John 10:31

KJV

Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G3767} the Jews {G2453} took up {G941} stones {G3037} again {G3825} to {G2443} stone {G3034} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Once again the Judeans picked up rocks in order to stone him.

Berean Standard Bible

At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him.

American Standard Version

The Jews took up stones again to stone him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
The immediate, violent reaction of "the Jews" to Jesus's profound declaration of unity with the Father, "I and my Father are one" ([John 10:30](/john/10-30 "Jesus's Unity with the Father")). Interpreting His words as blasphemy—a capital offense under Mosaic Law—they once again took up stones, intending to execute Him on the spot. This incident underscores the escalating hostility towards Jesus, driven by His uncompromising claims to divine authority and identity, which His audience clearly understood as a direct assertion of equality with God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a direct response to Jesus's astonishing declaration in [John 10:30](/john/10-30 "Jesus's Unity with the Father"), "I and my Father are one." This statement culminates a discourse that began with Jesus describing Himself as the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep and grants them eternal life, ensuring their security in His and the Father's hand ([John 10:27-29](/john/10-27-29 "The Security of Jesus's Sheep")). The Jewish leaders, who had been questioning His identity and authority, immediately grasped the theological weight of His claim to oneness with God, perceiving it as a direct challenge to monotheism and an act of blasphemy. The word "again" in [John 10:31](/john/10-31 "The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus") links this event to a previous attempt to stone Jesus in [John 8:59](/john/8-59 "Earlier Attempt to Stone Jesus"), following another claim to pre-existence and divine identity ("Before Abraham was, I am"). This pattern reveals a consistent and escalating opposition to Jesus's divine self-revelation.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Stoning was a prescribed method of capital punishment under Mosaic Law for offenses deemed to be direct affronts to God, such as blasphemy, idolatry, and breaking the Sabbath ([Leviticus 24:16](/leviticus/24-16 "Law on Blasphemy"); [Deuteronomy 13:6-10](/deuteronomy/13-6-10 "Punishment for Idolatry"); [Numbers 15:32-36](/numbers/15-32-36 "Punishment for Sabbath Breaking")). While the Jewish Sanhedrin, under Roman occupation, generally lacked the authority to carry out capital punishment without Roman approval (as seen later in Jesus's trial), mob action or spontaneous stoning in response to perceived egregious blasphemy was not unheard of. The act of taking up stones immediately signifies their conviction that Jesus had committed a capital offense worthy of instant retribution, bypassing any formal legal process. This reflects the intense religious fervor and the profound offense they felt at His claims, viewing them as an ultimate sacrilege against the God of Israel.

* **Key Themes:** [John 10:31](/john/10-31 "The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus") powerfully highlights several key themes central to the Gospel of John. Firstly, it underscores **Jesus's Divine Claims**, specifically His assertion of unity and equality with God the Father, which is the primary catalyst for the violent reaction. His declaration, "I and my Father are one" ([John 10:30](/john/10-30 "Jesus's Unity with the Father")), is understood by His audience not as mere agreement in purpose but as shared essence and authority, a claim they rightly interpreted as making Himself God. Secondly, the immediate accusation of **Blasphemy** and the attempt to stone Him reveal the profound theological chasm between Jesus and His opponents. This incident exemplifies the **Escalating Opposition** Jesus faced throughout His ministry, where His teachings and miracles, particularly His claims of deity, consistently provoked extreme hostility from religious authorities, ultimately leading to His crucifixion. Finally, the scene illustrates the **Nature of Belief and Unbelief**, showcasing the radical division Jesus's identity created: some believed in Him, while others were so vehemently opposed that they sought His death, highlighting the profound choice demanded by His person.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **oûn (Greek, _oûn'_):** This word, translated as "Then," serves as a connective, indicating a logical consequence or a direct response. In this context, it emphasizes the immediate and direct reaction of "the Jews" to Jesus's preceding statement, highlighting that their action of taking up stones was a direct and immediate consequence of His claim to be one with the Father. It signifies a decisive shift in the narrative, moving from declaration to confrontation.
* **pálin (Greek, _pálin'_):** Translated as "again," this adverb denotes repetition. Its inclusion is crucial as it signifies that this was not the first time such an attempt was made on Jesus's life due to His claims of divinity. It underscores the persistent and recurring nature of the hostility and murderous intent from those who opposed Him, indicating a pattern of rejection and violent reaction whenever Jesus asserted His divine identity.
* **litházō (Greek, _litházō'_):** Derived from `líthos` (stone), this verb means "to lapidate" or "to stone." It describes the specific act of execution by pelting with stones, a form of capital punishment under Jewish law, particularly for blasphemy. The use of this word explicitly states their intent: not merely to threaten, but to carry out a summary execution based on their interpretation of Jesus's words as a capital offense.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the Jews":** This phrase identifies the primary actors in this scene. In John's Gospel, "the Jews" often refers specifically to the religious authorities in Jerusalem—the Pharisees, Sadducees, and other leaders—who consistently opposed Jesus, rather than the entire Jewish populace. Their immediate action underscores their role as the arbiters of religious law and their conviction that Jesus had violated it.
* **"took up stones again":** This describes the physical action taken by Jesus's opponents. "Took up" (from `bastázō`) implies a deliberate and forceful act of gathering the implements for execution. The crucial addition of "again" indicates a prior instance of such an attempt, emphasizing the recurring and escalating nature of their hostility towards Jesus, particularly in response to His divine claims.
* **"to stone him":** This final clause explicitly states the purpose and intent behind their action. Stoning was the prescribed punishment for blasphemy under the Mosaic Law. Their immediate resort to this form of execution reveals their interpretation of Jesus's declaration ("I and my Father are one") as the gravest possible offense against God, warranting instant capital punishment without a formal trial.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is present, as the religious leaders, claiming to uphold God's law by punishing perceived blasphemy, are themselves acting outside the proper legal process, engaging in a mob attempt at summary execution. Their zeal for the law blinds them to the true identity of the one standing before them. **Symbolism** is also at play, as the stones themselves symbolize judgment and condemnation, reflecting the hardened hearts and spiritual blindness of those who pick them up. Furthermore, the repeated attempt to stone Jesus, highlighted by "again," serves as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the ultimate rejection and violent death Jesus would face, albeit by a different method, at the hands of these same authorities. The scene also carries a profound sense of **Dramatic Tension**, as the immediate shift from Jesus's calm, authoritative declaration to the crowd's sudden, violent reaction creates a palpable sense of danger and conflict.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[John 10:31](/john/10-31 "The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus") serves as a pivotal moment, starkly illustrating the profound theological divide between Jesus and the religious establishment of His day. Their attempt to stone Him confirms that they fully understood the divine implications of His claim to be "one" with the Father, recognizing it as an assertion of co-equality and co-essence with God. This rejection of Jesus's divine identity is a recurring theme in John's Gospel and throughout the New Testament, highlighting humanity's persistent struggle to acknowledge God's self-revelation, especially when it challenges preconceived notions or established religious structures. The scene underscores the radical nature of Jesus's person and the uncompromising truth of His deity, which demands a definitive response of either worship or rejection.

* [John 5:18](/john/5-18 "Making Himself Equal with God")
* [John 19:7](/john/19-7 "Blasphemy Charge at Trial")
* [Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Jerusalem's Rejection")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[John 10:31](/john/10-31 "The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus") is a powerful reminder that the claims of Jesus Christ are not merely historical curiosities but profound truths that demand a personal response. The violent reaction of "the Jews" demonstrates the polarizing nature of Jesus's identity: He is either the Son of God, truly divine, or a blasphemer worthy of death. There is no neutral ground. For us today, this verse challenges us to examine the depth of our own belief in Jesus's divinity. Do we truly grasp the implications of His oneness with the Father for our lives, our worship, and our understanding of God? Furthermore, it teaches us about the cost of truth; standing for profound, divine truth often incurs opposition and even hostility from a world that may find it offensive or inconvenient. It calls us to courage in our convictions, knowing that following Christ may lead to rejection, just as it did for Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my understanding of Jesus's divine identity impact my daily life and faith?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to "stone" or reject aspects of Christ's truth that challenge my comfort or worldview?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the nature of opposition to the Gospel, and how should I respond to it?**
* **How can I better articulate and live out the radical claims of Jesus in a world that often rejects them?**

### FAQ

**Why did "the Jews" want to stone Jesus?**

Answer: "The Jews" (referring to the religious authorities in Jerusalem) wanted to stone Jesus because they interpreted His declaration, "I and my Father are one" ([John 10:30](/john/10-30 "Jesus's Unity with the Father")), as an act of blasphemy. Under Mosaic Law, blasphemy—claiming to be God or equating oneself with God—was a capital offense punishable by stoning ([Leviticus 24:16](/leviticus/24-16 "Law on Blasphemy")). They understood Jesus's statement as a direct assertion of His divine nature and equality with God, which they considered an unforgivable offense against the one true God.

**What is the significance of the word "again" in this verse?**

Answer: The word "again" (`pálin` in Greek) is highly significant because it indicates that this was not the first time Jesus's opponents had attempted to stone Him for His divine claims. It points back to a previous incident recorded in [John 8:59](/john/8-59 "Earlier Attempt to Stone Jesus"), where, after Jesus declared, "Before Abraham was, I am," they also picked up stones to throw at Him. The repetition highlights the persistent, escalating, and murderous hostility from these religious leaders towards Jesus, particularly in response to His claims of deity, underscoring a pattern of rejection that ultimately led to His crucifixion.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The scene in [John 10:31](/john/10-31 "The Jews Attempt to Stone Jesus"), where Jesus faces an attempt at stoning for His divine claims, profoundly foreshadows His ultimate rejection and suffering, which culminates in His crucifixion. Though He escapes this immediate threat, the stone-wielding crowd represents the broader rejection of God's chosen Messiah by His own people, a theme echoed throughout the Old Testament concerning the suffering servant ([Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "The Suffering Servant")) and the rejected cornerstone ([Psalm 118:22](/psalm/118-22 "The Stone the Builders Rejected")). Jesus, the very Word made flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "The Word Became Flesh")), came to His own, yet His own did not receive Him ([John 1:11](/john/1-11 "He Came to His Own")). This rejection, however, was not a defeat but a divinely ordained path to salvation. The stone rejected by the builders became the cornerstone ([Acts 4:11](/acts/4-11 "Jesus, the Rejected Cornerstone")), and through His suffering and death, Jesus, the Lamb of God, took away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His willingness to face such hostility, even unto death, demonstrates the depth of His love and His unwavering commitment to fulfilling the Father's will, ultimately securing eternal life for all who believe in Him ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God So Loved the World")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 8:59

Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 5:18

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

John 11:8

[His] disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

1 Samuel 30:6

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Exodus 17:4

And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

Matthew 23:35

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Matthew 21:35

And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.