KJV: All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
YLT: all, as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them;
Darby: All whoever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
ASV: All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
| ὅσοι | who ever |
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Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ὅσος Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever. |
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| ἦλθον | came |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἔρχομαι Sense: to come. |
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| πρὸ | before |
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Parse: Preposition Root: πρό Sense: before. |
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| ἐμοῦ | Me |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| κλέπται | thieves |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: κλέπτης Sense: an embezzler, pilferer. |
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| λῃσταί | robbers |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: ἀρχιλῃστής Sense: a robber, plunderer, freebooter, brigand. |
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| ἤκουσαν | did hear |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἀκουστός Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf. |
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| πρόβατα | sheep |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural Root: προβάτιον Sense: any four footed, tame animal accustomed to graze, small cattle (opp. to large cattle, horses, etc.), most commonly a sheep or a goat. |
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Greek Commentary for John 10:8
Aleph with the Latin, Syriac, and Sahidic versions omit these words (supported by A B D L W). But with or without προ εμου pro emou Jesus refers to the false Messiahs and self-appointed leaders who made havoc of the flock. These are the thieves and robbers, not the prophets and sincere teachers of old. The reference is to John 10:1. There had been numerous such impostors already (Josephus, Ant. XVIII. i. 6; War II. viii. I) and Jesus will predict many more (Matthew 24:23.). They keep on coming, these wolves in sheep‘s clothing (Matthew 7:15) who grow rich by fooling the credulous sheep. In this case “the sheep did not hear them” First aorist active indicative with genitive. Fortunate sheep who knew the Shepherd‘s voice. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 10:8
Better Rev., a robber. See John 10:1, John 10:8; and Luke 23:39-43. It is more than a petty stealer; rather one with associates, who would require an armed band to apprehend him. Hence the propriety of the reference to swords and staves. [source]
Which rendering implies, shall be called by all nations. But render with Rev., a house of prayer for all the nations ( πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν )Thieves ( λῃστῶν )Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 21:13; and Matthew 26:55; and John 10:1, John 10:8. From ληίς or λεία , booty. In classical usage mostly of cattle. The robber, conducting his operations on a large and systematic scale, and with the aid of bands, is thus to be distinguished from the κλέπτης , or thief who purloins or pilfers whatever comes to hand. A den would be appropriate to a band of robbers, not to thieves. Thus the traveller to Jericho, in Christ's parable (Luke 10:30), fell among robbers, not thieves. [source]
Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 21:13; and Matthew 26:55; and John 10:1, John 10:8. From ληίς or λεία , booty. In classical usage mostly of cattle. The robber, conducting his operations on a large and systematic scale, and with the aid of bands, is thus to be distinguished from the κλέπτης , or thief who purloins or pilfers whatever comes to hand. A den would be appropriate to a band of robbers, not to thieves. Thus the traveller to Jericho, in Christ's parable (Luke 10:30), fell among robbers, not thieves. [source]
Old word from μιστοω misthoō to hire (Matthew 20:1) from μιστος misthos (hire, wages, Luke 10:7), in N.T. only in this passage. Literally, “the hireling and not being a shepherd” Note ουκ ouk with the participle ων ōn to emphasize the certainty that he is not a shepherd in contrast with μη εισερχομενος mē eiserchomenos in John 10:1 (conceived case). See same contrast in 1 Peter 1:8 between ουκ ιδοντες ouk idontes and μη ορωντες mē horōntes The hireling here is not necessarily the thief and robber of John 10:1, John 10:8. He may conceivably be a nominal shepherd (pastor) of the flock who serves only for the money, a sin against which Peter warned the shepherds of the flock “not for shameful gain” (1 Peter 5:2). Whose own Every true shepherd considers the sheep in his care “his own” Vivid dramatic present, active indicative of τεωρεω theōreō a graphic picture. The wolf coming Present middle predicate participle of ερχομαι erchomai Leaveth the sheep, and fleeth Graphic present actives again of απιημι aphiēmi and πευγω pheugō The cowardly hireling cares naught for the sheep, but only for his own skin. The wolf was the chief peril to sheep in Palestine. See Matthew 10:6 where Jesus says: “Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” And the wolf snatcheth them and scattereth them Vivid parenthesis in the midst of the picture of the conduct of the hireling. Bold verbs these. For the old verb αρπαζω harpazō see John 6:15; Matthew 11:12, and for σκορπιζω skorpizō late word (Plutarch) for the Attic σκεδαννυμι skedannumi see Matthew 12:30. It occurs in the vision of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34:5) where because of the careless shepherds “the sheep became meat to all the beasts of the field, and were scattered.” Jesus uses αρπαζω harpazō in John 10:29 where no one is able “to snatch” one out of the Father‘s hand. [source]