KJV: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
YLT: and the hireling, and not being a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, doth behold the wolf coming, and doth leave the sheep, and doth flee; and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep;
Darby: but he who serves for wages, and who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf seizes them and scatters the sheep.
ASV: He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth them :
| μισθωτὸς | hired servant |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: μισθωτός Sense: one hired, a hireling. |
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| καὶ | however |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: καί Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but. |
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| ὢν | being |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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| ποιμήν | [the] shepherd |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ποιμήν Sense: a herdsman, esp. a shepherd. |
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| οὗ | whose |
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Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that. |
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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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| ἴδια | own |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural Root: ἴδιος Sense: pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self. |
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| θεωρεῖ | sees |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: θεωρέω Sense: to be a spectator, look at, behold. |
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| λύκον | wolf |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: λύκος Sense: a wolf. |
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| ἐρχόμενον | coming |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ἔρχομαι Sense: to come. |
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| ἀφίησιν | leaves |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἀφίημι Sense: to send away. |
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| πρόβατα | sheep |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative 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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| φεύγει | flees |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: φεύγω Sense: to flee away, seek safety by flight. |
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| λύκος | wolf |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: λύκος Sense: a wolf. |
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| ἁρπάζει | snatches |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: ἁρπάζω Sense: to seize, carry off by force. |
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| σκορπίζει | scatters |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: σκορπίζω Sense: to scatter. |
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Greek Commentary for John 10:12
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]
See on John 4:3. [source]
From μισθός , hire. See on 2 Peter 2:13. Wyc., merchant. [source]
Very graphic. His gaze is fixed with the fascination of terror on the approaching wolf. Compare Dante:“But not so much, that did not give me fearA lion's aspect which appeared to me. ..... -DIVIDER- And a she wolf, that with all hungerings-DIVIDER- Seemed to be laden in her meagerness,-DIVIDER- And many folk has caused to live forlorn!-DIVIDER- She brought upon me so much heaviness,-DIVIDER- With the affright that from her aspect came,-DIVIDER- That I the hope relinquished of the height.”“Inferno,” i., 44 54. Westcott cites Augustine on this word: fuga animi timor est, the flight of the mind is cowardice; with which again compare Dante:“So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward,Turn itself back,” etc.“Inferno,” i., 25. [source]
Better, as Rev., snatcheth; though catch is doubtless used by the A.V. in its earlier and stronger sense, from the low Latin caciare, to chase, corrupted from captare, to snatch or lay hold of. Compare the Italian cacciare, to hunt. The same word is used at John 10:28, of plucking out of Christ's hand. See on Matthew 11:12. [source]
The best texts omit. Read, as Rev., scattereth them. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 10:12
See on John 10:12. Compare can pluck, John 10:29. Here Jesus speaks of the fact; there of the possibility. Rev., snatch. Wyc., ravish. [source]
Futuristic present middle indicative of ερχομαι erchomai Yea, is come Explanatory use of και kai and the perfect active indicative as in John 12:23. The long-looked-for hour See John 16:2 for this same use of ινα hina (not οτε hote) with ερχομαι ωρα erchomai hōra Ye shall be scattered First aorist passive subjunctive of σκορπιζω skorpizō used in John 10:12 of sheep scampering from the wolf. Cf. Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:33. To his own “To his own home” as in John 1:11; John 19:27. So Appian VI. 23. Shall leave Second aorist subjunctive of απιημι aphiēmi with ινα hina And yet Clear case of και kai in adversative sense, not just “and.” [source]
αρεις Bareis is heavy, rapacious, harsh. Jesus had already so described false teachers who would raven the fold (John 10:12). Whether Paul had in mind the Judaizers who had given him so much trouble in Antioch, Jerusalem, Galatia, Corinth or the Gnostics the shadow of whose coming he already foresaw is not perfectly clear. But it will not be many years before Epaphras will come to Rome from Colossae with news of the new peril there (Epistle to the Colossians). In writing to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:20) Paul will warn him against some who have already made shipwreck of their faith. In Revelation 2:2 John will represent Jesus as describing false apostles in Ephesus. Not sparing the flock (μη πειδομενοι του ποιμνιου mē pheidomenoi tou poimniou). Litotes again as so often in Acts. Sparing the flock was not the fashion of wolves. Jesus sent the seventy as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3). In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had pictured the false prophets who would come as ravening wolves in sheep‘s clothing (Matthew 7:15). [source]
So A C with the neuter τεκνον teknon or παιδιον paidion in mind, as often in O.T. See Revelation 2:27 for these words (from Psalm 2:9) applied there to victorious Christians also, and in Revelation 19:15 to the triumphant Christian. His rule will go beyond the Jews (Matthew 2:6). There is here, of course, direct reference to the birth of Jesus from Mary, who thus represented in her person this “ideal woman” (God‘s people).Was caught unto God First aorist passive indicative of αρπαζω harpazō old verb for seizing or snatching away, as in John 10:12, here alone in the Apocalypse. Reference to the ascension of Christ, with omission of the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ because he is here simply showing that “the Dragon‘s vigilance was futile” (Swete). “The Messiah, so far from being destroyed, is caught up to a share in God‘s throne” (Beckwith). [source]
First aorist passive indicative of αρπαζω harpazō old verb for seizing or snatching away, as in John 10:12, here alone in the Apocalypse. Reference to the ascension of Christ, with omission of the ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ because he is here simply showing that “the Dragon‘s vigilance was futile” (Swete). “The Messiah, so far from being destroyed, is caught up to a share in God‘s throne” (Beckwith). [source]