What Does John 10:4 Mean in the King James?
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
They do not follow because they have mapped the way; they follow because they recognize the voice of the one already ahead.
THE MEANING
The shepherd brings out those who are his, goes ahead of them, and they follow because they recognize his voice. In this living image, guidance comes through a voice they know and a leader already moving before them. Hearing, recognition, and movement belong to one relationship.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that following is blind compliance: the sheep follow because they recognize the shepherd’s voice.
THE ROOT
οἴδασιν
oidasin
GROWS FROM
εἰδ-
eid-
See, perceive; by extension, know or recognize.
οἴδασιν (oidasin, “they know”) is a form of οἶδα (oida, “know”), historically tied to εἴδω (eidō, “see, perceive”). This root gives knowing a shade of recognition: the sheep identify the voice as his, and that recognition leads them to follow.
ALSO GROWS
eidō: See, perceive.
εἴδω
This is the root family’s basic sense, placing perception beneath the word for knowing.
eidos: Form, appearance.
εἶδος
This related word names what can be seen or perceived, echoing the recognition carried by “know.”
φωνήν
phōnēn
GROWS FROM
φων-
phōn-
Sound, voice.
The Greek noun is rooted in φων- (phōn-), “sound” or “voice.” The verse joins that audible signal with the shepherd going ahead: the sheep recognize his sound and move after him.
ALSO GROWS
phōneō: Call, speak aloud.
φωνέω
This word names the act of producing the call the sheep recognize.
aphōnos: Voiceless, silent.
ἄφωνος
This related form marks the absence of voice, highlighting the sound that identifies the shepherd here.
ἐκβάλῃ
ekbalē
GROWS FROM
βαλλ-
ball-
Throw, cast; with ἐκ- (“out”), cast or bring out.
The verb behind “putteth forth” is ἐκβάλλω (ekballō, “cast or bring out”): the ἐκ- prefix means “out,” and βάλλω (ballō) means “throw, cast.” The shepherd initiates their departure and then goes ahead of the sheep he has brought out.
ALSO GROWS
ballō: Throw, cast.
βάλλω
This is the base verb within ἐκβάλλω, giving “putteth forth” its active image of bringing out.
ekbolē: Casting out; throwing overboard.
ἐκβολή
This related form keeps the sense of movement out, illuminating the sheep’s departure from the fold.
THE PATTERN
A guide’s recognizable voice turns hearing into following.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:THE THREAD
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:John 10:27 repeats the Greek word families φωνή (phōnē, “voice”) and ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō, “follow, accompany”). It makes the recognition mutual: the sheep know the shepherd’s voice, and he knows them.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us