sheep

“Sheep are known throughout most of the world, even though, as in Central Africa, they are a far cry from the fleecy wool-producing animals of colder climates. Where such animals are known, even by seemingly strange names, e.g. ‘cotton deer’ (Yucateco) or ‘woolly goat’ (Inupiaq), such names should be used. In some instances, one may wish to borrow a name and use a classifier, e.g. ‘an animal called sheep’. In still other instances translators have used ‘animal which produces wool’, for though people are not acquainted with the animals they are familiar with wool.” (Source: Bratcher / Nida)

In Dëne Súline, it is usually translated as “an evil little caribou.” To avoid the negative connotation, a loan word from the neighboring South Slavey was used. (Source: NCAM, p. 70)

Note that the often-alleged Inuktitut translation of “sheep” with “seal” is an urban myth (source Nida 1947, p. 136).

See also lamb.

complete verse (John 10:8)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 10:8:

  • Uma: “All people who came ahead-of me are thieves and robbers. But my sheep do not pay attention to their calling.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “The people who came before me, the ones that taught what is not true, they were like thieves and burglars. But the people who belong to me did not listen to them.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There are teachers who came before me here, but they are just like bandits and thieves. However my own sheep, which is to say, the people who are mine, they did not obey them.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “All who preceded me who told-and-told lies, they are thieves and bandits. But (reassurance particle) the sheep didn’t believe/obey.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Many have preceded me who were teachers who had no authority coming from God. They are like thieves and robbers because they snatch-away the believing/obeying of the people. But they weren’t taken seriously by those who are my like sheep.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “All who lived before me and who didn’t enter through the gate are sheep-thieves. But those sheep paid no attention when they were called.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 10:8

It is difficult to determine precisely who is referred to in all others who came before me. Evidently this expression was taken by some scribes as a reference to the Old Testament period, and so one ancient Greek manuscript and several other ancient sources omit the word all from the text. However, the evidence for the omission of this word is very weak. It is readily seen why a scribe would delete it from the text, but it is difficult to see any possible reason for adding it, if it was not there originally. On the other hand, the words before me are problematic, and the UBS Greek text places them in brackets to indicate their uncertainty. It may be that these words were added in an attempt to explain the meaning of the verb came, or it may be that they were omitted to help resolve the difficulty mentioned in connection with the word all. Even though the inclusion of before me remains problematic, most modern translations include this phrase.

In spite of the textual difficulties, there is no real problem in the interpretation of the text as it stands, provided one takes the reference to thieves and robbers to be the same here as in verse 1. It is not, of course, a blanket reference to all leaders of the Old Testament period. It would include any leaders, including prophets, priests, or kings, who had taken advantage of the people God had placed in their care; it would also include the false Messianic pretenders, as well as the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ own day. Thieves and robbers are the same words used in verse 1.

All others who came before me may be rendered in some languages “All others who have come in the past.” It may, however, be necessary to indicate clearly just who “all others” are, for example, “All others who have come pretending to take care of the sheep.” It is also possible to make this meaning clear by means of a marginal note.

The Greek verb “to hear” covers a broad area of meaning. Good News Translation takes it here to mean did … listen to. Revised Standard Version translates “did … heed”; New English Bible “paid … heed to”; Jerusalem Bible “took … notice of”; and Moffatt “would … listen to.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .