Translation commentary on John 10:36

In Greek verse 36 is the continuation of the rhetorical question begun with verse 35 (note Revised Standard Version). As for me … me … me translates a relative pronoun (“whom”) which is emphatic in the Greek sentence structure. It is obvious from what follows that Jesus is using the third person relative pronoun (“whom”) as a reference to himself. Good News Translation changes it to me in English, which is more natural for the English reader. Moreover, this part of the rhetorical question is changed into a statement, as also is all of verse 35.

The verb translated chose (Greek hagiazō) is rendered “consecrate” by most modern translators. It literally means “to make holy,” in the sense of setting aside someone or something to God’s service, and it may well be that this verb was used specifically because of the setting of the Festival of Dedication. That is, Jesus has shown that he is the fulfillment of the Sabbath Day, Passover, and the Feast of Shelters. Now the context suggests that he is claiming to be the fulfillment of the Festival of Dedication. As the Jews are celebrating the time when the Temple was “made holy” again, after its desecration by the Syrians, Jesus alludes to himself as the one whom God has “made holy” and sent into the world. In John 17.17,19 this same verb is translated dedicate in TEV; in the Septuagint of Numbers 7.1 it is used to describe Moses’ consecration of the Tabernacle, while in Numbers 7.10-11 a noun (egkainismos) related to the noun used of the Festival itself in John 10.22 (egkainia) is used of Moses’ dedication of the altar. This suggests that the two Greek verbs and their related nouns are essentially synonyms. In 6.69 Jesus is called the Holy One from God (ho hagios tou theou).

The equivalent of “consecrate” in some languages is “select and give a special function to” or “select for a particular task.” However, certain dangers are inherent in translating merely “set aside” or “set apart.” More often than not, setting something aside means taking something inferior out of a group of superior objects. Consecration is the exact opposite; it is setting aside a particularly significant object for a special function of a religious nature.

See verse 33 for a discussion of the remainder of this verse.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 10:36

10:36a–b

then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy for stating that I am the Son of God?: This is the last part of the rhetorical question that began in 10:35. Verse 35 formed the basis for the question here. Jesus was saying, “Because the things in 10:35 are true, can you say that I blaspheme (speak against God)?” This verse is the actual question part. It expects the answer “No,” and is used to make a strong negative statement.

Jesus was saying that it was clearly wrong for people to say that he was blaspheming. It was wrong because of the evidence of Scripture and because he himself was sent by God into the world. Jesus rebuked the people who said that he was blaspheming. He did not dishonor (insult or disgrace) God at all.

There are two ways of translating this rebuke:

• Use a rhetorical question. For example:

Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son?’ (New International Version)
-or-
why do you say that I’m dishonoring God because I said, ‘I’m the Son of God?’ (God’s Word)

• Use a statement or statements. For example:

You should not say that I am dishonoring God because I call myself “Son of God.” God has sanctified me and sent me into the world.
-or-
God set me apart as his very own and sent me into the world. So it is wrong to say that I am blaspheming when I say I am God’s Son.

Translate this rebuke in a way that is natural in your language.

10:36a

then what about the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world? How then can you accuse Me of blasphemy…?: Jesus was saying that it was wrong to say that he was blaspheming. He had just shown from the Scriptures that God had used the word “gods” to refer to humans. So they could not say that he was blaspheming. And that was even truer for him because God had sanctified him and specially sent him into the world.

the One whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world: The phrase the One refers to Jesus, whom the Father sent here to earth. In some languages it is more natural to use the pronoun “I.” For example:

I, whom the Father set apart and sent
-or-
the Father set me apart and sent me

See also the General Comment on 10:36.

the Father: This phrase refers to God. In some languages it may be natural or necessary to say:

my Father

sanctified: The verb sanctified means “made holy” or “set apart as holy.” In this context it indicates that God set Jesus apart to serve him by coming to earth. Here are other ways to translate this verb:

set apart as his very own (New International Version)
-or-
consecrated (English Standard Version)
-or-
chose (Good News Translation)

sent into the world: God sent Jesus to the people of the world. This was the special service for which God had set him apart.

How then can you accuse Me: The Greek text emphasizes the word you. This contrasts Jesus’ opponents (you) with what scripture said as quoted in verse 10:35. Jesus was saying, “If scripture calls men gods, how can you say that I sin when I say that I am God’s Son?”

of blasphemy: To blaspheme is to speak against God in a way that dishonors or insults him. See how you translated the related noun “blasphemy” in 10:33b. Translate the idea here as a noun or a verb, whichever is more natural in your language. These are examples of translations that translate it as a noun:

why do you call it blasphemy (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
why do you accuse me of a terrible sin (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 10:36a

Verse 10:36a includes a quotation inside another quotation. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as a direct quotation. For example:

do you say about the one whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming’ (NET Bible Bible)

10:36b

for stating that I am the Son of God: Verse 10:36b indicates the reason why people said that Jesus was blaspheming. It includes a quotation inside a quotation, and it may be more natural to use an indirect quotation here. For example:

because I said that I am God’s Son

the Son of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as the Son of God is the same phrase used in 1:34, though without the article “the.” This is a title for Jesus. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.

See how you translated the phrase “the Son of God” at 1:34. For further information, see the note on that phrase at 1:34.

General Comment on 10:36

In 10:36a Jesus referred to himself in the third person (“the One”). Then in 10:36b he referred to himself in the first person (“I”). This can confuse people. It may appear that Jesus was speaking about two different people. It may be clearer to use only the first person. For example:

Then why do you charge me with blasphemy for saying, “I am God’s Son,” I whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world? (Revised English Bible)
-or-
So why do you accuse me of a terrible sin for saying that I am the Son of God? After all, it is the Father who prepared me for this work. He is also the one who sent me into the world. (Contemporary English Version)

General Comment on 10:35–36

This is a long and complex argument. In the Greek text it is all one sentence. In many languages it is more natural to break this sentence into several sentences, possibly reordering some of the information. For example:

35b We know that what the scripture says is true for ever; 35a and God called those people gods, the people to whom his message was given. 36a As for me, the Father chose me and sent me into the world. How, then, can you say that I blaspheme 36b because I said that I am the Son of God? (Good News Translation)
-or-

35a This Scripture called those people gods who received God’s message, 35b and Scripture is always true. 36a So why do you say that I speak against God 36b because I said, “I am God’s Son”? 36a I am the one God chose and sent into the world. (New Century Version)
-or-

35a ⌊⌊The Scriptures⌋ use the term/word “gods” for those who received God’s message. 35b And the Scriptures can never be removed as wrong. 36a So you should not say that I blaspheme 36b when I call myself God’s Son. 36a God has set me apart for his holy purpose and sent me into the world.

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