John 10 35

John 10:35 kjv

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

John 10:35 nkjv

If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),

John 10:35 niv

If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came?and Scripture cannot be set aside?

John 10:35 esv

If he called them gods to whom the word of God came ? and Scripture cannot be broken ?

John 10:35 nlt

And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God's message were called 'gods,'

John 10 verses

John 10 35 Meaning

John 10:35 serves as a cornerstone statement by Jesus, asserting the unyielding authority and infallibility of the Old Testament Scripture. Facing accusations of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God and "one with the Father" (Jn 10:30, 33), Jesus counters His accusers by quoting Ps 82:6. He reasons that if God, in Scripture, referred to mere human judges or rulers as "gods" because they received and administered God's word and law, how much more is He, whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, justified in calling Himself the Son of God. The phrase "the Scripture cannot be broken" underpins His entire argument, establishing that whatever is stated in the sacred writings holds ultimate and unchallenged divine truth.

John 10 35 Context

Jesus' declaration in John 10:35 takes place during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem. He has just stated, "I and the Father are one" (10:30), leading the Jewish leaders to take up stones to stone Him for blasphemy. They interpret His statement as making Himself equal with God, a capital offense under the Law (Lev 24:16). In response, Jesus challenges their judgment, not by denying His claim, but by defending its validity through an a fortiori (from the lesser to the greater) argument rooted in the very Scriptures they claim to uphold. He points them to Psalm 82, where earthly judges, acting under God's delegated authority, are called "gods" and "sons of the Most High." This forms the historical and theological backdrop, demonstrating Jesus' mastery of Scripture and His defense against misunderstanding His divine identity. The core issue is His identity in relation to God and the authoritative basis of that identity—Scripture itself.

John 10 35 Word analysis

• If (Εἰ, ei): A conditional particle, meaning "if" or "since." Here, it introduces a premise accepted as true or at least held by the opponents, forming the basis for Jesus' logical argument. It sets up an "if-then" scenario.
• he called (εἶπεν, eīpen): Past tense of "to say" or "to speak." Refers to God (or the Holy Spirit through the Psalmist) speaking in Scripture. This signifies divine declaration and authoritative pronouncement within the biblical text.
• them gods (ἐκείνους θεοὺς, ekeinous theous): Theous (plural of theos) literally means "gods." In the context of Ps 82:6, it refers to human judges or rulers. The term emphasizes their divinely appointed role and authority as God's representatives on earth, judging on His behalf, not that they were ontologically divine beings. This designation highlights their sacred office and accountability.
• unto whom (πρὸς οὓς, pros hous): Signifies the recipients or beneficiaries of the divine pronouncement. These are the specific human beings (judges) upon whom the divine title "gods" was conferred due to their unique relationship with God's word.
• the word of God came (ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ ἐγένετο, ho logos tou theou egeneto): This crucial phrase indicates the source of authority. Their designation as "gods" was not inherent but derived from God's revelation. It implies divine empowerment, commissioning, and inspiration. Their function as God's representatives was intrinsically tied to receiving and applying His Word, often related to divine law or judicial decree.
• and the scripture (καὶ ἡ γραφὴ, kai hē graphē): "The Scripture." Refers to the collective body of Old Testament sacred writings, seen as divinely authoritative. The inclusion of "and" emphasizes this statement as a foundational, undeniable truth that stands independently.
• cannot be broken (οὐ δύναται λυθῆναι, ou dynatai lythēnai): "Cannot be annulled," "cannot be loosed," "cannot be overthrown," "cannot be invalidated," or "cannot be refuted." This absolute statement asserts the eternal validity, integrity, and unbreakable authority of God's written Word. It means Scripture's pronouncements are true, permanent, and beyond human repeal or challenge.

Words-group analysis:

• "If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came": This entire clause encapsulates Jesus' first premise. He cites Psalm 82:6, highlighting that divine appellations (theous) were applied to human judges because they were recipients of God's word. This connection implies that delegated authority, flowing directly from God's word, could justify an otherwise unusual title. Jesus accepts the divine origin and authoritative force of this Old Testament statement as self-evident and true.
• "and the scripture cannot be broken": This declarative statement is the underlying theological axiom for Jesus' entire argument. It functions as an unshakeable bedrock, affirming the absolute infallibility, inherent consistency, and perpetual truthfulness of the entire Old Testament. It implies that every part of Scripture, every word and concept within it, carries divine weight and cannot be dismissed, refuted, or made void by human logic or opposition. It stands as ultimate truth.

John 10 35 Bonus section

The context of Psalm 82 is significant for understanding Jesus' quotation. In this Psalm, God is depicted judging corrupt, unrighteous judges who have failed to administer justice properly. While called "gods" (elohim) and "sons of the Most High," they are also condemned to "die like men" (Ps 82:7). This reinforces that their designation as "gods" was functional and judicial, representing divine authority, not an inherent divine nature. Jesus' use highlights this delegated authority. He then contrasts their temporary, delegated, and corruptible authority with His own unique, eternal, and consecrated Sonship directly from the Father, an authority far superior to any human judges, making His claim to be "Son of God" (and thus "one with the Father") infinitely more legitimate and true according to the same Scripture. The Pharisees failed to grasp the distinction between functional delegation and essential divine nature, and Jesus uses their own beloved Scripture to expose their misinterpretation and spiritual blindness regarding His true identity.

John 10 35 Commentary

John 10:35 is pivotal for understanding Jesus' view of Old Testament authority. His argument is brilliant and profound: He directly appeals to a scriptural precedent that even His adversaries, devout Jews, could not deny—the idea that God, within His own Word (Ps 82:6), had referred to mere human judges as "gods." This wasn't because these judges were inherently divine, but because they held positions of divine delegation and received "the word of God." Their authority stemmed from God's communicated will.

From this premise, Jesus draws His a fortiori conclusion: If humans could be so called by Scripture because of delegated authority through God's Word, how much more is He, whom the Father uniquely consecrated and sent into the world, justified in claiming the profound and ontological Sonship of God (10:36). The power of His defense rests entirely on the foundational principle He states: "the Scripture cannot be broken." This affirms its ultimate truthfulness, consistency, and inability to be set aside or falsified. For Jesus, the divine origin and perfect inspiration of the Bible mean it is wholly reliable and enduring. It signifies that God's truth, once revealed in Scripture, stands eternally. This verse, therefore, underpins biblical infallibility and demonstrates Christ's unwavering reverence for every part of God's written revelation.