John 19:7
The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
Original Language Analysis
ἀπεκρίθησαν
answered
G611
ἀπεκρίθησαν
answered
Strong's:
G611
Word #:
1 of 19
to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
2 of 19
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νόμον
a law
G3551
νόμον
a law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
6 of 19
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
ἔχομεν·
have
G2192
ἔχομεν·
have
Strong's:
G2192
Word #:
7 of 19
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
8 of 19
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κατὰ
by
G2596
κατὰ
by
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
9 of 19
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 19
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νόμον
a law
G3551
νόμον
a law
Strong's:
G3551
Word #:
11 of 19
law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of moses (including the volume); also of the gospel), or figurat
ὀφείλει
he ought
G3784
ὀφείλει
he ought
Strong's:
G3784
Word #:
13 of 19
to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively, to be under obligation (ought, must, should); morally, to fail in duty
ὅτι
because
G3754
ὅτι
because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
15 of 19
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἑαυτὸν
himself
G1438
ἑαυτὸν
himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
16 of 19
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
υἱὸν
the Son
G5207
υἱὸν
the Son
Strong's:
G5207
Word #:
17 of 19
a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
Cross References
Leviticus 24:16And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.John 5:18Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.Romans 1:4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:Mark 15:39And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.Deuteronomy 18:20But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Historical Context
Leviticus 24:16 stated, 'He that blasphemeth the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death.' Jewish law required stoning, not crucifixion. By demanding Roman crucifixion, the religious leaders unknowingly fulfilled prophecy (Deuteronomy 21:23—'cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), making visible the curse Christ bore for us (Galatians 3:13).
Questions for Reflection
- How can religious knowledge become the very weapon used to resist God's truth?
- What is the difference between Jesus 'making himself' the Son of God versus being the Son of God incarnate?
- When do appeals to 'our tradition' or 'our doctrine' actually oppose Scripture rather than uphold it?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
We have a law (ἡμεῖς νόμον ἔχομεν/hēmeis nomon echomen)—the Jews shift from political charges (treason against Caesar) to theological ones. They reference Leviticus 24:16, which prescribed death for blasphemy. But their application is tragically inverted: the Law they claimed to uphold condemned them for rejecting the very One it testified about (John 5:39).
He made himself the Son of God (υἱὸν θεοῦ ἑαυτὸν ἐποίησεν/huion theou heauton epoiēsen) accurately captures Jesus's claim, yet they call it self-exaltation rather than self-revelation. The verb epoiēsen (made) suggests fabrication, manufacturing a false identity. They could not conceive that God might actually become man—the very stumbling block Paul later identified (1 Corinthians 1:23). The irony cuts deep: the true Son of God stands condemned for blasphemy by those who blaspheme by rejecting Him.