Yochanan 10
Orthodox Jewish Bible
10 Omein, omein, I say to you, the one not entering through the derech hasha’ar (way of the entrance) into the mikhla haTzon (fold [enclosure] of the sheep) but going up another derech, that one is a ganav and a shoded (robber) [Rev 13:4].
2 But the one entering through the derech hasha’ar is Ro’eh haTzon (Shepherd of the flock [of sheep]).
3 To this one the doorkeeper opens, and the tzon hears the Ro’eh’s voice and the Ro’eh calls b’shem (by name) each of his own tzon and leads them out. [TEHILLIM 95:7]
4 When the Ro’eh has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the tzon follow the Ro’eh, because they have da’as of the Ro’eh’s voice.
5 But a zar (stranger, foreigner) they will never follow, but will flee from him, because they do not have da’as of the voice of zarim (strangers, foreigners).
6 This figure of speech Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach told them. But those ones did not have binah (understanding) of what he was saying to them.
7 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, therefore, again, Omein, omein, I say to you, Ani Hu the derech hasha’ar (way of the entrance) of the tzon.
8 All who came before me are ganavim (thieves) and shodedim (robbers), but the tzon did not listen to them. [YIRMEYAH 23:1,2; YECHEZKEL 34:2-3]
9 I am the derech hasha’ar. Through me, if anyone enters, he will come to yeshu’at Eloheinu and will go in and will go out and will find mir’eh (pasture) [BAMIDBAR 27:17; TEHILLIM 118:20; 23:2]
10 The ganav does not come except in order that he may steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have Chayyim (Life) and that they may have it more abundantly. [TEHILLIM 65:11]
11 I am the Ro’eh HaTov (the Good Shepherd). The Ro’eh HaTov lays down his neshamah for the tzon. [TEHILLIM 23:1; YESHAYAH 40:11; YECHEZKEL 34:11-16,23; YESHAYAH 53:7,8,10]
12 The hireling, the one who is not the Ro’eh‖the hireling, the one to whom the tzon does not belong‖this hireling sees the ze’ev (wolf) coming and abandons the tzon and runs for his life and the ze’ev seizes them and scatters them. [ZECHARYAH 11:16]
13 This happens because he is a hireling and the tzon means nothing to him.
14 Ani Hu the Ro’eh HaTov, and I have da’as of my tzon and my tzon has da’as of me. [SHEMOT 33:12]
15 Just as HaAv has da’as of me and I have da’as of HaAv, so I lay down my neshamah for the tzon.
16 And another tzon I have which is not of this mikhla (fold [enclosure]); those also it is necessary for me to bring, and my voice they will hear, and they will become eder echad with Ro’eh echad (One flock with one Shepherd). [YESHAYAH 56:8; YECHEZKEL 34:23; 37:24]
17 Therefore, HaAv has ahavah for me, because I lay down my neshamah that I may take it up again.
18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have samchut (authority) to lay it down, and I have samchut to receive it again. This mitzvah I received from HaAv of me. [YESHAYAH 52:13-53:12]
19 There was a machloket (division of dissension) again among those of Yehudah, because of these dvarim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
20 And many of them were saying, He has a shed (demon), and He is meshugga‖why do you listen to him? [MELACHIM BAIS 9:11; YIRMEYAH 29:26]
21 Others said, These dvarim are not of one being possessed of shedim. Surely a shed (demon) is not able to open the eyes of an ivver (blind man)? [SHEMOT 4:11]
22 Then the Chag (Festival) of Channukah took place in Yerushalayim. It was winter.
23 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was walking around in the Beis Hamikdash in the area called Ulam Shlomo (Solomon’s Colonnade).
24 Then those of Yehudah encircled Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and were saying to him, How much longer are you going to hold our neshamot in suspense? If you are the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, tell us openly.
25 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, I did tell you and you do not have emunah. The pe’ulot which I do b’Shem Avi, these pe’ulot give solemn edut (testimony, see Yn 8:18) about me.
26 But you do not have emunah (faith), because you do not belong to my Tzon.
27 My Tzon hear my voice, and I have da’as of them, and they follow me.
28 And I give to them Chayyei Olam, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. [YESHAYAH 66:22]
29 That which HaAv of me has given me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch out of the hand of HaAv.
30 I and HaAv are echad. [DEVARIM 6:4; TEHILLIM 33:6; BERESHIS 2:24]
31 Again those of Yehudah took up stones that they might stone him.
32 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Many ma’asim tovim I showed you from HaAv. Because of which ma’aseh do you stone me?
33 In reply, those of Yehudah said to him, For a ma’aseh tov we do not stone you, but for Chillul Hashem and because you, being a man, make yourself G-d. [VAYIKRA 24:16]
34 In reply, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach answered them, Has it not been written in your Torah, ANI AMARTI ELOHIM ATEM (I said you are g-ds.) [TEHILLIM 82:6] [SHEMOT 7:1; 22:27 TARGUM HASHIVIM]
35 If those ones he called g-ds, to whom the Dvar Hashem came and lo tufar Kitvei Hakodesh (and the Kitvei Hakodesh cannot be broken, TEHILLIM 119:89,142)
36 Can you say of the One whom HaAv set apart as HaKadosh and sent into the Olam Hazeh that he commits Chillul Hashem because I said, Ben HaElohim Ani Hu? [YIRMEYAH 1:5]
37 If I do not accomplish the pe’ulot of Avi, do not regard me with bitachon.
38 But if I do, even if you do not have emunah in me, chotsh have emunah in the pe’ulot, so that you may continue to have da’as and binah that HaAv is in me and I am in HaAv.
39 They were seeking, therefore, again to seize him, and he eluded their hand.
40 And he went away again beyond the Yarden to the place where Yochanan was in the beginning giving the mikveh mayim’s tevilah of teshuvah, and he remained there.
41 And many came to him and were saying, Yochanan indeed did no ot (miraculous sign), but everything Yochanan said about this man was HaEmes.
42 And many put their emunah (faith) in him [as Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach] there.
John 10
Amplified Bible
Parable of the Good Shepherd
10 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up from some other place [on the stone wall], that one is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep [the protector and provider]. 3 The [a]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]. 4 When he has brought all his own sheep outside, he walks on ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice and recognize his call. 5 They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.
7 So Jesus said again, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, I am [b]the Door for the sheep [leading to life]. 8 All who came before Me [as false messiahs and self-appointed leaders] are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
11 [c]I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd [d]lays down His [own] life for the sheep.(A) 12 But the hired man [who merely serves for wages], who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away; and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The man runs because he is a hired hand [who serves only for wages] and is not concerned about the [safety of the] sheep. 14 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]— 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My [very own] life [sacrificing it] for the benefit of the sheep. 16 I have [e]other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring those also, and they will listen to My voice and pay attention to My call, and they will become [f]one flock with one Shepherd.(B) 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life so that I may take it back. 18 No one takes it away from Me, but I lay it down voluntarily. I am authorized and have power to lay it down and to give it up, and I am authorized and have power to take it back. This command I have received from My Father.”
19 A division [of opinion] occurred again among the Jews because of these words [of His]. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and He is mad [insane—He raves and rambles]. Why listen to Him?” 21 Others were saying, “These are not the words and thoughts of one possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
Jesus Asserts His Deity
22 At that time the [g]Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. 23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple [area] in [h]Solomon’s portico. 24 So the Jews surrounded Him and began saying to Him, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are [really] the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), tell us so plainly and openly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me [they are My credentials and the evidence declaring who I am]. 26 But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep. 27 The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. 29 [i]My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].”
31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works [and many acts of mercy] from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” 33 The Jews answered Him, “We are not going to stone You for a good work, but for blasphemy, because You, a mere man, make Yourself out to be God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods [human judges representing God, not divine beings]’?(C) 35 If He [j]called them gods, men to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be undone or annulled or broken), 36 [if that is true] then do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and set apart for Himself and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? 37 If I do not do the works of My Father [that is, the miracles that only God could perform], then do not believe Me. 38 But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, [at least] believe the works [that I do—admit that they are the works of God], so that you may know and keep on knowing [clearly—without any doubt] that the Father is in Me, and I am in the Father [that is, I am One with Him].” 39 So they tried again to seize Him, but He eluded their grasp.
40 He went back again across the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him, and they were saying, “John did not perform a single sign (attesting miracle), but everything John said about this Man was true and accurate.” 42 And many there believed and confidently trusted in Him [accepting Him as Savior, and following His teaching].
Footnotes
- John 10:3 The shepherd’s hired assistant who guarded the sheep at night when they were inside the stone enclosure.
- John 10:7 The third of the memorable “I am” statements. See note 6:35.
- John 10:11 The fourth of the memorable “I am” statements. See note 6:35.
- John 10:11 A reference to the atoning sacrifice Jesus was going to make to provide the way for sinners to be saved and reconciled with God.
- John 10:16 I.e. the Gentiles.
- John 10:16 Jews and Gentiles will be joined through their personal belief in Jesus. The revelation that God intended to unite the Jews and Gentiles into one body of believers was a difficult concept to accept for many in the early church.
- John 10:22 Now known as Hanukkah or the Feast of Lights.
- John 10:23 Located on the east side of the temple, this was a sheltered area consisting of a long, covered portico or colonnade. It later became a meeting place for Christians (Acts 3:11; 5:12).
- John 10:29 One early ms reads What My Father has given Me is greater than all.
- John 10:35 This statement in Ps 82:6 is addressed to the ruling judges of Israel, who were supposed to serve as God’s representatives on earth. Jesus’ argument (v 36) is that since He is in fact proving Himself to be the Father’s representative on earth, He is entitled to be recognized as the Son of God.
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