John 10:6

παροιμίαν. Allegory or similitude. The Synoptists never use παροιμία; S. John never uses παραβολή; and this should be preserved in translation. A.V. renders both words sometimes ‘parable’ and sometimes ‘proverb.’ In LXX. both are used to represent the Hebrew mashal; in the title to the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 1:1; Proverbs 25:1, παροιμίαι; elsewhere almost always παραβολή. The two words appear together in Sir 39:3; Sir 47:17. In A.V. we have ‘parable’ and ‘proverb’ indifferently for mashal. In N.T. παροιμία occurs only here, John 16:25; John 16:29, and 2 Peter 2:22. It means something beside the way (οἷμος); hence, according to some, a trite ‘way-side saying;’ according to others, a figurative ‘out-of-the-way saying.’ For παραβολή see on Mark 4:2.

ἐκεῖνοι. The pronoun (John 7:45) separates them from the Teacher.

οὐκ ἔγνωσαν. Did not recognise the meaning. The idea that they were strangers, or even robbers, instead of shepherds to the sheep did not come home to them at all.