Dissension occurred again among the Jews because of these words.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words.
- KJV There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.
- BSB Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.
- NKJV Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.
- NLT When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus' words provoke another division among the Jews. His claims force people to take sides.
Overview
As repeatedly in John, Jesus' teaching splits His hearers rather than producing neutral reactions. The Good Shepherd discourse confronts them with His identity and demands a verdict. Such division is the recurring effect of encountering the Light.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Cor 3:3for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?
- John 9:16Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them.
- Acts 14:4But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
- Acts 23:7–10When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
- John 7:40–43Many of the multitude therefore, when they heard these words, said, “This is truly the prophet.”
- 1 Cor 11:18For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it.
- Luke 12:51–53Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.
- Matt 10:34–35“Don’t think that I came to send peace on the earth. I didn’t come to send peace, but a sword.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 10:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.