John 10:6 (ASV)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

John 10:4 When he hath put forth all his own, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

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

John 10:8 All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "parable", "spake", "jesus", "understood", and "things". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "parable" and "spake", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "And a stranger will they not follow..." into verse 7's "Jesus therefore said unto them again Verily...", so "parable" and "spake" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "parable" and "spake" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.