Exegesis of John 10:34-36 and Psalm 82
Exegesis of John 10:34-36 and Psalm 82
Jesus said to them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'"? (John 10:34, NRSV). This passage is a reference to Psalm 82:6, where it is written, "I say, 'You are gods, children of the Most High, all of you'" [1, 2].
The context of John 10:34-36 is a dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus has just claimed to be the Son of God, and the Pharisees accuse him of blasphemy (John 10:33, 36). Jesus responds by citing Psalm 82:6, arguing that if the scripture calls human judges "gods," then it is not blasphemy for him, who is consecrated and sent by God, to call himself the Son of God [4].
The Psalm 82 passage is addressed to the "gods" (Hebrew: elohim), who are being rebuked for their unjust judgments. The Psalmist calls on God to judge the earth and to rescue the weak and needy from the hand of the wicked (Psalm 82:4, 8). The "gods" in this context are likely human judges or rulers who have been given authority by God [3].
The term "elohim" in Psalm 82:6 is significant. In the Hebrew Bible, "elohim" can refer to God, but it can also refer to human beings who have been given divine authority, such as judges or rulers. Jesus' argument in John 10:34-36 relies on this ambiguity, suggesting that if human beings can be called "gods" due to their role as representatives of God, then it is even more appropriate for him, who is the Son of God, to be called by this title [3].
The interpretation of John 10:34-36 has varied across different Christian traditions. Some have seen Jesus' argument as a straightforward application of Psalm 82:6 to his own situation, while others have understood it as a more nuanced and complex argument that relies on the Jewish interpretive tradition [6].
According to John Chrysostom, an Eastern Orthodox commentator, Jesus' argument is not just about the use of the term "gods" in Psalm 82:6, but about the nature of his relationship with the Father. Chrysostom argues that Jesus is not just claiming to be a representative of God, but is asserting his own divinity [6].
The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, an Anglican document, also references Psalm 82 in its discussion of the Psalter. While not directly addressing John 10:34-36, the Articles demonstrate the importance of the Psalms in Anglican theology [5].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “John 10:34 cross-references: Exodus 4:16, Exodus 7:1, Exodus 22:28, Psalms 82:1, Psalms 82:6, Psalms 138:1, John 8:17, John 12:34, John 15:25, Romans 3:10, 1 Corinthians 14:21”
- OpenBible.info “Cross-reference: John.10.34 → Ps.82.6-Ps.82.7 (confidence: 111 votes)”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 82:6: 82:6-7 The gods (see study notes on 29:1-2; 58:1), like mere mortals, cannot escape the judgment common to human rulers. Jesus quoted from this passage in John 10:34.”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 10:34: Is it not written in your law--in Psa 82:6, respecting judges or magistrates. Ye are gods--being the official representatives and commissioned agents of God.”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Psalms 1 - 5: Psalms 1 - 5 Psalms 6 - 8 Psalms 9 - 11 Psalms 12 - 14 Psalms 15 - 17 Psalm 18 Psalm 19 - 21 Psalms 22 - 23 Psalms 24 - 26 Psalms 27 - 29 Psalms 30 - 31 Psalms 32 - 34 Psalms 35 - 36 Psalm 37 Psalms 38 - 40 Psalms 41 - 43 Psalms 44 - 46 Psalms 47 - 49 Psalms 50 - 52 Psalms 53 - 55 Psalms 56 - 58 Psalms 59 - 61 Psalms 62 - 64 Psalms 65 - 67 Psalm 68 Psalms 69 - 70 Psalms 71 - 72 Psalms 73 - 74 Psalms 75 - 77 Psalm 78 Psalms 79 - 81 Psalms 82 - 85 Psalms 86 - 88 Psalm 89 Psalms 90 - 92 Psalms 93 - 94 Psalms 95 - 97 Psalms 98 - 101 ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: 7:26 7:27 7:27 7:27 7:28 8:1-2 8:3 8:3 8:6 8:7 8:7 8:7 8:7 8:8-9 8:10 8:10 8:11-12 8:13 8:13 8:13 9:1-5 9:6 9:7 9:8 9:9 9:9 9:10 9:10 9:11 9:11 9:12 9:12 9:12 9:12 9:12-13 9:13-14 9:15-18 9:19-20 9:21-22 9:23 9:23 9:24 9:24-26 9:26 9:27 9:28 9:28 10:1 10:2-9 10:5 10:8-13 10:10 10:10 10:12 10:14 10:14 10:14-15 10:16-18 10:19-23 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:20 10:22 10:24-25 10:25 10:25 10:25 10:25 10:26-27 10:28 10:28-29 10:29 10:30 10:30 10:31 10:31 10:32 10:32 10:32 10:32 10:32 10:32-34 10:32-36 10:34 10:34 10:34 10:35 10:36 10:37 10:37 10:37 10:38 1”