John 10:8 Meaning and Explanation
“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who came before Jesus claiming the flock for themselves were thieves and robbers, and his true sheep did not listen to them.
What Does John 10:8 Mean?
The saying cannot mean Moses and the prophets, for they spoke of Christ and the faithful heard them gladly. Jesus means the other claimants — self-appointed deliverers and rulers, like those standing before him now, who came in their own name and fed on the flock rather than feeding it. Ezekiel 34, with its indictment of false shepherds, stands close behind the verse.
His confidence is striking: "the sheep did not hear them." God has always kept a people who could tell plunder from pasture. False voices may draw crowds, but they cannot finally hold those whose hearts belong to the Shepherd. The verse comforts believers in every age of religious confusion: the gate has never been unguarded, and the flock has never been wholly deceived.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 10:8
What does John 10:8 mean?
Those who came before Jesus claiming the flock for themselves were thieves and robbers, and his true sheep did not listen to them.