YHN 10:12 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) The paid worker is not even the shepherd, because the sheep aren’t his own and if he sees a wolf coming he just abandons the sheep and takes off and the wolf scatters the sheep and snatches some—

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT And the hired man, not being a shepherd, of whom the sheep are not his own, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and escapes, and the wolf seizes and scatters them,

UST Suppose that someone hires a man who is not a shepherd to protect sheep that do not belong to that man. When he sees a wolf coming to kill the sheep, he leaves the sheep and runs away, so the wolf snatches some of them and causes some others to scatter.

BSB The hired hand is not [the] shepherd, [and] the sheep are not his own. [When] he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters [the flock].

MSB The hired hand is not [the] shepherd, [and] the sheep are not his own. [When] he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

BLB But the hired servant, being not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees--and the wolf snatches them and scatters them--

AICNT [[But]][fn] The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf [coming][fn] and leaves the sheep and flees. And the wolf snatches them and scatters them [[the sheep]];[fn]

10:12, But: Some manuscripts include. P*66 N(01) A(02) D(05) Latin(b d e ff2) BYZ TR

10:12, coming: Absent from A(02).

10:12, the sheep: Some manuscripts include. A(02) Latin(a b e ff2) BYZ TR

OEB The hired man who is not a shepherd, and who does not own the sheep, when he sees a wolf coming, leaves them and runs away; then the wolf seizes them, and scatters the flock.

WEBBE He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET The hired hand, who is not a shepherd and does not own sheep, sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and runs away. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them.

LSV and the hired worker, and not being a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees; and the wolf snatches them, and scatters the sheep;

FBV The man paid to look after the sheep is not the shepherd and he runs away when he sees the wolf coming. He abandons the sheep because they're not his, and the wolf attacks and scatters the flock

TCNT But the hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.

T4T A worker whom someone has hired to look after the sheep is not like the shepherd or the one who owns the sheep. So when he sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock of sheep and seizes one sheep and causes the others to scatter.

LEB The hired hand, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf approaching and abandons the sheep and runs away—and the wolf seizes them and scatters them[fn]—

10:12 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation

BBE He who is a servant, and not the keeper or the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming and goes in flight, away from the sheep; and the wolf comes down on them and sends them in all directions:

Moff The hired man, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, deserts them when he sees the wolf coming; he runs away, leaving the wolf to tear and scatter them,

Wymth The hired servant—one who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep—no sooner sees the wolf coming than he leaves the sheep and runs away; and the wolf worries and scatters them.

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:

DRA But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, 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;

Drby 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.

RV 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:
(He that is a hireling, and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, beholdeth/beholds the wolf coming, and leaveth/leaves the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolf snatcheth them, and scattereth/scatters them: )

SLT But the hired one, and not being the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and he leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf plunders them, and scatters the sheep.

Wbstr But he that is a 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.

KJB-1769 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.
( But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth/sees the wolf coming, and leaveth/leaves the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth/scatters the sheep. )

KJB-1611 But hee that is an hireling and not the shepheard, whose owne the sheepe are not, seeth the woolfe coming, and leaueth the sheep, and fleeth: and the woolfe catcheth them, and scattereth the sheepe.
(But he that is an hireling and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth/sees the woolfe coming, and leaveth/leaves the sheep, and fleeth: and the woolfe catcheth them, and scattereth/scatters the sheep.)

Bshps An hyrelyng, and he which is not the sheephearde, neither the sheepe are his owne, seeth the wolfe commyng, and leaueth the sheepe, and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth, & scattereth the sheepe.
(An hyreling, and he which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, seeth/sees the wolfe coming, and leaveth/leaves the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth, and scattereth/scatters the sheep.)

Gnva But an hireling, and hee which is not the shepheard, neither the sheepe are his owne, seeth the wolfe comming, and hee leaueth the sheepe, and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth them, and scattreth the sheepe.
(But an hireling, and he which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, seeth/sees the wolfe coming, and he leaveth/leaves the sheep, and fleeth, and the wolfe catcheth them, and scattreth the sheep. )

Cvdl But an hyred seruaunt, which is not the shepherde, nether the shepe are his awne, seyth ye wolfe comynge, and leaueth ye shepe, and flyeth. And the wolfe catcheth & scatereth ye shepe.
(But an hired servant, which is not the shepherd, neither the sheep are his own, saith/says ye/you_all wolfe coming, and leaveth/leaves ye/you_all sheep, and flieth/flies. And the wolfe catcheth and scattereth/scatters ye/you_all sheep.)

TNT An heyred servaut which is not the shepeherd nether the shepe are his awne seith the wolfe comynge and leveth the shepe and flyeth and the wolfe catcheth them and scattereth the shepe.
(An heyred servant which is not the shepeherd neither the sheep are his own saith/says the wolfe coming and leveth the sheep and flieth/flies and the wolfe catcheth them and scattereth/scatters the sheep. )

Wycl But an hirid hyne, and that is not the scheepherde, whos ben not the scheep his owne, seeth a wolf comynge, and he leeueth the scheep, and fleeth; and the wolf rauyschith, and disparplith the scheep.
(But an hired hyne, and that is not the shepherd, whose been not the sheep his own, seeth/sees a wolf coming, and he leaveth/leaves the sheep, and fleeth; and the wolf rauyschith, and disparplith the sheep.)

Luth Ich bin ein guter Hirte; ein guter Hirte lässet sein Leben für die Schafe. Ein Mietling aber, der nicht Hirte ist, des die Schafe nicht eigen sind, siehet den Wolf kommen und verlässet die Schafe und flieht; und der Wolf erhaschet und zerstreuet die Schafe.
(I am a good shepherd; a good shepherd lets be life for/in_favour_of the sheep. A Mietling but, the/of_the not shepherd is, the the sheep not own are, see/look the Wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flieht; and the/of_the Wolf erhaschet and scattered the sheep.)

ClVg Mercenarius autem, et qui non est pastor, cujus non sunt oves propriæ, videt lupum venientem, et dimittit oves, et fugit: et lupus rapit, et dispergit oves;[fn]
(Mercenarius however, and who/which not/no it_is pastor, whose not/no are sheep propriæ, he_sees lupum coming, and dismisses sheep, and he_fled: and lupus rapit, and dispergit sheep; )

10.12 Mercenarius autem, etc. Mercenarius est qui quærit quæ sua sunt, non quæ Christi, qui servit Deo non propter Deum, sed pro aliqua mercede; qui culpabilis est, et non est filius, sed tamen necessarius et tolerandus. Fur vero semper est cavendus. Præpositi vero qui filii sunt, sunt et pastores, et tamen unus est pastor, quia illi omnes sunt membra illius cujus sunt oves propriæ. Et lupus rapit. Lupus est vel violentus qui corporaliter vastat, vel diabolus qui spiritualiter dissipat, cui qui non animas ovium, sed sua quærit, non occurrit resistendo vel mala arguendo, quod est fugere, quia timor est fuga animi: fugit ne perdat quod diligit, unde reddens causam fugæ subdit: Quia mercenarius est, et non amat oves, sed sua: pastores autem non dicuntur fugere si cedunt persecutioni, et servant se ovium utilitati, quibus etiam corpore absentes, sunt spiritu præsentes.

10.12 Mercenarius however, etc. Mercenarius it_is who/which seeks which his_own are, not/no which Christi, who/which serves to_God not/no because God, but for some reward; who/which guiltbilis it_is, and not/no it_is son, but nevertheless necessarius and tolerandus. Fur indeed/however always it_is cavendus. Præpositi indeed/however who/which children are, are and shepherds, and nevertheless one it_is pastor, because them everyone are members of_that whose are sheep propriæ. And lupus rapit. Lupus it_is or violentus who/which physically/bodily vastat, or the_devil who/which spiritually dissipat, to_whom who/which not/no souls sheep, but his_own seeks, not/no meets resistendo or evil arguendo, that it_is to_flee, because fear it_is flight of_the_soul: he_fled not destroy that he_loves, from_where/who returnns cause fugæ I_submit: Because mercenary it_is, and not/no loves sheep, but his_own: shepherds however not/no are_said to_flee when/but_if cedunt persecutioni, and servant himself sheep utilitati, to_whom also body absentes, are in_spirit presents.

UGNT ὁ μισθωτὸς καὶ οὐκ ὢν ποιμήν, οὗ οὐκ ἔστιν τὰ πρόβατα ἴδια, θεωρεῖ τὸν λύκον ἐρχόμενον, καὶ ἀφίησιν τὰ πρόβατα καὶ φεύγει, καὶ ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτὰ καὶ σκορπίζει,
(ho misthōtos kai ouk ōn poimaʸn, hou ouk estin ta probata idia, theōrei ton lukon erⱪomenon, kai afiaʸsin ta probata kai feugei, kai ho lukos harpazei auta kai skorpizei,)

SBL-GNT ὁ ⸀μισθωτὸς καὶ οὐκ ὢν ποιμήν, οὗ οὐκ ⸀ἔστιν τὰ πρόβατα ἴδια, θεωρεῖ τὸν λύκον ἐρχόμενον καὶ ἀφίησιν τὰ πρόβατα καὶ φεύγει— καὶ ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτὰ καὶ ⸀σκορπίζει—
(ho ⸀misthōtos kai ouk ōn poimaʸn, hou ouk ⸀estin ta probata idia, theōrei ton lukon erⱪomenon kai afiaʸsin ta probata kai feugei— kai ho lukos harpazei auta kai ⸀skorpizei—)

RP-GNT Ὁ μισθωτὸς δέ, καὶ οὐκ ὢν ποιμήν, οὗ οὐκ εἰσὶν τὰ πρόβατα ἴδια, θεωρεῖ τὸν λύκον ἐρχόμενον, καὶ ἀφίησιν τὰ πρόβατα, καὶ φεύγει· καὶ ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτά, καὶ σκορπίζει τὰ πρόβατα.
(Ho misthōtos de, kai ouk ōn poimaʸn, hou ouk eisin ta probata idia, theōrei ton lukon erⱪomenon, kai afiaʸsin ta probata, kai feugei; kai ho lukos harpazei auta, kai skorpizei ta probata.)

TC-GNT Ὁ [fn]μισθωτὸς δέ, καὶ οὐκ ὢν ποιμήν, οὗ οὐκ [fn]εἰσὶ τὰ πρόβατα ἴδια, θεωρεῖ τὸν λύκον ἐρχόμενον, καὶ ἀφίησι τὰ πρόβατα, καὶ φεύγει· καὶ ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτά, καὶ σκορπίζει [fn]τὰ πρόβατα.
(Ho misthōtos de, kai ouk ōn poimaʸn, hou ouk eisi ta probata idia, theōrei ton lukon erⱪomenon, kai afiaʸsi ta probata, kai feugei; kai ho lukos harpazei auta, kai skorpizei ta probata. )

10:12 μισθωτος δε ¦ μισθωτος NA SBL WH ¦ δε μισθωτος TH

10:12 εισι ¦ εστι CT

10:12 τα προβατα ¦ — CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–21: Jesus is the good shepherd

In this section Jesus talked about how he related to his people, his followers. He compared himself to the door of the sheep pen and to the shepherd. This comparison is something like a parable, but there is no actual story or narrative. It is more like a word picture, or a series of word pictures linked by the theme of sheep farming. It can also be described as an extended metaphor.

First Jesus compares himself to the door of the sheep pen because he is the way to salvation. Then he compares himself to the good shepherd because he leads and cares for his people as a shepherd does his sheep.

Here are other possible section headings:

Jesus is the shepherd of his people

Jesus told the parable/story of the good shepherd and his sheep

Jesus compared himself to a shepherd and the door/gate to a sheep pen

Paragraph 10:11–16

Jesus changed the metaphor in this paragraph. In this new metaphor, the shepherd represents Jesus, the sheep again represent believers, and the hired hand represents bad Jewish leaders. The contrast here is that Jesus cares well for the sheep while the bad leaders only think about themselves.

10:12a

The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own.

The hired man is not the shepherd and the sheep are not his own/property.
The man who is paid to take care of the sheep is not the true/real shepherd because the sheep do not belong to him.

The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own: These words contrast The hired hand and the shepherd. It is therefore important that the term you use for the shepherd can refer to a man who owns the sheep. In some languages it may be natural to emphasize the contrast by translating this as a separate sentence. For example:

The worker who is paid to keep the sheep is different from the shepherd who owns them. (NCV)

The hired hand: This phrase refers to a person who is employed to take care of the sheep. The owner of the sheep pays this person to look after the sheep. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

The hired man

The paid worker

The man who receives money/wages to care for the sheep

The phrase The hired hand is used as a metaphor for the false religious teachers. Here are some ways that they are similar:

They are mainly interested in their own financial gain.
They do not protect those they are responsible for.
They try to escape in times of danger.

It is good to continue to translate this extended metaphor literally. But consider how you can help your readers understand that Jesus used an illustration. He did not actually criticize paid farm workers. (Nor did he criticize all religious teachers who receive pay/wages.) The main point is that he is not concerned about the sheep, which is not like the shepherd.

is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own: The two phrases is not the shepherd and the sheep are not his own both describe the hired man. They are saying the same thing in two different ways. The shepherd was the one who owned the sheep, not the hired man. In some languages it may be natural to make this clear. For example:

who is not the shepherd who owns the sheep (NIV)

is different from the shepherd who owns them (NCV)

and the sheep are not his own: The sheep do not belong to the hired man. It is implied that this is why he does not care about their welfare very much. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

he is not the owner of the sheep

the sheep do not belong to him

10:12b

When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.

So then when he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away.
So when a wild dog comes, the paid/hired man escapes and abandons the sheep.

When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away: The subject of these actions is the hired man from 10:12a. The hired man is not willing to face danger for the benefit of the sheep. He does what is best for himself and runs away from the wolf, leaving the sheep in danger. In some languages it may be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

He sees a wolf coming and, leaving the sheep, he runs away.

When he sees a wolf coming, the hired worker abandons the sheep and runs off.

sees the wolf coming: This phrase indicates that the hired man sees a wolf, any wolf, coming toward the sheep pen. Jesus did not refer to a specific wolf. For example:

sees a wolf coming (NCV)

when they see a wolf coming (CEV)

wolf: A wolf is a wild dog that is a danger both to sheep and people. In some cultures wolves are unknown. If this is the case in your language area, it may be helpful to do one of the following:

Include a picture of a wolf and a footnote explaining that wolves were a threat to both sheep and people.
Use a phrase that describes a wolf. For example:
wild dog
fierce dog
Use a general word for a dangerous animal like a predator, which hunts other animals for food. For example:
predator
Substitute another dangerous animal. This should be an animal known both to your culture and to the culture of Jesus’ time. For example:
bear
lion

he abandons the sheep and runs away: The hired man runs away, leaving the sheep behind. He is only interested in earning money, not in protecting the sheep from danger. In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of the verbs abandons and runs away. For example:

and escapes, leaving the sheep in danger

he runs away from the wolf, abandoning the sheep

General Comment on 10:12 a-b

In some languages it is more natural to say first that the hired man does not defend the sheep and then say why. For example:

^12bA hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep ^12abecause they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. (NLT)

10:12c

Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

Then the wolf seizes the sheep and scatters them.
The wild dog attacks the flock and makes the sheep run away in all directions.

Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as the first Then here introduces the two results of what just happened. The wolf does two things to the flock (group of sheep). Here are other ways to translate these clauses:

and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep (NJB)

Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. (NIV)

the wolf pounces on them: This clause indicates the first result of the hired man running away. The wolf seizes or grabs some of the sheep in order to kill and eat them. For example:

he will now kill-and-eat (Tagbanwa Back Translation)

and scatters the flock: The conjunction and connects the two results of the hired man running away. The second result is that the wolf scatters the flock. That means that the sheep do not stay together but run away in different directions.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ὁ μισθωτὸς

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ μισθωτός καί οὐκ ὤν ποιμήν οὗ οὐκ ἐστίν τά πρόβατα ἰδία θεωρεῖ τόν λύκον ἐρχόμενον καί ἀφίησιν τά πρόβατα καί φεύγει καί ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτά καί σκορπίζει)

Jesus uses the phrase hired servant to refer to the Jewish leaders and teachers. If this might confuse your readers, you could use a simile or express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [each of your leaders is like a hired servant]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὁ μισθωτὸς

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [the man whom someone hired]

Note 3 topic: translate-unknown

τὸν λύκον & ὁ λύκος

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ μισθωτός καί οὐκ ὤν ποιμήν οὗ οὐκ ἐστίν τά πρόβατα ἰδία θεωρεῖ τόν λύκον ἐρχόμενον καί ἀφίησιν τά πρόβατα καί φεύγει καί ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτά καί σκορπίζει)

A wolf is a fierce wild dog that is known for attacking and devouring livestock. If your readers would not be familiar with this animal, you could use the name of a fierce predator or wild dog in your area that commonly eats farmers’ livestock, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [the fierce predator … that predator]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

τὰ πρόβατα & τὰ πρόβατα

See how you translated sheep in the [10:8](../10/08.md).

Note 5 topic: grammar-connect-time-sequential

ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτὰ καὶ σκορπίζει

the wolf ˓is˒_snatching (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ὁ μισθωτός καί οὐκ ὤν ποιμήν οὗ οὐκ ἐστίν τά πρόβατα ἰδία θεωρεῖ τόν λύκον ἐρχόμενον καί ἀφίησιν τά πρόβατα καί φεύγει καί ὁ λύκος ἁρπάζει αὐτά καί σκορπίζει)