John 10:4 (KJV)

Passage

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Nearby Context

John 10:2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, 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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "sheep", "putteth", "forth", "goeth", "before", "follow", and "voice". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "sheep" and "putteth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "To him the porter openeth and the..." into verse 5's "And a stranger will they not follow...", so "sheep" and "putteth" 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 "sheep" and "putteth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.