John 10:16 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus has other sheep, not of this fold, whom he must also bring; they will hear his voice, and there will be one flock under one shepherd.
What Does John 10:16 Mean?
The horizon of the parable suddenly widens. The fold in view has been Israel, where Jesus stands speaking; yet his flock is not bounded by it. Other sheep, elsewhere, already belong to him — "them also I must bring," he says, with the divine "must" that marks his mission throughout the Gospel.
The Shepherd's reach is wider than any single fold, and his way of gathering is the same everywhere: "they shall hear my voice." Wherever his voice goes out, his sheep answer, until scattered flocks become one flock around one Shepherd. The verse breathes the largeness of God's purpose — no fence of geography or people contains it — and promises a unity not organized from below but gathered from above, by the voice.
John 10:16 in the Original Language
poimne (ποίμνη), 'fold' -- literally 'flock'; the promised oneness is one flock under one shepherd, not one pen.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 10:16
What does John 10:16 mean?
Jesus has other sheep, not of this fold, whom he must also bring; they will hear his voice, and there will be one flock under one shepherd.