# John 10.34-36

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 32. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">Many good works have I showed you from the Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?</span> 33. 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.
>
> **34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods?</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken),</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">say ye of him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">But if I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.</span> (John 10:32-38, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 32. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?”</span> 33. The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
>
> **34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">“Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?’</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me.</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”</span> (John 10:32-38, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 32. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?</span> 33. 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.
>
> **34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.</span> (John 10:32-38, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 32. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">'Many good works did I shew you from my Father; because of which work of them do ye stone me?'</span> 33. 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.'
>
> **34. Jesus answered them, <span class="rl-speech">'Is it not having been written in your law: I said, ye are gods?</span> 35. <span class="rl-speech">if them he did call gods unto whom the word of God came, (and the Writing is not able to be broken,)</span> 36. <span class="rl-speech">of him whom the Father did sanctify, and send to the world, do ye say, Thou speakest evil, because I said, Son of God I am?</span>**
>
> 37. <span class="rl-speech">if I do not the works of my Father, do not believe me;</span> 38. <span class="rl-speech">and if I do, even if me ye may not believe, the works believe, that ye may know and may believe that in me [is] the Father, and I in Him.'</span> (John 10:32-38, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G1096 - ginomai](/codex/g1096-ginomai/), *ginomai* (Strong's G1096). Also appears in: [Matthew 1](/codex/matthew-1/), [Matthew 5.17-18](/codex/matthew-5-17-18/), [Matthew 8.16](/codex/matthew-8-16/).
- [G1510 - eimi](/codex/g1510-eimi/), *eimi* (Strong's G1510). Also appears in: [Matthew 8.5-12](/codex/matthew-8-5-12/), [Matthew 14.22-33](/codex/matthew-14-22-33/), [Matthew 18.20](/codex/matthew-18-20/).
- [G2316 - theos](/codex/g2316-theos/), *theos* (Strong's G2316). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.23](/codex/matthew-1-23/), [Matthew 3.16](/codex/matthew-3-16/), [Matthew 5.9](/codex/matthew-5-9/).
- [G2424 - Iesous](/codex/g2424-iesous/), *Iesous* (Strong's G2424). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.16](/codex/matthew-1-16/), [Matthew 1.18](/codex/matthew-1-18/).
- [G2889 - kosmos](/codex/g2889-kosmos/), *kosmos* (Strong's G2889). Also appears in: [Mark 14](/codex/mark-14/), [John 1.1-14](/codex/john-1-1-14/), [John 1.10](/codex/john-1-10/).
- [G3056 - logos](/codex/g3056-logos/), *logos* (Strong's G3056). Also appears in: [Matthew 7.24-27](/codex/matthew-7-24-27/), [Matthew 8.5-12](/codex/matthew-8-5-12/), [Matthew 8.16](/codex/matthew-8-16/).
- [G3551 - nomos](/codex/g3551-nomos/), *nomos* (Strong's G3551). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.17](/codex/matthew-5-17/), [Matthew 5.17-18](/codex/matthew-5-17-18/), [Matthew 22.37-40](/codex/matthew-22-37-40/).
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), *pater* (Strong's G3962). Also appears in: [Matthew 5.48](/codex/matthew-5-48/), [Matthew 6.25-26](/codex/matthew-6-25-26/), [Matthew 6.25-34](/codex/matthew-6-25-34/).
- [G4314 - pros](/codex/g4314-pros/), *pros* (Strong's G4314). Also appears in: [Matthew 3.13](/codex/matthew-3-13/), [Matthew 5.28](/codex/matthew-5-28/), [Matthew 11.28](/codex/matthew-11-28/).
- [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), *huios* (Strong's G5207). Also appears in: [Matthew 1.1](/codex/matthew-1-1/), [Matthew 1.20](/codex/matthew-1-20/), [Matthew 1.21](/codex/matthew-1-21/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [OT Polytheism Objection Defeater](/codex/ot-polytheism-objection-defeater/)
- [Resurrection Implies Christian Theism](/codex/resurrection-implies-christian-theism/), via [John 10.35](/codex/john-10-35/)

**Concepts:**

- [Are There Other Gods](/codex/are-there-other-gods/)
- [Inerrancy](/codex/inerrancy/), via [John 10.35](/codex/john-10-35/)
- [Inspiration](/codex/inspiration/), via [John 10.35](/codex/john-10-35/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 10](/codex/john-10/)
- [Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/), via [John 10.30-39](/codex/john-10-30-39/)
- [Sola Scriptura](/codex/sola-scriptura/), via [John 10.35](/codex/john-10-35/)
- [Theosis](/codex/theosis/), via [John 10.34](/codex/john-10-34/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G2316 - theos](/codex/g2316-theos/), via [John 10.34](/codex/john-10-34/)
- [G5207 - huios](/codex/g5207-huios/), via [John 10.36](/codex/john-10-36/)
- [H0430 - elohim](/codex/h0430-elohim/), via [John 10.34](/codex/john-10-34/)

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