John 18:34 kjv
Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
John 18:34 nkjv
Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?"
John 18:34 niv
"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
John 18:34 esv
Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?"
John 18:34 nlt
Jesus replied, "Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?"
John 18 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 10:34 | Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law,..." | Jesus uses the Law itself. |
| Psalm 82:6 | "I said, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;'" | Source of Jesus' quote. |
| Exodus 22:28 | "You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people." | Context of ruling with God's authority. |
| Psalm 2:7 | "I will tell of the decree: The LORD has said to me, 'You are my son; today I have begotten you.'" | Points to Jesus' unique sonship. |
| Psalm 82:1 | "God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:" | Highlights the context of "gods" in a council. |
| Isaiah 43:10 | "'Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.'" | Distinguishes ultimate Godhood. |
| Deut 6:4 | "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." | Underscores God's oneness. |
| John 1:1 | "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." | Establishes Jesus' divine nature. |
| John 5:18 | "This was why the Jews sought to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God." | Directly addresses the charge against Jesus. |
| John 17:11 | "Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." | Jesus prays for unity. |
| John 17:21 | "...that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us..." | Unity in believers mirroring the Trinity. |
| 1 Corinthians 6:3 | "Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, things pertaining to this life?" | Humans judging as part of their God-given role. |
| 2 Samuel 7:14 | "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son..." | Davidic covenant, sonship language. |
| Galatians 4:7 | "So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." | Believers as sons of God. |
| Romans 8:16 | "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." | Spirit's confirmation of adoption. |
| 1 John 3:1 | "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God, and so we are..." | Children of God through love. |
| Mark 12:36 | "for David himself said by the Holy Spirit, '“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”'" | David acknowledging a Lord above himself. |
| Luke 4:4 | "And Jesus answered him, 'It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone.”'" | Jesus' consistent use of Scripture. |
| John 10:35 | "...Scripture cannot be broken..." | The authority of God's Word. |
| John 10:37 | "If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me." | Jesus' works validate His claims. |
| Psalm 139:7 | "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?" | God's omnipresence. |
John 18 verses
John 18 34 Meaning
Jesus' statement "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'?" reveals a rhetorical question. It probes the understanding of the Jewish leaders by referencing their own Scriptures. Jesus is using this passage to justify his claims and the authority he wields, even his identity as the Son of God. The crux is that their own law (the Old Testament) contains passages that attribute divine-like qualities or roles to humans, making their condemnation of Jesus for similar claims inconsistent.
John 18 34 Context
This statement occurs during Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin, likely in Caiaphas's courtyard (John 18:24). The preceding events describe Jesus' arrest, His interrogation by Annas and Caiaphas, and His denial by Peter. The high priest Caiaphas has just charged Jesus with blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. Jesus' response in this verse is a defense, drawing from their own sacred writings to highlight the inconsistency in their judgment. The "Law" refers to the first five books of the Old Testament, but can also be used more broadly for all of Scripture. The accusation of blasphemy by claiming equality with God was the primary reason the Jewish leaders sought to kill Jesus (John 5:18).
John 18 34 Word analysis
Is it not written: A rhetorical opening, indicating that what follows is from a recognized and authoritative source, the Scriptures.
in your Law: Refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which was considered the foundation of Jewish belief and practice.
'I (Ego - Greek): Pronoun emphasizing the speaker. In this context, it points to God.
have said: Denotes a past declaration, a completed action by God.
you are gods:
- you (Humeis - Greek plural): Addresses the audience being spoken to in the original psalm. In Psalm 82:6, it refers to judges and rulers in Israel.
- are: Present tense, a state of being or identification.
- gods (Theoi - Greek plural): This word has multiple connotations. In Psalm 82, it refers to earthly judges and rulers who were invested with God's authority, hence acting as representatives or "gods" under God. It also implies those to whom the word of God came (John 10:35). Theologically, it stands in contrast to the unique, supreme God.
words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Is it not written in your Law...": This frames Jesus' argument as unassailable, appealing to their own trusted source. It implies that if their Law contains such statements, then Jesus’ own claims are not as heretical as they make them out to be.
- "'I have said you are gods'": The quoted phrase from Psalm 82:6 is deliberately applied by Jesus to Himself in the context of the Sanhedrin’s accusations. He is implying that the title "gods," used for those who exercise God's delegated authority, can be applied to Him, and indeed more truly so, given His divine nature.
John 18 34 Bonus section
The term "gods" (Elohim in Hebrew, Theos in Greek) can carry significant weight. Psalm 82 depicts God judging those who ruled unjustly, who favored the wicked, and failed to defend the poor and needy. The condemnation was for their failure in the very capacity for which they were metaphorically called "gods." Jesus is not claiming to be an unjust judge. Rather, He uses this to affirm His divine Sonship. He is also implicitly distinguishing His role as the divine "god" from the earthly, lesser "gods" mentioned in the psalm. His use of "your Law" also subtly challenges their perceived monopoly on divine revelation. Furthermore, Jesus demonstrates an advanced understanding of Scripture, interpreting it contextually and theologically, connecting the Old Testament's shadowy references to Himself. His identity as the "Word" (John 1:1), who was with God and was God, places His claims far above those of the judges in Psalm 82 or any earthly ruler.
John 18 34 Commentary
Jesus strategically uses a portion of Scripture familiar to His accusers to counter their charge of blasphemy. By quoting Psalm 82:6, where God declares to earthly judges, "You are gods," Jesus highlights a precedent for men being referred to as "gods" due to their delegated authority or God's word being given to them. This passage isn't promoting polytheism; rather, it reflects God's judgment on those who fail in their God-given roles. Jesus' point is that if their own Law applies this title even to fallible human judges, it is inconsistent to condemn Him, the Son of God, for accepting such an identity, especially when His works demonstrated His divine mission. It underscores His unique relationship with the Father, showing that His claims were rooted in and substantiated by the very Scriptures they professed to uphold.
- Practical application: When accused unjustly, grounding oneself in God's truth and understanding the broader biblical context can provide clarity and resilience. Recognizing the derivative nature of earthly authority helps maintain perspective on ultimate authority.