John 19:7
What does John 19:7 mean?
A plain-English look at John 19:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 19:7 means
The Jewish leaders finally reveal their true accusation to Pilate: Jesus deserves to die according to their law because He claimed to be the Son of God. This charge of blasphemy, punishable by death under Jewish law, goes beyond Pilate's understanding of Roman judicial processes. It exposes the deepest theological offense they perceived, offering a different legal basis for their demand than the political sedition they initially presented. This confession of the charge also increases Pilate's fear.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the Jews made answer, We have a law, and by that law it is right for him to be put to death because he said he was the Son of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862the Jews answered him, `We have a law, and according to our law he ought to die, for he made himself Son of God.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The Jews answered him: We have a law; and according to the law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to [our] law he ought to die, because he made himself Son ofGod.
Context
This verse explains the true, underlying reason for the Jewish leaders' demand for Jesus' death, clarifying their shouts from the previous verse. It directly follows Pilate's frustrated challenge for them to crucify Jesus themselves and his repeated assertion of Jesus' innocence. This revelation—that Jesus made Himself the Son of God—will significantly impact Pilate, making him even more apprehensive about condemning Jesus.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 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.
- Matthew 27:42
He saved others; himself he cannot save. He is the King of Israel; let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe on him.
- Mark 15:39
And when the centurion, who stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
- Deuteronomy 18:20
But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.
- John 10:36
say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
- 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.
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