Devine Scripture

John 10:33

What does John 10:33 mean?

A plain-English look at John 10:33 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 10:33 means

The leaders make their accusation explicit: they are not stoning Jesus for good works but for blasphemy—because, being a man, He makes Himself God. They rightly perceive the force of His claim. Their error lies not in understanding what He said but in refusing to believe it, despite the corroborating works. Ironically, the true order is reversed: He is God who became man, not man making Himself God. Their charge provides a stark witness to the high Christology of Jesus’ own words and sets the terms for the ensuing scriptural argument.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

The Jews answered him, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

The Jews answered him, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

This was their answer: We are not stoning you for a good work but for evil words; because being a man you make yourself God.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

The Jews answered him, saying, `For a good work we do not stone thee, but for evil speaking, and because thou, being a man, dost make thyself God.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The Jews answered him: For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy: and because that thou. being a, man, makest thyself God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

The Jews answered him, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, and because thou, being a man, makest thyselfGod.

Context

Verse 33 states the reason for the stoning attempt: blasphemy, due to Jesus’ claim of equality with God. Jesus will respond in verses 34–36 by citing Scripture to show that His claim to be the Son of God is not illegitimate and in verses 37–38 by returning to the evidence of His works, inviting belief at least on that basis.

v.32Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

v.33This passage

v.34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Psalms 82:6

    I said, Ye are gods, And all of you sons of the Most High.

  • Leviticus 24:14

    Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.

  • John 5:18

    For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

  • John 10:30

    I and the Father are one.

  • Leviticus 24:16

    And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the sojourner, as the home-born, when he blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, shall be put to death.

  • Philippians 2:6

    who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

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