John 10:20 kjv
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?
John 10:20 nkjv
And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?"
John 10:20 niv
Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"
John 10:20 esv
Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?"
John 10:20 nlt
Some said, "He's demon possessed and out of his mind. Why listen to a man like that?"
John 10 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 8:48 | "Indeed, we are right in saying that you have a demon!" | Accusations similar to those made earlier. |
| John 8:52 | "Now we know that you have a demon." | Another instance of similar accusations. |
| Isaiah 49:26 | "I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh..." | Prophetic word about enemies being judged. |
| Acts 26:24 | "Festus said in a loud voice, 'Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.'" | Similar accusations of madness against Paul. |
| 1 Corinthians 2:14 | "The natural person does not accept what belongs to the Spirit of God, for it is folly to him..." | Spiritual understanding vs. natural understanding. |
| John 10:33 | "The Jews answered him, 'It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, make yourself God.'" | The underlying accusation against Jesus. |
| Mark 3:22 | "And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, 'He is possessed by Beelzebul; and by the prince of demons he casts out demons.'" | Parallel account of the same accusation. |
| Matthew 12:24 | "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, 'This man casts out demons by Beelzebul the ruler of demons.'" | Another parallel account of the accusation. |
| John 10:24 | "So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.'" | The context of ongoing questioning and doubt. |
| John 10:21 | "Others said, 'This is not the talk of a demon-possessed person. Does a demon open the eyes of the blind?'" | The immediate rhetorical question challenging the accusation. |
| Psalm 50:16 | "But to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to recite my statutes or bear my covenant on your lips?'" | God's judgment on those who falsely claim divine connection. |
| Isaiah 14:12 | "How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of morning!..." | Often interpreted as referring to Satan's fall. |
| Jeremiah 17:9 | "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?" | The condition of the human heart and its inability to discern truth. |
| Ephesians 2:2 | "...according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—" | Identifying the spirit influencing disobedience. |
| Romans 8:5 | "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh..." | Contrast between fleshly and spiritual mindsets. |
| 2 Corinthians 4:4 | "...the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ..." | Spiritual blindness by the "god of this age". |
| 1 Peter 5:8 | "Be sober-minded; watch. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." | The deceptive nature of the adversary. |
| Jude 1:9 | "Yet Michael the archangel, when disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'" | Acknowledging the Lord's authority over the devil. |
| John 12:31 | "Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out." | Jesus' declaration of spiritual warfare victory. |
| John 14:30 | "I will not say much more to you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me..." | Jesus' affirmation of his authority over the devil. |
John 10 verses
John 10 20 Meaning
Jesus is confronting the false claims and accusations of the Jewish leaders who attacked him for casting out a demon. They attributed his power to Beelzebul, accusing him of being demon-possessed. This verse directly addresses their perception, stating that Jesus is not a demon-possessed man but has a spiritual reality that these accusations cannot comprehend. The implication is that the people are unable to discern the truth about Jesus due to their spiritual blindness or adherence to corrupt leadership.
John 10 20 Context
In John chapter 10, Jesus has been speaking about Himself as the Good Shepherd, contrasting His genuine care for the sheep with the self-serving nature of hirelings. He declares His unity with the Father and His power to give eternal life. Following this discourse, the Jewish leaders demand a direct answer, asking if He is the Christ. Jesus responds by pointing to His works as evidence, but they remain unconvinced. Instead, they accuse Him of being demon-possessed, suggesting that His power to perform miracles comes from demonic influence. Verse 20, and its immediate predecessor (verse 19 which states, "This division occurred among the Jews because of these words."), capture the resulting confusion and accusation from the crowd. Some among them acknowledge the inexplicable nature of His miracles, particularly His ability to open the eyes of the blind, while others, influenced by their leaders' interpretation, persist in their accusations. This sets the stage for Jesus' definitive statements about His relationship with the Father and His sheep.
John 10 20 Word Analysis
- Διαλογισμὸς (dialogismos): Meaning "dispute," "discussion," or "debate." It highlights the contentious and divided state among the people due to Jesus' words.
- Ἐγένετο (egeneto): "It came to pass" or "it happened." Introduces the occurrence of the division.
- Εν (en): "In" or "among." Denotes the sphere in which the division existed.
- Οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι (hoi Ioudaioi): "The Jews." Refers to the specific group of people engaged in the dispute, primarily those opposing Jesus.
- Διχασμὸς (dichasmos): "A division" or "a split." Describes the outcome of the discourse, a profound disagreement.
- Διὰ (dia): "Because of" or "on account of." Indicates the cause of the division.
- Τοὺς λόγους (tous logous): "The words" or "the sayings." Refers to Jesus' pronouncements that created the disagreement.
- Τοὺς δὲ (tous de): "But" or "and." A conjunction used to transition to the contrasting opinions.
- Ἐκείνους (ekeinous): "Those." Refers to a specific segment of the Jews who spoke.
- Λέγειν (legein): "To say" or "to speak."
- Οὐκ ἔχουσιν (ouk echousin): "They do not have."
- Δαιμόνιον (daimonion): "A demon." Refers to an evil spirit.
- Τί (ti): "What." Used to ask for the reason or nature of something.
- Οὐχί (ouchi): "Not." Emphatic negative.
- Ἀποδίδωσιν (apodidōsin): "Give back" or "render." The argument is that a demon wouldn't act in a way that gives glory or help.
- The verse also implies a polemic against contemporary Jewish beliefs: By accusing Jesus of casting out demons by demonic power, they were either twisting the understanding of spiritual powers or holding a belief that all such extraordinary feats outside their sanctioned religious system must be of demonic origin. This contrasts with the spiritual understanding of Jesus' miracles as a sign of His divine power.
John 10 20 Bonus Section
The debate presented here touches upon the concept of spiritual warfare and discernment, which are critical themes throughout Scripture. The ability to distinguish between the Spirit of God and evil spirits is essential for faith. The early church wrestled with false teachings and the need to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). This verse in John illustrates that such challenges to discerning divine power existed from the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry. The phrase "does a demon open the eyes of the blind?" is not merely rhetorical; it points to the unique character of God's restorative work, which stands in stark contrast to the destructive nature of demonic forces. The power to heal and restore, particularly the blind, is a recurring sign of the Messiah throughout the Old Testament prophets (e.g., Isaiah 35:5).
John 10 20 Commentary
This verse highlights the polarization Jesus' ministry caused. The religious establishment and many of the populace were divided in their response to Him. The accusation that Jesus, performing miraculous deeds like opening blind eyes, was possessed by a demon, reveals a profound spiritual blindness and an unwillingness to accept the divine working in their midst. They focused on attributing power to the wrong source rather than recognizing the source of true healing and truth. This division foreshadows the ultimate rejection by many and acceptance by His followers, underscoring the theme of discernment central to John's Gospel. The rhetorical question in the following verse, "Does a demon open the eyes of the blind?", serves as a direct challenge to their misguided reasoning, as opening the eyes of the blind was considered a Messianic sign.