John 10:34

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Complete Jewish Bible:

Yeshua answered them, “Isn’t it written in your Torah, ‘I have said, “You people are Elohim’ ”?

Berean Standard Bible:

Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?

American Standard Version:

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Jesus{G2424} answered{G611} them{G846}, Is it{G2076} not{G3756} written{G1125} in{G1722} your{G5216} law{G3551}, I{G1473} said{G2036}, Ye are{G2075} gods{G2316}?

Cross-References (KJV):

Psalms 82:6

  • ¶ I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] children of the most High.

Psalms 82:7

  • But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.

Exodus 7:1

  • ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

Psalms 82:1

  • ¶ A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

Exodus 4:16

  • And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, [even] he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Psalms 138:1

  • ¶ [A Psalm] of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

Exodus 22:28

  • Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


Commentary for John 10:34

John 10:34 is part of a larger discourse where Jesus is addressing the Jewish leaders who are accusing him of blasphemy because he claimed to be the Son of God. In the historical context, the Jewish leaders are referencing the Mosaic Law, specifically the commandment against bearing false witness, to challenge Jesus' authority and identity.

In this verse, Jesus responds by quoting Psalm 82:6, which in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible used during Jesus' time) refers to rulers and judges as "gods" due to their delegated authority to judge justly among the people. Jesus' use of this passage is a defense against the charge of blasphemy; he is emphasizing that if the Jewish scriptures can refer to human judges as "gods" because of their divine appointment to administer justice, then it is not blasphemous for him to refer to himself as the Son of God, given his unique relationship with the Father and his divine mission.

The themes present in this verse include the nature of Jesus' identity and his divine authority, the correct interpretation of scripture, and the relationship between God and humanity. Jesus is highlighting the misinterpretation of the law by his accusers and is asserting his divine sonship. He is also drawing attention to the concept that those who are given authority by God have a responsibility to act in a godly manner, reflecting the character and justice of God. This verse is a key example of Jesus' rabbinic method of teaching, using scripture to challenge and instruct his listeners, and it underscores the tension between Jesus and the religious establishment of his time.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: G2424
    There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
    Transliteration: Iēsoûs
    Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
    Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.
  2. Strong's Number: G611
    There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
    Transliteration: apokrínomai
    Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
    Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer.
  3. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
  4. Strong's Number: G2076
    There are 812 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐστί
    Transliteration: estí
    Pronunciation: es-tee'
    Description: third person singular present indicative of εἰμί; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are:--are, be(-long), call, X can(-not), come, consisteth, X dure for a while, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.
  5. Strong's Number: G3756
    There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐ
    Transliteration: ou
    Pronunciation: ookh
    Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
  6. Strong's Number: G1125
    There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: γράφω
    Transliteration: gráphō
    Pronunciation: graf'-o
    Description: a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:--describe, write(-ing, -ten).
  7. Strong's Number: G1722
    There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐν
    Transliteration: en
    Pronunciation: en
    Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
  8. Strong's Number: G5216
    There are 503 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὑμῶν
    Transliteration: hymōn
    Pronunciation: hoo-mone'
    Description: genitive case of ὑμεῖς; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).
  9. Strong's Number: G3551
    There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: νόμος
    Transliteration: nómos
    Pronunciation: nom'-os
    Description: from a primary (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle):--law.
  10. Strong's Number: G1473
    There are 334 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐγώ
    Transliteration: egṓ
    Pronunciation: eg-o'
    Description: a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic):--I, me. For the other cases and the plural see ἐμέ, ἐμοί, ἐμοῦ, ἡμᾶς, ἡμεῖς, ἡμῖν, ἡμῶν, etc.
  11. Strong's Number: G2036
    There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔπω
    Transliteration: épō
    Pronunciation: ep'-o
    Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
  12. Strong's Number: G2075
    There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐστέ
    Transliteration: esté
    Pronunciation: es-teh'
    Description: second person plural present indicative of εἰμί; ye are:--be, have been, belong.
  13. Strong's Number: G2316
    There are 1172 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: θεός
    Transliteration: theós
    Pronunciation: theh'-os
    Description: of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with ὁ) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:--X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward).