John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter

Spoken to
audience

Jesus says that he is the door of the sheep and that all those before him were thieves.

KJV

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

NIV

John 10:9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.

LISTENERS HEARD

I am the gateway. Through me, if anything might enter, it will be rescued and enter and exit and find forage.

MY TAKE

We cannot find food if we are locked behind the gate after we enter. we must go in and out.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

As in the previous verse, John 10:8, the wordplay here depends on a preposition having two meanings.  Here the preposition phrase is translated both as "by me"/"through me." This is because the preposition means "through" when referring to movement and "by" when referring to a means of doing something. This relates directly to the double meaning of the previous preposition which means  "in order to avoid me."

The same Greek verb meaning "enter" is translated as "enter in," "go in," "enter," and "come in," two different ways in each translation. The word translated as "out" and "go out" is the same root word, the word usually translated as "come" in the Bible, with prefixes that mean "in" and "out."

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
6
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The word translated as "if" has more of a probability of "if" alone, more like our "when."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "man" doesn't exist in the source.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "in" is redundant with "enter."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "go" is the same word translated as "enter" above.
  • CW - Confusing Word - The "out" is just the prefix of the verb.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
4
  • MW -- Missing Word  -- The pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "when" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "they" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "come" is the same word translated as "enter" above.
EACH WORD of KJV

I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

am -- The verb "am" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.

the  -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

door: -- The word translated as "the door" means "door," "valve," "gate," "window shutter," "a frame of planks," [in war}"fence or similar obstruction," "entrance" and, metaphorically, "entrance to the soul." This term for "door," is used by Jesus only here in the synoptic Gospels, but which is used in John more frequently by Jesus referring to himself as "the door" to salvation.

by -  The preposition translated as "by" means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." It indicates movement through a place or time, but it also means "by" the sense of "by means of" a given method.

me -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means movement away from something or a position away from something else.

if -- (CW) The Greek word meaning "when" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if.

any -- The Greek word translated as "any" in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

man -- (IW) There is  nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "man" in the Greek source. The pronoun above is eiher masculine or feminine.

enter  -- "Enter" is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."

in,  - (IW) This is from the prefix of the verb, but it is a bint redundant since "enter"means "go in."

he -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

saved, -- "Saved" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

shall -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

go -- (CW) "Go" is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind." However, it was just translated as "enter" above, so translating it differently here makes it look like a different word.

in - This is from the prefix of the verb.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

out, -- (CW) The word translated as "out" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true." It is best translated as "exit." The "out" is from the prefix.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

find -- The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic," meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover."

pasture. - The noun translated as "pasture" doesn't mean that exactly. It means the food from the pasture like "forage" and the process of eating it like "foraging." Its metaphorical meaning is to "spread out." This refers to how a herd of animals spreads out when they are eating as opposed to how they bunch together when moving or defending themselves. Jesus onlu uses this word three times.

EACH WORD of NIV

I -- The pronoun "I" is used here. Since, as the subject of the sentence, it is part of the verb, its explicit use accentuates who is speaking "I." Saying "I myself" captures this feeling in English.

missing "myself" -- (MW)  The subjective pronoun repeats the information in the verb so it should be repeated in English like "I myself."

am -- The verb "am" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics.

the  -- The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, without a noun, it has the sense of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those") than the English "the." See this article for more. 

gate: -- The word translated as "gate" means "door," "valve," "gate," "window shutter," "a frame of planks," [in war}"fence or similar obstruction," "entrance" and, metaphorically, "entrance to the soul." This term for "door," is used by Jesus only here in the synoptic Gospels, but which is used in John more frequently by Jesus referring to himself as "the door" to salvation.

missing "when "  -- (MW) The untranslated word means "if might" indicates more of an expectation of something happening than "if" alone. This is how we use the word "when." This is not the simple "if.

whoever -- The Greek word translated as "whoever " in the singular means "anyone," "someone,"  "something," and "anything." In the plural, it means "some," "they," and "those." Jesus often uses it to start a question so it means "who," "what," or even "why."

enters  -- "Enters" is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."

through -  The preposition translated as "through " means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." It indicates movement through a place or time, but it also means "by" the sense of "by means of" a given method.

me -- "Me" is the first-person possessive singular pronoun. This pronoun follows the noun so "of mine."  As a genitive object of a preposition, as here, it means movement away from something or a position away from something else.

will -- This helping verb "will " indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

saved, -- "Saved" is the Greek word that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases.

missing "and"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

They -- (WN) This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb not the plural.

will -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

come -- (CW) "Come " is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind." However, it was just translated as "enter" above, so translating it differently here makes it look like a different word.

in - This is from the prefix of the verb.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

go out, --  The word translated as "go out" means literally "to go or come out," but it has a secondary meaning of "making something come true." It is best translated as "exit." The "out" is from the prefix.

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and," but it also is used to add emphasis ("also"). In a series, it is can be translated as "not only...but also." After words implying sameness "as."

find -- The term used for "find" is the source of our word, "heuristic," meaning enabling a person to find out something for themselves. It means "find out" and "discover."

pasture. - The noun translated as "pasture" doesn't mean that exactly. It means the food from the pasture like "forage" and the process of eating it like "foraging." Its metaphorical meaning is to "spread out." This refers to how a herd of animals spreads out when they are eating as opposed to how they bunch together when moving or defending themselves. Jesus onlu uses this word three times.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

ἐγώ[162 verses](pron 1st sg masc nom) "I" is ego, which is the first-person singular pronoun meaning "I." It also means "I at least," "for my part," "indeed," and for myself.

εἰμι .[614 verses](1st sg pres ind act) "Am" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.

[821 verses](article sg fem nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"). 

θύρα: [9 verses](noun sg fem nom "Door" is from thyrawhich means "door," "valve," "gate," "window shutter," "a frame of planks," [in war}"fence or similar obstruction," "entrance" and, metaphorically, "entrance to the soul."

δι᾽   [88 verses](prep) "By" is dia, which means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," "in a line (movement)," "throughout (time)," "by (causal)," "for (causal)," "among," and "between." With the accusative, it can also be "thanks to," "because of,"  "by reasons of," and "for the sake of." -

ἐμοῦ [239 verses](adj sg masc gen) "Me" is from mou (emou), which means "me," and "mine." As a genitive object means movement away from something or a position away from something else.

ὰν [162 verses](conj) "If" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. This is how we use the word "when."

τις [252 verses](pron sg masc/fem nom) "What" is tis, which can mean "someone," "something," "any one," "everyone," "they [indefinite]," "many a one," "whoever," "anyone," "anything," "some sort," "some sort of," "each," "any," "the individual," "such," and so on. In a question, it can mean "who," "why," or "what." It has specific meanings with certain prepositions, \διὰ τί; for what reason? ἐκ τίνος; from what cause? ἐς τί; to what point?  to what end?

εἰσέλθῃ [68 verses](3rd sg aor subj act) "Enter in" is eiserchomai which means both "to go into," "to come in," "to enter," "to enter an office," "to enter a charge," (as in court) and "to come into one's mind."

σωθήσεται [25 verse](3rd sg fut ind pass) "He shall be saved" is sozo (soizo), which means "save from death," "keep alive," "keep safe," "preserve," "maintain," "keep in mind," "carry off safely," and "rescue."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

εἰσελεύσεται [68 verses] (3rd sg fut ind mid) "He shall go in" is eiserchomai which means both "to go into," "to come in," "to enter," "to enter an office," "to enter a charge," (as in court) and "to come into one's mind." -- "Ye shall enter" is a word that means "go or come into" and has the double meaning of "coming into one's mind."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

ἐξελεύσεται [54 verses] (3rd sg fut ind mid) "Out" is exerchomai, which means "to come or go out of " "to march forth," "go out on," "to stand forth," "to exceed all bounds," "to come to an end," "to go out of office," and [of dreams or prophecies] "to come true."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "also." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even," "also," and "just."

νομὴν   [3 verses] (noun sg fem acc) "Pasture" is from nome, which means "pasturage", "food from pasture", "feeding", "grazing," [metaphor] "spreading", "division", "distribution," and "paying out."

εὑρήσει. [43 verses](3rd sg fut ind act) "Find" is heurisko, which means "to find," "to find out," "to discover," "to devise," "to invent," "to get," and "to gain."

Wordplay

The double meaning of the word translated as "through" and "by."

Possible Symbolic Meaning
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