John 10 · Verse 6

John 10:6

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
John 10:6, King James Version

John 10:6 in other translations

BSBJesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.
WEBJesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn’t understand what he was telling them.
ASVThis parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
YLTThis similitude spake Jesus to them, and they knew not what the things were that he was speaking to them;
DARBYThis allegory spoke Jesus to them, but they did not know what it was of which he spoke to them.
BBEIn this Jesus was teaching them in the form of a story: but what he said was not clear to them.
WebsterThis parable spoke Jesus to them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke to them.

What does John 10:6 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 6. This parable. Mt 13:3.

They understood not, &c. They did not understand the meaning or design of the illustration.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 10:6-9
Many who hear the word of Christ, do not understand it, because they will not. But we shall find one scripture expounding another, and the blessed Spirit making known the blessed Jesus. Christ is the Door. And what greater security has the church of God than that the Lord Jesus is between it and all its enemies? He is a door open for passage and communication. Here are plain directions how to come into the fold; we must come in by Jesus Christ as the Door. By faith in him as the great Mediator between God and man. Also, we have precious promises to those that observe this direction. Christ has all that care of his church, and every believer, which a good shepherd has of his flock; and he expects the church, and every believer, to wait on him, and to keep in his pasture.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 10:6 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΤαύτηνTautēnThisG3778
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
παροιμίανparoimianallegoryG3942
εἶπενeipenspokeG2036
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ὁho<the>G3588
Ἰησοῦς·IēsousJesus;G2424
ἐκεῖνοιekeinoitheyG1565
δὲdehoweverG1161
οὐκouknotG3756
ἔγνωσανegnōsanknewG1097
τίναtinawhatG5101
ἦνēnit wasG1510
ἃhathatG3739
ἐλάλειelaleiHe was sayingG2980
αὐτοῖς.¶autoisto them.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 10:6

  • Isaiah 56:11

    Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

  • Psalms 82:5

    They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

  • Proverbs 28:5

    Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.

  • John 16:25

    These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

  • Isaiah 6:9-10

    And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • Psalms 106:7

    Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

  • Matthew 13:51

    Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

  • Daniel 12:10

    Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

  • John 8:27

    They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.

  • 1 Corinthians 2:14

    But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

  • John 6:60

    Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they understood not.
6:52,60; 7:36; 8:27,43; Ps 82:5; 106:7; Pr 28:5; Isa 6:9,10; 56:11
Da 12:10; Mt 13:13,14,51; 1Co 2:14; 1Jo 5:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 10:5

    And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

  • John 10:6

    This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

  • John 10:7

    Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

Read all of John 10

John 10:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Esta parábola les dijo Jesús; mas ellos no entendieron qué era lo que les decía.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jésus leur dit cette similitude; mais ils ne comprirent pas ce que c’était qu’il leur disait.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dieses Gleichnis sprach Jesus zu ihnen; sie aber verstanden nicht, was es war, das er zu ihnen redete.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hoc proverbium dixit eis Jesus: illi autem non cognoverunt quid loqueretur eis.