Paragraph 10:19–21

This paragraph tells how the people responded to what Jesus said. They reacted in different ways, some approving of Jesus and some opposing him.

10:19

Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message: The things Jesus said caused the people who were listening to him to argue among themselves. They could not agree about who Jesus was. Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

At these words the Jews were again divided. (New International Version)
-or-
When he said these things, the people were again divided in their opinions about him. (New Living Translation (2004))

Again: The word Again indicates that this had happened before. The people listening to Jesus had already argued about Jesus because of what he said, in 6:52 and 9:16. See the notes there.

there was division among the Jews: These words here indicate that the people who heard Jesus disagreed and argued with one another about him. There were some who approved of him and some who opposed him. For example:

the Jews did not agree with each other (New Century Version)
-or-
there was a division among the people (Good News Translation)

the Jews: This phrase here probably refers to all the people listening to Jesus, including both the leaders and the ordinary people. They were all Jewish, so it is possible to translate this in these ways:

the Jewish people (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
the people (New Living Translation (2004))

because of Jesus’ message: The phrase Jesus’ message refers to what Jesus just taught in John 10:1–18. Because of what he said, the people disagreed about him. In some languages it is more natural to express this idea using a verb. For example:

because of what Jesus said (God’s Word)
-or-
When he said these things (New Living Translation (2004))

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