King James Bible
"And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers."
Jesus continues his shepherd metaphor, asserting that true sheep instinctively refuse to follow unfamiliar voices. In the ancient Near East, sheep developed such intimate recognition of their shepherd that they would ignore or resist any impostor attempting to lead them. The sheep's response intensifies from mere non-compliance to active flight, emphasizing their protective instinct against false leadership. This reflects how genuine believers naturally recoil from teachings that contradict Christ's truth. The foundation of their rejection lies in unfamiliarity—they cannot recognize what they have never learned. This highlights the importance of spiritual discernment developed through consistent relationship with the true Shepherd.