John 10:35

35 If he called them 'gods' to whom the word of God came--and the scripture cannot be broken--

John 10:35 Meaning and Commentary

John 10:35

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came,
&c.] The Syriac version reads, "because the word of God came to them"; either the divine "Logos", the essential word, the Son of God, who appeared to Moses, and made him a God to Pharaoh, and who appointed rulers and magistrates among the Jews; and who is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, from whom all receive their power and dominion: this sense is favoured by the Ethiopic version, which renders it, "if he called them gods to whom God appeared, the word of God was with them": or else the commission from God, authorizing them to act in the capacity of rulers and governors, is here meant; or rather the word of God, which, in the passage of Scripture cited, calls them so, as it certainly does:

and the Scripture cannot be broken;
or be made null and void; whatever that says is true, there is no contradicting it, or objecting to it: it is a Jewish way of speaking, much used in the Talmud F25; when one doctor has produced an argument, or instance, in any point of debate, another says, (Krpyml akya) , "it may be broken"; or objected to, in such and such a manner, and be refuted: but the Scripture cannot be broken, that is not to be objected to, there can be no confutation of that.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 4. 1. & Becorot, fol. 32. 1. & passim.

John 10:35 In-Context

33 The Jews answered him, "We are not going to stone you concerning a good deed, but concerning blasphemy, and because you, [although you] are a man, make yourself [to be] God!"
34 Jesus answered them, "Is it not 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 cannot be broken--
36 do you say about [he] whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?
37 If I do not do the deeds of my Father, do not believe me.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.