὰ [821 verses](article pl neut acc) Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").
ἴδια [16 verses](adj pl neut acc) "His own" is idios, which means "one's own," "pertaining to oneself," "private," "personal," "personally attached" to one, "separate," "distinct," "strange," and "unusual."
πρόβατα [26 verses](noun pl neut acc) "Sheep" is probaton, which means any domesticated four-footed animal, "sheep," "cattle," "herds," and "flocks. -
φωνεῖ [10 verses](verb 3rd sg pres ind act) "Calleth" is phoneo which means "to produce a sound or tone," "to speak loudly or clearly" (of men), "uttering cries" (of animals), "affirm" (in court), "call by name," "command," and "speak of." -
κατ᾽[60 verses](prep) "Against" is kata can be a preposition or an adverb. As a preposition with the genitive, it means, means "downwards," "down from," "down into," "against," "down toward," "down (from)," and, or time, "for." With the accusative, it means "down (to)," "according to," "about," " during," of motion, "on," "over," "throughout a space," "opposite," "separately," "individually," "at a time," "towards," "in accordance with," "concerning," "corresponding with," "during the course of a period," and "severally." As an adverb, it means "according as," "just as," "in so far as," "wherefore," "like as if" and "exactly as."
ὄνομα [47 verses](noun sg neut acc) "Name" is onoma, which means "name." It means both the reputation of "fame," and "a name and nothing else," as opposed to a real person. Acting in someone's name means to act on their behalf, as their representative.
καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."
ἐξάγει [1 verse](3rd sg pres ind act) "Leadeth...out" is from exago, which means "to lead out", "to lead away", "to bring forth into the world", "to lead out of the nest", "to march out", "to draw out from", "to release," [of merchandise] "to export," [of water] to draw off", "to bring forth", "to produce", "to lead on", "to carry away", "to excite," [of instructions] "to exercise," and "to carry out."
αὐτά. [720 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Them" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it means "just here" or "exactly there."