# I was not sent to anyone except to the lost sheep ... Israel
This double negative emphasizes that the lost sheep are the only ones to whom Jesus was sent. Alternate translation: "I was sent only to the lost sheep ... Israel" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-doublenegatives]])
This is a metaphor comparing the entire nation of Israel to sheep who have gone away from their shepherd. See how you translated this in [Matthew 10:6](../10/06.md). (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])