John 10:6 Meaning and Explanation
“This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus spoke this figure of the fold to the Pharisees, but they did not grasp what he was telling them.
What Does John 10:6 Mean?
John pauses the discourse to record its reception. The hearers are the Pharisees of chapter 9, men trained in the Scriptures — where Israel's leaders are often called shepherds, and the LORD himself is the Shepherd of his people (Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34). Yet the figure passed over them.
Their incomprehension is the very point the parable was making. Understanding Jesus is not a matter of schooling but of belonging; his sheep hear his voice, and these men, for all their learning, did not recognize it. The verse is a gentle warning to every reader: Scripture can be studied and still not heard. The remedy is not cleverness but the humility that lets the Shepherd call us by name.
John 10:6 in the Original Language
paroimia (παροιμία), 'parable' -- a figure or veiled saying; John's word for Jesus' picture-speech.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 10:6
What does John 10:6 mean?
Jesus spoke this figure of the fold to the Pharisees, but they did not grasp what he was telling them.