John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow,

Spoken to
audience

The shepherd calls the sheep who know his voice by their names and leads them out.

KJV

John 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

NIV

John 10:5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.

LISTENERS HEARD

For a stranger, however, never will they follow. Instead, they will flee from him because they haven't seen that stranger' that voice.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

The word translated as "know" is funny, because it means "to see." So Jesus is saying that his flock "has seen his voice." The word means "to know" in the same sense that we use the word "to see" to mean "know." As in "I see your point." This phrase is another play on words about "seeing" used "have seen" to mean "know." (See this article for more about this word. The final word translated as "voice" refers to the sound or the tone more than the actual words.

The word is translated as "stranger(s)" in an adjective meaning "belonging to another," "stranger," "foreign," "hostile," "alien," "unfavorably disposed," "abnormal," and "foreign to the purpose," and "strange." However, it is preceded by a definite article, so "those aliens" or "those belonging to another." Its root word is "other."

The Greek word translated as "follow" also means "being guided by." Follower make a choice about what they are guided by. People are not "sheep" in the sense they follow anyone who leads. Its opposite, "fleeing" from someone is the opposite choice.

 

MY TAKE

All ideas have boundaries that, when passed, create an alien idea.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
5
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "and" should be something more like "but."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "stranger" is not an object of the verb but an indicated object, usually having a preposition.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not" is both negatives together with the sense of "never."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "but" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "strangers" is not shown in the English translation.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "stranger" is not an object of the verb but an indicated object, usually having a preposition.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "in fact" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "recognize" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "a" should be something more like "the."
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "stranger" is translated as singular but the Greek word is plural, "strangers."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "voice" is not shown in the English translation.
EACH WORD of KJV

And -- (WW) The Greek word translated as "and" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

stranger -- (WF) "Stranger" is not a noun but an adjective meaning "belonging to another," "foreign," "strange," "hostile," "unfavorably disposed," and "alien." The root of the word is "others." The verb from the same root means "being ill-disposed."  When applied to ideas, the sense is "outlandish." The form is not an object, but that Its form as an indirect object (dative case) that usually 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.

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

not -- (CW) The "not" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

follow, -- The verb "follow" means "to follow," or "go with," in a physical sense, but it is also a metaphor meaning "to be guided by" or "to follow the meaning of."

but -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

flee -- "Flee" is translated from a Greek word that means "to flee," "escape," and "to take flight."

from-- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from."

him: -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.

for -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

know The word translated as "know" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen." However, as "know" it is the present tense. The sense is what "have seen" in the past is known today.

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

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. 

voice-- -- The noun translated as "voice"  means "sound", "speech", "voice",  "cry" [of animals], "sounds" [of inanimate objects], and "report."

of -- This word "of"  comes from the genitive case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

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. 

strangers. -- "Strangers" is not a noun but an adjective meaning "belonging to another," "foreign," "strange," "hostile," "unfavorably disposed," and "alien." The root of the word is "others." The verb from the same root means "being ill-disposed."  When applied to ideas, the sense is "outlandish." It acts like a noun with the article introducing it, "the ones strange."

 

EACH WORD of NIV

But -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but," "however," and "on the other hand." It joins phrases in an adversarial way. Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  It can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

never --  The "never" here is both of the Greek negatives used together. Greek has two negatives, one objective, one subjective. The use of both together is more extreme, like saying, "never" or literally, "you cannot really think." When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

follow -- The verb "follow" means "to follow," or "go with," in a physical sense, but it is also a metaphor meaning "to be guided by" or "to follow the meaning of."

a -- There is no indefinite article in Greek, but when a word doesn't have a definite article, the indefinite article can be added in English translation.

stranger -- (WF) "Stranger" is not a noun but an adjective meaning "belonging to another," "foreign," "strange," "hostile," "unfavorably disposed," and "alien." The root of the word is "others." The verb from the same root means "being ill-disposed."  When applied to ideas, the sense is "outlandish." The form is not an object, but that Its form as an indirect object (dative case) that usually 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.

in fact, -- (CW) The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "instead," "but instead,"or "rather." It is not the common word usually translated as "but." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise." Jesus often uses this conjunction to connect a negative clause, not doing something, with a positive one, "instead do this."

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

run away -- "Flee" is translated from a Greek word that means "to flee," "escape," and "to take flight."

from-- The word translated as "from" means "from" in both locations and when referring to a source or a cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done and "away from."

him: -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.

because -- The word translated as "for" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

they -- This is from the third-person, plural form of the verb.

do -- This English helping verb is used to create questions, commands, negative statements, and smooth word flow in translation from Greek

not -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It means "no," "not," or"no truly." It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea. When a negative precedes the verb, it affects the whole clause. When it precedes other words, its force is limited to those words.

recognize  - (CW) The word translated as "recognize" means primarily "to see" and is used to mean "know' as we use the word "see" to mean "know" in English. It is the past perfect tense so "have seen." However, as "know" it is the present tense. The sense is what has been seen in the past is known today. This is not a verb normally translated as "recognize" like several other verbs.

-- (WW) The 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. 

stranger -- (WN) "Stranger" is not a noun but an adjective meaning "belonging to another," "foreign," "strange," "hostile," "unfavorably disposed," and "alien." The root of the word is "others." The verb from the same root means "being ill-disposed."  When applied to ideas, the sense is "outlandish." It acts like a noun with the article introducing it, "the ones strange." The word is plural not singular.

's-- This word "'s"  comes from the genitive case of the previous word that requires the addition of a preposition or this "'s" in English.  The most common is the "of" of possession.

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."

 

 

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ἀλλοτρίῳ [3 verses](adj sg masc/neut dat) "Stranger" is allotrios, which means "belonging to another," "stranger," "foreign," "hostile," "alien," "unfavorably disposed," "abnormal," and "foreign to the purpose," and "strange." 

δὲ [446 verses](conj) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be an explanation of cause ("so").

οὐ μὴ [39 verses](partic) "Never" is ou me, the two forms of Greek negative used together. Ou is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. Mê (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." As οὐ (ou) negates fact and statement; μή rejects, οὐ denies; μή is relative, οὐ absolute; μή subjective, οὐ objective.

ἀκολουθήσουσιν [22 verses] (3rd pl fut ind act) "Will they Follow" is akoloutheo, which means "to follow," and "to go with." It also means "to be guided by" and means following a leader as a disciple.

ἀλλὰ [154 verses](conj) "But" is alla, which means "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay."

φεύξονται [7 verses] (3rd pl fut ind mid) "Will flee" is pheugo, which means "to flee," "to take flight," "avoid," "escape," "seek to avoid," "to be expelled," "to be driven out," "go into exile," "go into banishment," "to be accused," "to be plead in defense," and "to flee from a charge."

ἀπ᾽ [190 verses]​(prep) "From" is apo, a preposition of separation which means "from" or "away from" from when referring to place or motion, "from" or "after" when referring to time, "from" as an origin or cause. It also means the instrument "by" which a thing is done.  Usually takes the genitive object.

αὐτοῦ [720 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Him"  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."

ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "For" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

οὐκ [269 verses](partic) "Not" is ou , the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences.  The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective.

οἴδασι [38 verses] (3rd pl perf ind act) "They know" is oida which has the sense of "to know." This listing is not a root word, but the past perfect tense of eido, which means "to see," "to examine," "to perceive," "to behold," "to know how to do," "to see with the mind's eye," and "to know." That which "has been seen" is that which is "known." This is a somewhat legalistic idea because the truth can only be established by eyewitnesses.

τῶν [821 verses](article pl masc/fem/neut gen)  Untranslated is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").  -

ἀλλοτρίων [3 verses](adj pl masc/fem/neut gen) "Stranger" is allotrios, which means "belonging to another," "stranger," "foreign," "hostile," "alien," "unfavorably disposed," "abnormal," and "foreign to the purpose," and "strange."

τὴν [821 verses](article sg fem acc)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

φωνὴν [13 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "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."

Possible Symbolic Meaning
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