Why Did Jesus Say, Ye Are Gods?

Name: Jeffrey
Question: Can you explain John 10:34?

Answer: Jeffrey, thank you for the question.

We are going to discover, Jesus was actually quoting Scripture that indicated the leaders of the people were called “gods”. Christ’s point was, if the Jews were considered “gods”, then why should they be upset when Jesus called Himself the Son of “God”?

Let’s document it.

Being A Man, Makest Thyself God

A couple verses prior, in John 10:32 Jesus said,

Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

The Jews responded saying,

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

John 10:33

That brings us to the verse in question.

Ye Are gods

Let’s read it together.

John 10:34
Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

Now the word “gods” here means,

a deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively a magistrate; by Hebraism very: – X exceeding, God, god [-ly, -ward].

The word “magistrate” means “a civil officer or lay judge who administers the law”. The religious leaders of the time were those who upheld the religious law, though they didn’t follow it.

Essentially, the Jews were upset as Christ said He was the Son of God, (John 10:36).

However, Christ would use Scripture to cite that even they were called “gods”.

In order to document that, we must understand Jesus was quoting Psalms 82.

Let’s turn there.

Psalms 82:6
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

Who are “gods”?

In order to find out, let’s begin reading from the top of the chapter.

Psalms 82:1-2
1 A Psalm of Asaph. God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.

2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.

Before we move forward, the word “gods” here can mean.

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: – angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.

As Scripture indicated, the “gods” being discussed are actually “judges” and “magistrates”.

If you read Exodus 22:8-9, 22:28 we can see the “judges” are the “gods”.

Further, you will notice the word “judges” in Exodus 22:8-9 is the Hebrew word H430 (definition above) which was translated “gods” in Exodus 22:28.

So “judges” and “gods” are one and the same.

Further, let’s read what God Himself said to Moses.

I Have Made Thee A god

Turn your Bible with me to.

Exodus 7:1
And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

So Jehovah made Moses a “god”, being a “very great magistrate” which is a “judge who administers the law”.

So when Jesus told the Jews, “Ye are gods?”

Christ was simply saying, the Jews were “gods” or “judges” over the people.

Why did Christ point this out?

Conclusion

The Jews, being the religious leaders of the day were upset as Christ called Himself the Son of “God”. They said this was “blasphemy,” (John 10:33). Yet, Scripture confirmed that even the Jews, being religious leaders were considered “gods” and ruled over the people.

Essentially, Christ was picking on them, if Scripture could refer to them as “gods”, where was the sin in Christ saying He was the Son of “God”?

In reality, Christ was “burning” them with the words of the Law.

The fact of the matter, the Jews were simply trying to find yet another occasion against Christ, and failed once again, (Matthew 26:59-60, John 10:31, 39).