John 10:6
This proverb Jesus spoke to them. But they understood not what he spoke to them.
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The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Hoc proverbium dixit eis Jesus : illi autem non cognoverunt quid loqueretur eis.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- ταύτην τὴν παροιμίαν εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ἐκεῖνοι δὲ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν τίνα ἦν ἃ ἐλάλει αὐτοῖς.
The Fathers on this verse
St Augustine Catena Aurea
Our Lord feeds by plain words, exercises by obscure. For when two persons, one godly, the other ungodly, hear the words of the Gospel, and they happen to be such that neither can understand them; one says, What He said is true and good, but we do not understand it: the other says, It is not worth attending to. The former, in faith, knocks, yes, and, if he continue to knock, it shall be opened to him. The latter shall hear the words in Isaiah, If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.
St Augustine Expositions on the Book of Psalms, Psalm CXV
10. For the great ones, of the house of Aaron, have said, “May the Lord increase you more and more, you and your children” ( ver. 14 ). And thus it hath happened. For children that have been raised even from the stones have flocked unto Abraham: sheep which were not of this fold, have flocked unto him, that there might be one flock, and one shepherd; the faith of all nations was added, and the number grew, not only of wise priests, but of obedient peoples; the Lord increasing not only their fathers more and more, who in Christ might show the way to the rest who should imitate them, but also their children, who should follow their fathers’ pious footsteps.
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John, John 9.34-36
Ver. 6 . “This parable spake Jesus unto them, but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them.” And wherefore spake He obscurely? Because He would make them more attentive; when He had effected this, He removes the obscurity, saying,