John 10:34 and Ps 82:6: the form of the quotation

Says John 10:34 quotes Ἐγὼ εἶπα· Θεοί ἐστε, introduced in the SBLGNT by ἐν τῷ νόμῳ ὑμῶν. That clause agrees verbatim with LXX Ps 81:6a, ἐγὼ εἶπα Θεοί ἐστε (Swete, vol. 2, p. 323), apart from punctuation and the capitalization of ἐγώ, and it renders MT Ps 82:6a, אֲנִי־אָמַרְתִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם (ani-amarti elohim attem, "I said, you are gods"), in Greek. The agreement is one of form. It does not show which text Jesus or John used.

Says The BSB of John 10:34 reads: “Is it not written in your Law: ‘I have said you are gods’?” John 10:35 continues, “If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken—.” SBLGNT prints ὅτι before the quotation; the Byzantine Textform omits it.

Implies The argument moves from the lesser to the greater. If Scripture can call them gods, the one the Father sanctified and sent is not blaspheming in “stating that I am the Son of God” (John 10:36, BSB).

Uncertain Which identity of the אֱלֹהִים (elohim) in Ps 82:6 is supported by John 10:35, “to whom the word of God came,” is open. Heavenly beings of the council, human judges, and Israel at Sinai each claim the clause. No lean is taken here. Christ’s deity is not argued from this text; see note.exegetical.John.1.18.son-makes-father-known.