“All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
King James Version (KJV)
10:8 Whosoever are come - Independently of me, assuming any part of my character, pretending, like your elders and rabbis, to a power over the consciences of men, attempting to make laws in the Church, and to teach their own traditions as the way of salvation: all those prophets and expounders of God's word, that enter not by the door of the sheepfold, but run before I have sent them by my Spirit. 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.
Joh 10:8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers. Abbott holds that the idea is "All who came, not entering through the door, but claiming to be before me, having the precedence, independent of me, are thieves and robbers". This seems to harmonize with the context, and is probably the Savior's meaning. He included the Jewish rabbis, the Greek philosophers, the pretended prophets, and the "Infallible Pope". These all refuse to bow to his authority. But the sheep did not hear them. The true sheep.
All that euer came before me, are theeues and robbers: but the sheepe did not heare them.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
"All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
All that came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
- American Standard Version (1901)
All who came before me are thieves and outlaws: but the sheep did not give ear to them.
- Basic English Bible
All whoever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.
- Darby Bible
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
- Webster's Bible
All who have come before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep would not listen to them.
- Weymouth Bible
All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
- World English Bible
As many as han come, weren nyyt theues and day theues, but the scheep herden not hem.
- Wycliffe Bible
all, as many as came before me, are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them;
- Youngs Literal Bible