---
title: John 10:34
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/john-10-34/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/john-10-34.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: John 10:34
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# John 10:34

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Jesus replied, “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?

## JW Usage

Jehovah's Witnesses cite John 10:34 — Jesus quoting Psalm 82:6, "I said, 'You are gods'" — as a key proof text that being called "god" does not require being Almighty God. The Watchtower argues that since Scripture applies the word "gods" to human judges or other beings besides Jehovah, Jesus being called "a god" (John 1:1 NWT) is merely another instance of this flexible usage. The word theos is a category that includes beings of various ranks, and Jesus occupies a high but subordinate position within that category.

## Protestant Usage

Jesus' citation of Psalm 82 in John 10:34 is a qal wahomer — a rabbinic "how much more" argument. His logic runs: if Scripture applied the word "gods" to beings who merely received God's word and were then condemned for failure (Psalm 82:6-7), how much MORE is it fitting for the one whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world to be called "Son of God" (v. 36)? Jesus is not ranking himself among the lesser "gods" of Psalm 82. He is claiming to be infinitely greater than them. The condemned "gods" of Psalm 82 failed their commission and were sentenced to "die like men" (Psalm 82:7). Jesus, by contrast, is the one the Father consecrated — and he follows this argument by claiming mutual indwelling with the Father: "the Father is in me, and I am in the Father" (v. 38). No Psalm 82 "god" ever made such a claim. Jesus is asserting lordship over the divine council, not membership in it.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [The Elohim Category Trap](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/elohim-category.md) — Psalm 82 — If Jesus Is 'a God,' Which Kind? [Deity of Christ]
- [Gods Who Die and God to Pharaoh Don't Parallel Jesus](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/psalm82-exodus71-gods-parallel.md) — Psalm 82:6-7 / Exodus 7:1 / John 10:34-36 [Deity of Christ]
- [Liar, Lunatic, or Lord — There Is No Fourth Option](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/liar-lunatic-lord.md) — John 8:58 / John 10:30 / Mark 14:62 [Deity of Christ]