# John 10.1-21

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-08-18 | updated: 2026-08-18 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john/) · NASB95

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> **1. <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.</span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.</span> 4. <span class="rl-speech">When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.</span> 7. Jesus therefore said unto them again, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.</span> 10. <span class="rl-speech">The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.</span> 11. <span class="rl-speech">I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.</span> 12. <span class="rl-speech">He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them:</span> 13. <span class="rl-speech">he fleeth because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me,</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd.</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father.</span> 19. There arose a division again among the Jews because of these words. 20. And many of them said, He hath a demon, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21. Others said, These are not the sayings of one possessed with a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?**
>
> 22. And it was the feast of the dedication at Jerusalem: 23. it was winter; and Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon's porch. (John 10:1-23, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> **1. <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.</span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">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.</span> 4. <span class="rl-speech">Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”</span> 6. Jesus spoke this parable to them, <span class="rl-speech">but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.</span> 7. Jesus therefore said to them again, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s door.</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.</span> 10. <span class="rl-speech">The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.</span> 11. <span class="rl-speech">I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.</span> 12. <span class="rl-speech">He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them.</span> 13. <span class="rl-speech">The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn’t care for the sheep.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I’m known by my own;</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.”</span> 19. Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words. 20. Many of them said, “He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?” 21. Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?”**
>
> 22. It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem. 23. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. (John 10:1-23, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> **1. <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.</span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.</span> 4. <span class="rl-speech">And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.</span> 6. <span class="rl-speech">This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.</span> 7. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 19. There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. 20. And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? 21. Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?**
>
> 22. And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. (John 10:1-23, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> **1. <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, He who is not entering through the door to the fold of the sheep, but is going up from another side, that one is a thief and a robber;</span> 2. <span class="rl-speech">and he who is entering through the door is shepherd of the sheep;</span> 3. <span class="rl-speech">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;</span> 4. <span class="rl-speech">and when his own sheep he may put forth, before them he goeth on, and the sheep follow him, because they have known his voice;</span> 5. <span class="rl-speech">and a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, because they have not known the voice of strangers.'</span> 6. This similitude spake Jesus to them, and they knew not what the things were that he was speaking to them; 7. Jesus said therefore again to them, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep;</span> 8. <span class="rl-speech">all, as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them;</span> 9. <span class="rl-speech">I am the door, through me if any one may come in, he shall be saved, and he shall come in, and go out, and find pasture.</span> 10. <span class="rl-speech">'The thief doth not come, except that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may have [it] abundantly.</span> 11. <span class="rl-speech">'I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd his life layeth down for the sheep;</span> 12. <span class="rl-speech">and the hireling, and not being a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, doth behold the wolf coming, and doth leave the sheep, and doth flee; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep;</span> 13. <span class="rl-speech">and the hireling doth flee because he is an hireling, and is not caring for the sheep.</span> 14. <span class="rl-speech">'I am the good shepherd, and I know my [sheep], and am known by mine,</span> 15. <span class="rl-speech">according as the Father doth know me, and I know the Father, and my life I lay down for the sheep,</span> 16. <span class="rl-speech">and other sheep I have that are not of this fold, these also it behoveth me to bring, and my voice they will hear, and there shall become one flock, one shepherd.</span> 17. <span class="rl-speech">'Because of this doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that again I may take it;</span> 18. <span class="rl-speech">no one doth take it from me, but I lay it down of myself; authority I have to lay it down, and authority I have again to take it; this command I received from my Father.'</span> 19. Therefore, again, there came a division among the Jews, because of these words, 20. and many of them said, 'He hath a demon, and is mad, why do ye hear him?' 21. others said, 'These sayings are not those of a demoniac; is a demon able blind men's eyes to open?'**
>
> 22. And the dedication in Jerusalem came, and it was winter, 23. and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the porch of Solomon, (John 10:1-23, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** _TBD_
- **Audience:** _TBD_
- **Location:** _TBD_
- **Time period:** _TBD_

## Theological reading

_Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._

## Key words

_Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._

- [G1140 - daimonion](/codex/g1140-daimonion/), *daimonion*, Strong's G1140
- [G0622 - apollymi](/codex/g0622-apollymi/), *apollymi*, Strong's G0622
- [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/), *psyche*, Strong's G5590
- [G4982 - sozo](/codex/g4982-sozo/), *sozo*, Strong's G4982
- [G0025 - agapao](/codex/g0025-agapao/), *agapao*, Strong's G0025
- [G2222 - zoe](/codex/g2222-zoe/), *zoe*, Strong's G2222

<!-- BACKLINKS:START -->
## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Animal Sacrifice Objection Defeater](/codex/animal-sacrifice-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Argument from Love](/codex/argument-from-love/), via [John 10.14](/codex/john-10-14/)
- [Argument from the Naming Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-naming-convergence/), via [John 10.3](/codex/john-10-3/)
- [Cursed Messiah Objection Defeater](/codex/cursed-messiah-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.17](/codex/john-10-17/), [John 10.17-18](/codex/john-10-17-18/), [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Davids Census 70000 Dead Objection Defeater](/codex/davids-census-70000-dead-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/)
- [Did Jesus Send Muhammad Dilemma Argument](/codex/did-jesus-send-muhammad-dilemma-argument/), via [John 10.17-18](/codex/john-10-17-18/)
- [Gentiles Cannot Be Saved Objection Defeater](/codex/gentiles-cannot-be-saved-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.16](/codex/john-10-16/)
- [Jesus Came Only for Israel Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-came-only-for-israel-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.16](/codex/john-10-16/)
- [Jesus is Jacobs Ladder](/codex/jesus-is-jacobs-ladder/), via [John 10.7-9](/codex/john-10-7-9/)
- [Jesus is Not a Human Sacrifice (Defeater)](/codex/jesus-is-not-a-human-sacrifice-defeater/), via [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Jesus's Sacrifice Was Not Real Because He Rose Objection Defeater](/codex/jesuss-sacrifice-was-not-real-because-he-rose-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.17-18](/codex/john-10-17-18/)
- [No One Can Die For Another Objection Defeater](/codex/no-one-can-die-for-another-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/), [John 10.17-18](/codex/john-10-17-18/), [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection Defeater](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection-defeater/), via [John 10.17-18](/codex/john-10-17-18/)

**Concepts:**

- [Atheism](/codex/atheism/), via [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Calvinism](/codex/calvinism/), via [John 10.15](/codex/john-10-15/)
- [Canons of Dort](/codex/canons-of-dort/), via [John 10.15](/codex/john-10-15/)
- [Christ vs Other Religion-Founders](/codex/christ-vs-other-religion-founders/), via [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Christology](/codex/christology/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/)
- [Christs Deity](/codex/christs-deity/), via [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Eschatology](/codex/eschatology/), via [John 10.11-18](/codex/john-10-11-18/)
- [Father-Son Authority Asymmetry](/codex/father-son-authority-asymmetry/), via [John 10.14](/codex/john-10-14/)
- [Fivefold Ministry](/codex/fivefold-ministry/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 10](/codex/john-10/)
- [Meaning-Centered Evangelism](/codex/meaning-centered-evangelism/), via [John 10.10](/codex/john-10-10/)
- [Names of Jehovah](/codex/names-of-jehovah/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/)
- [Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/), via [John 10.11-16](/codex/john-10-11-16/)
- [Pastor](/codex/pastor/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/), [John 10.12-13](/codex/john-10-12-13/)
- [Penal Substitutionary Atonement](/codex/penal-substitutionary-atonement/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/), [John 10.15](/codex/john-10-15/), [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Psychology of Lowered Defenses](/codex/psychology-of-lowered-defenses/), via [John 10.10](/codex/john-10-10/)
- [Spirit of Death and Suicide](/codex/spirit-of-death-and-suicide/), via [John 10.10](/codex/john-10-10/)
- [Substitutionary Principle in the OT](/codex/substitutionary-principle-in-the-ot/), via [John 10.17-18](/codex/john-10-17-18/)
- [The Devil](/codex/the-devil/), via [John 10.10](/codex/john-10-10/)
- [The Passion of Christ](/codex/the-passion-of-christ/), via [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [Verses on Gods Goodness and Human Worth](/codex/verses-on-gods-goodness-and-human-worth/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G1097 - ginosko](/codex/g1097-ginosko/), via [John 10.14-15](/codex/john-10-14-15/)
- [G1453 - egeiro](/codex/g1453-egeiro/), via [John 10.17-18](/codex/john-10-17-18/)
- [G1492 - oida](/codex/g1492-oida/), via [John 10.15](/codex/john-10-15/)
- [G1510 - eimi](/codex/g1510-eimi/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/), [John 10.14](/codex/john-10-14/), [John 10.7](/codex/john-10-7/), [John 10.9](/codex/john-10-9/)
- [G2222 - zoe](/codex/g2222-zoe/), via [John 10.10](/codex/john-10-10/)
- [G4982 - sozo](/codex/g4982-sozo/), via [John 10.9](/codex/john-10-9/)
- [G5590 - psyche](/codex/g5590-psyche/), via [John 10.11](/codex/john-10-11/), [John 10.15](/codex/john-10-15/), [John 10.17](/codex/john-10-17/)
- [H1350 - goel](/codex/h1350-goel/), via [John 10.18](/codex/john-10-18/)
- [H3045 - yada](/codex/h3045-yada/), via [John 10.14-15](/codex/john-10-14-15/)

<!-- BACKLINKS:END -->
## Notes

_Your annotations._

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.