All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
all, as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them;
All whoever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
John — The Gospel of sevens and signs. Seven signs, seven 'I AM' sayings, a prologue and an epilogue — written 'that ye might believe' (20:31).
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The verses this one reaches12
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.
Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.
Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.
For behold, I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will neither care for the lost, nor seek the young, nor heal the broken, nor sustain the healthy, but he will devour the flesh of the choice sheep and tear off their hooves.
But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”
This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter,
2 more linked verses are grouped by book below ↓
Every other verse the study tradition links to this one, in the Bible’s own order. The first links in each book carry a line of their text; every reference opens its full verse page.
Zephaniah1
Cross-references are drawn from classic Bible study tools and open, shareable Bible data.
Voices4
Practising all kinds of enchantment upon the obstinate mind of the Pharisees, and trying to turn them to sound reason, He attempts to show them that it is a bootless and perilous thing to dare to act as leaders, without the election from above or the Divine counsel, but thinking that rule may be obtained by human folly, although the Bestower of it may be unwilling.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 6, 444patristic
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers,....
John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed
All that ever came before me - Or, as some translate, all that came instead of me, προ εμου, i.e. all that came as the Christ, or Messiah, such as Theudas, and Judas the Gaulonite, who are mentioned, Act 5:36, Act 5:37; and who were indeed no other than thieves, plundering the country wherever they came; and murderers, not only slaying the simple people who resisted them, but leading the multitudes of their followers to the slaughter.
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832evangelical
Our Lord seems in particular to speak of those that had undertaken this office since he began his ministry, are thieves -Stealing temporal profit to themselves, and robbers - Plundering and murdering the sheep.
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament, 1755evangelical
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first — the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
John 10:27My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.
leads to
I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,
But the one who loves God is known by God.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
Through
Jeremiah 23:1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.
leads to
For the shepherds have become senseless; they do not seek the LORD. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flock is scattered.
Through
Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the…
leads to
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.
Through
John 10:1“Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber.
leads to
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
The whole web at once: see the Arc.
