John 10:33

“We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, make Yourself out to be God.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Jews respond to Jesus after He asks which of His good works justifies their attempt to stone Him. They direct their accusation explicitly to Him.

The words — The text highlights καλοῦ ἔργου (kalou ergou), meaning "a good work." This phrase anchors their explicit denial that any righteous act grounds their hostility.

The thread — This clash over divine identity runs through John 10:30 where Jesus claims unity with the Father and John 5:18 where the opposition seeks to kill Him for equating Himself with God. The stoning charge directly invokes the execution mandate of Leviticus 24:16.

Why it lands — The verse forces a reader to confront the exact charge: Jesus made a claim to deity while maintaining His humanity. It requires acknowledging that the text presents the opposition as recognizing His words as a direct claim to divine status, not merely a moral or miraculous one.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

John 5:18 Because of this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill Him. Not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”
Leviticus 24:16 Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death.
Psalms 82:6 I have said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’
Romans 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Philippians 2:6 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
1 Kings 21:10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
Leviticus 24:14 “Take the blasphemer outside the camp, and have all who heard him lay their hands on his head; then have the whole assembly stone him.