John 10:31
The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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John 10:31
The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The word choice "took up" (or "bore") here suggests a more deliberate and forceful action than merely picking up stones; they were prepared to carry larger rocks, showing an escalated rage driven by their rejection of Jesus' divine claims. This wasn't a spontaneous lashing out, but a determined escalation, fueled by their belief that He was a blasphemer deserving the severest penalty.
Jesus has just declared his unity with the Father, claiming divine authority. In response, the crowd, interpreting his words as blasphemy, are enraged and again attempt to stone him, just as they had done before. Jesus skillfully deflects their violence by questioning their reason for stoning him, challenging them to justify their actions based on his many good deeds done in his Father's name.
Jesus has just declared His unity with the Father. Instead of thoughtful consideration, the crowd's reaction is immediate violence. What was it about His claim that provoked such rage?
The Ultimate Insult
The Jews picked up stones because they heard Jesus' claim of oneness with God (John 10:30) as the ultimate blasphemy. In their eyes, claiming to be God, or equal to God, was the highest offense.
The word 'again' isn't just a simple connector; it signals a disturbing pattern. What does this repetition reveal about Jesus' ongoing conflict and the enemies He faced?
The Cycle of Opposition
The inclusion of 'again' is a crucial detail. It tells us this wasn't the first time Jesus' life was threatened by this specific form of violence.
Understand the original words
Ioudaioi · Greek Noun
A term often used in John's Gospel to refer to the religious leadership and those who opposed Jesus' claims; it represents a spirit of unbelief among the people of Israel.
lithazō · Greek Verb
A legalistic mode of execution in ancient Israelite culture, signifying extreme judgment for violations of the covenant or blasphemy against God.
This event highlights the immediate and violent opposition Jesus faced from some Jewish leaders and crowds who felt His claims of unity with God were blasphemous, a charge punishable by stoning under the Law. The 'again' emphasizes the recurring nature of this intense hostility.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem
During Jesus' ministry, particularly when He taught in Jerusalem at festivals like the Feast of Tabernacles and Dedication, tensions frequently escalated with the Jewish authorities.
c. AD 30 (Feast of Tabernacles)
First Attempt to Stone Jesus
Earlier in the same year, during the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus declared His divine authority, leading the crowd to pick up stones to attack Him (John 8:59). Jesus hid Himself, and the confrontation was averted.
c. AD 30 (Feast of Dedication)— this verse
Jesus Declares His Unity with the Father
Jesus is teaching in the Temple during the Feast of Dedication. He declares, 'I and the Father are one,' which the Jewish leaders interpret as blasphemy, claiming He is making Himself God.
c. AD 30 (Feast of Dedication)
Crowd Seeks to Stone Jesus
Angered by Jesus' claims, the crowd picks up stones with the intent to execute Him, the prescribed punishment for blasphemy according to Mosaic Law.
This passage lays out the penalty for blasphemy, which is precisely what the Jewish leaders accused Jesus of and why they sought to stone Him in John 10:31.
John 8:59This verse describes a previous attempt by the same group to stone Jesus, highlighting the recurring animosity and the 'again' in John 10:31.
Psalm 82:6Jesus quotes this psalm in His defense (John 10:34-36) to challenge their accusation of blasphemy, showing that even Scripture uses the term 'gods' for those to whom God's word came.
Deuteronomy 13:5This law outlines the stoning of false prophets, a standard the Jewish leaders likely invoked in their minds to justify their violent intentions toward Jesus, even as He challenged their reasoning.
Romans 13:1-2Though not directly related to the stoning, this passage speaks to God's ordained authority, which Jesus later references (John 10:35) when discussing how even judges and rulers were called 'gods' in Scripture, further complicating their accusation of blasphemy against Him.
barnesJohn 10:31: "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him."
The Jews took up stones - Stoning was the punishment of a blasphemer, Leviticus 24:14-16 . They considered him guilty of blasphemy because he made himself equal with God, John 10:33 . Again - They had before plotted against his life John 5:16, John 5:18, and once at least they had taken up stones to destroy him, John 8:59.
vincentJohn 10:31: "Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him."
Took up - again (ἐβάστασαν - πάλιν)Again refers to John 8:59. It seems as though a different verb is purposely chosen here (compare ἦραν took up, in John 8:59), since the interview took place in Solomon's porch, where stones would not be at hand. The verb here may mean to take up. So Ajax says:"Send some one as a messenger to bearThe evil news to Teucros, that he firstMay lift (βαστάσῃ) my corpse by this sharp sword transfix…
The word choice "took up" (or "bore") here suggests a more deliberate and forceful action than merely picking up stones; they were prepared to carry larger rocks, showing an escalated rage driven by their rejection of Jesus' divine claims. This wasn't a spontaneous lashing out, but a determined escalation, fueled by their belief that He was a blasphemer deserving the severest penalty.
Jesus has just declared his unity with the Father, claiming divine authority. In response, the crowd, interpreting his words as blasphemy, are enraged and again attempt to stone him, just as they had done before. Jesus skillfully deflects their violence by questioning their reason for stoning him, challenging them to justify their actions based on his many good deeds done in his Father's name.
Jesus has just declared his unity with the Father, claiming divine authority. In response, the crowd, interpreting his words as blasphemy, are enraged and again attempt to stone him, just as they had done before. Jesus skillfully deflects their violence by questioning their reason for stoning him, challenging them to justify their actions based on his many good deeds done in his Father's name.
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c. AD 30 (Feast of Dedication)
Jesus Defends His Divinity
Jesus challenges their violent reaction by referencing Scripture (Psalm 82:6) and asking for which of His good works, done in His Father's name, they seek to stone Him. He further asserts His divine sonship.
c. AD 30 (Feast of Dedication)
Jesus Escapes Through Their Midst
Following this confrontation and Jesus' subsequent defense, He escapes from the enraged crowd.
"The Jews picked up stones again to stone him." — The word choice "took up" (or "bore") here suggests a more deliberate and forceful action than merely picking up stones; they were prepared to carry larger rocks, showing an escalated rage driven by…