ris3n's Apologetics Codex

Passage

John 10.36-38

Book: John · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

Immediate context (±2 verses)

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ASV (ASV)

"34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, ye are gods? 35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken),"

"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? 37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38. 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."

"39. They sought again to take him: and he went forth out of their hand. 40. And he went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was at the first baptizing; and there he abode." (John 10:34-40, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"34. Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods?’ 35. If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),"

"36. 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?’ 37. If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38. 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.”"

"39. They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand. 40. He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed." (John 10:34-40, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"34. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? 35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;"

"36. 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? 37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38. 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."

"39. Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40. And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode." (John 10:34-40, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"34. Jesus answered them, 'Is it not having been written in your law: I said, ye are gods? 35. if them he did call gods unto whom the word of God came, (and the Writing is not able to be broken,)"

"36. 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? 37. if I do not the works of my Father, do not believe me; 38. 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.'"

"39. Therefore were they seeking again to seize him, and he went forth out of their hand, 40. and went away again to the other side of the Jordan, to the place where John was at first baptizing, and remained there," (John 10:34-40, 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

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 (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
  • WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
  • KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
  • 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 for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.