John 10:3
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

English Standard Version
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Berean Standard Bible
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Berean Literal Bible
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice. And he calls the own sheep by name and leads them out.

King James Bible
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

New King James Version
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

New American Standard Bible
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep listen to his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

NASB 1995
“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

NASB 1977
“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

Legacy Standard Bible
To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Amplified Bible
The doorkeeper opens [the gate] for this man, and the sheep hear his voice and pay attention to it. And [knowing that they listen] he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [to pasture].

Christian Standard Bible
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

American Standard Version
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“To this one the gate keeper opens the gate and the flock hears his voice; he calls his sheep by their names and leads them out.

Douay-Rheims Bible
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

English Revised Version
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name and leads them out of the pen.

Good News Translation
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him; the sheep hear his voice as he calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out.

International Standard Version
It's to him the gatekeeper opens the gate, and it's his voice the sheep hear. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

Literal Standard Version
the doorkeeper opens to this one, and the sheep hear his voice, and his own sheep he calls by name, and leads them forth;

Majority Standard Bible
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

New American Bible
The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

NET Bible
The doorkeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

New Revised Standard Version
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

New Heart English Bible
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.

Webster's Bible Translation
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Weymouth New Testament
To him the porter opens the door, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by their names and leads them out.

World English Bible
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.

Young's Literal Translation
to this one the doorkeeper doth open, and the sheep hear his voice, and his own sheep he doth call by name, and doth lead them forth;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus the Good Shepherd
2But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.…

Cross References
Proverbs 27:23
Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds;

John 10:4
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:9
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.

John 10:16
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

1 John 4:6
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

3 John 1:14
Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.

Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.


Treasury of Scripture

To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.

the porter.

Isaiah 53:10-12
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand…

1 Corinthians 16:9
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

Colossians 4:3
Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

the sheep.

John 10:4,16,26,27
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice…

John 6:37,45
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out…

Song of Solomon 8:13
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.

and he.

John 10:14,27
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine…

Exodus 33:17
And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

and leadeth.

Psalm 23:2,3
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters…

Psalm 78:52,53
But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock…

Psalm 80:1
To the chief Musician upon ShoshannimEduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

Jump to Previous
Calls Door Doorkeeper Ear Forth Gate Gatekeeper Hear Lead Leads Names Open Openeth Opens Porter Sheep Voice Watchman
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Calls Door Doorkeeper Ear Forth Gate Gatekeeper Hear Lead Leads Names Open Openeth Opens Porter Sheep Voice Watchman
John 10
1. Jesus is the door, and the good shepherd.
19. Diverse opinions of him.
23. He proves by his works that he is Jesus the Son of God;
31. escapes the Jews;
39. and goes again beyond Jordan, where many believe on him.














(3) To him the porter openeth.--The word "porter" is not, perhaps, misleading to many, but for the sake of the possible few, it may be noted that door-keeper is what is here meant. There is no further interpretation of what, in the spiritual fold, corresponds to the office of the porter, whereas the door and the shepherd are successively made the texts of fuller expositions of Christ's own work. We are not, therefore, to regard "the porter" as an essential part of the allegory (comp. John 10:5), nor need we trouble ourselves with the various expositions which have been given of it. At the same time, we should not forget that the thought is one which impressed itself on the mind of St. Paul. At Ephesus "a great and effectual door was opened unto him" (1Corinthians 16:9); "when he came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel a door was opened unto him of the Lord" (2Corinthians 2:12); the Colossians are exhorted to pray that "a door of the word (the gospel) may be opened, to speak the mystery of Christ" (Colossians 4:3); at the close of the first missionary journey he and Barnabas told how "God had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (Acts 14:27). We have St. Paul's authority, therefore, for understanding by the "door-keeper," if we are to interpret it here, the Holy Spirit, whose special work it is to determine who are shepherds and sheep, and to call each to the work and position given to him by God. We must be careful to note, with this interpretation, that St. Paul gives divine titles to Him who thus opens the door, lest, from the humble position of the porter in the material fold, we should be led to unworthy thoughts of Him who is "neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding."

And the sheep hear his voice.--The reference is here to the whole of the sheep in the fold; they are all roused as they hear a shepherd's cry, which is the signal for their being led forth to the pastures. . . .

Verse 3. - To him the porter openeth. The doorkeeper of the fold has been variously interpreted. Bengel and Hengstenberg say, "God himself" is meant; Stier, Alford, and Lange, "the Holy Spirit;" against which interpretations may be urged the subordinate position assigned to the "porter," as compared with the shepherds themselves. Lampe and Godet think that "John the Baptist" was intended; while Meyer and De Wette say that it is one of those elements of the parable which is dropped out of our Lord's own exposition for which we need not seek any special application. Westcott thinks it must vary with the special sense attributed to "sheep" and "shepherd," and float we must think of it as "the Spirit working through his appointed ministers in each case." The "doorkeeper," if Christ be himself the "Door," is the keeper of that door - the agency, the ministry, the ordinances by which the excellences and power of Christ were or are manifested. We are reminded of subsequent use of the imagery in Paul's Epistles (1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3; cf. Acts 14:27); but the full meaning of the phrase is only suggested, and we had better wait for Christ's interpretation of some parts of this allegory. The context provides a specific filling out, first of one part of the imagery, and secondly of another part of it. The two interpretations are not to be forced at one and the same time upon the parable. Our Lord continues: And the sheep hear his voice. When a shepherd approaches the door to fetch the folded sheep which belong to him, the porter opens that door for him i.e. a true shepherd who has at heart the interests of the sheep and of their supreme Owner, finds the way made ready for him. In the fold are many flocks. All the sheep give heed to his voice. He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. They know a shepherd calls, and then that shepherd addresses his own sheep by name, and he leads these forth into the pasture. Even in our own pastures the shepherds know each sheep by name. Aristotle ('Hist. Anim.,' 6:19) tells us the bell-wether knew his name, and obeyed his shepherd. Archdeacon Watkins gives a quotation from Theocritus' 'Idylls,' charmingly illustrating the habit. The shepherd, by the mere call to his own sheep, would separate them from these which did not belong to him, and lead them forth to their pasture in the wilderness. This method of Oriental life illustrates the function of all true shepherds of men. It has had many partial fulfillments in the history of the Church and of the world. Daring the period of the old theocratic dispensation, many "thieves and robbers" made havoc of the flock; still there were prophetic and kingly men who, sent by God, found their way to the heart of Israel; many came to know that a prophet had been among them, and they followed him. It is equally true now, though all the external conditions are changed. The full application of this part of the allegory is only seen when "the good Shepherd" seeketh his sheep; but the meaning of the first picture is obscured by hurrying on to the enlarged and double exposition which Christ gave of the two parts of his own parable, and much is lost by endeavoring to force into a primary exposition of vers. 1-6 the features borrowed from a twofold interpretation of the separate ideas suggested by the composite image.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
The
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

gatekeeper
θυρωρὸς (thyrōros)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2377: A door-keeper, porter. From thura and ouros; a gate- warden.

opens [the gate]
ἀνοίγει (anoigei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 455: To open. From ana and oigo; to open up.

for him,
τούτῳ (toutō)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
τὰ (ta)
Article - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

sheep
πρόβατα (probata)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4263: A sheep. Probably neuter of a presumed derivative of probaino; something that walks forward, i.e., a sheep.

listen for
ἀκούει (akouei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.

his
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

voice.
φωνῆς (phōnēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 5456: Probably akin to phaino through the idea of disclosure; a tone; by implication, an address, saying or language.

He calls
φωνεῖ (phōnei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 5455: From phone; to emit a sound; by implication, to address in words or by name, also in imitation.

[his]
τὰ (ta)
Article - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

own
ἴδια (idia)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 2398: Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication, private or separate.

sheep
πρόβατα (probata)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4263: A sheep. Probably neuter of a presumed derivative of probaino; something that walks forward, i.e., a sheep.

by
κατ’ (kat’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

name
ὄνομα (onoma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

leads them out.
ἐξάγει (exagei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1806: To lead out, sometimes to death, execution. From ek and ago; to lead forth.


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NT Gospels: John 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him (Jhn Jo Jn)
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