John 10:1

“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses the gathered crowd, using the sheepfold as an introductory illustration before defining the shepherd’s role in the subsequent verse.

The words — Ἀμὴν (Amēn) functions as a definitive marker of truth, and εἰσερχόμενος (eiserchomenos) literally denotes the physical act of entering in.

The thread — The text’s explicit warning against unauthorized entry aligns with Matthew 7:15’s description of false prophets and John 10:8’s classification of prior arrivals as thieves and robbers.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to verify spiritual access against a clear standard, distinguishing legitimate entry from clandestine intrusion.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
John 10:8 All who came before Me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Hebrews 5:4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.
Jeremiah 23:32 “Indeed,” declares the LORD, “I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people,” declares the LORD.
Ezekiel 34:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?
1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,
2 Peter 2:1 Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
Jeremiah 23:16 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.