If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Parallel translations
- WEB If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can’t be broken),
- BSB If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—
- NKJV If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
- NASB If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be nullified),
- NLT And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’
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 notes that Scripture called certain men 'gods' and affirms that Scripture cannot be broken. He upholds the absolute authority and reliability of God's Word.
Overview
In passing, Jesus makes a foundational statement: the Scripture cannot be broken or set aside. If even fallible men could be called 'gods' as God's representatives, the term is not inherently blasphemous. The verse is a key witness to the Bible's full trustworthiness affirmed by Christ Himself.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 24
- Matt 24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
- Rom 13:1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
- Gen 15:1After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
- Luke 16:17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
- Luke 24:44–46And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
- Acts 1:16Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
- 1 Sam 15:1Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
- Matt 26:53–56Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
- 1 Sam 28:6And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.
- 1 Chr 22:8But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
- Luke 24:26–27Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
- Deut 18:18–20I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
- John 19:36–37For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
- 1 Sam 23:9–11And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
- Deut 18:15The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
- 2 Chr 11:2–3But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
- Matt 5:18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
- 2 Sam 7:5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
- Matt 27:35And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
- 1 Sam 14:36–37And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.
- 2 Chr 19:2And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
- John 12:38–39That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?
- 1 Sam 30:8And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
- John 19:28After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
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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 10:35 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
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