What Does John 10:34 Mean in the King James?

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

John 10:34 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Scripture addresses a plural group with the divine title, crossing a boundary English readers may assume is absolute.

THE MEANING

The word “gods” already stands in Scripture as a name addressed to a plural group. That prior use means the title alone cannot settle what Jesus’ claim means. The verse makes the reader’s handling of Scripture part of what is being examined.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

A title associated with God can refer only to God in the singular.

THE ROOT

θεοί

theoi

GROWS FROM

θεός

theos

God, a god, or a deity; the verse uses the plural form of this noun.

The Greek ⁨θεοί⁩ (theoi, gods) is the plural of ⁨θεός⁩ (theos, God or a god). The verse’s force rests on Scripture already applying this same title to a group, rather than reserving it for a single referent.

ALSO GROWS

theos: God, a god, deity.

θεός

The plural in this verse comes from this singular noun, showing that “God” and “gods” are forms of the same Greek word.

theotēs: Deity, divine nature.

θεότης

This related noun names deity itself, showing that the word family can express more than a title for one person.

theios: Divine, pertaining to a god or deity.

θεῖος

This related adjective carries the same divine category into a description, making the question of who bears that designation central to the verse.

THE PATTERN

Scripture applies divine titles to multiple figures, so their referents emerge from the words around the title.

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

Psalm 82:6 · KJVThe psalm directly addresses a plural group as “gods,” the wording Jesus invokes.

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

Exodus 7:1 · KJVMoses bears the title “god” in relation to Pharaoh, showing that its use depends on the role and context.

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

1 Corinthians 8:5 · KJVThe verse acknowledges that “gods” is applied to many figures, while its surrounding words define what that naming means.

THE THREAD

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

Psalm 82:6 · KJV

This is the line Jesus cites: the Hebrew ⁨אֱלֹהִים⁩ (elohim, gods) is addressed to a plural “you.” The shared wording shows that Scripture already uses this title for the figures it addresses.

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