King James Bible
"The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
The Jewish leaders clarify they aren't opposing Jesus' miraculous works or acts of compassion. This acknowledgment reveals the real issue isn't his actions but his claims, setting up the gravity of their accusation. Blasphemy under Jewish law was punishable by stoning (Leviticus 24:16) and involved speaking irreverently about God or claiming divine prerogatives. This charge represents the most serious religious offense in their legal system. They articulate the specific blasphemy: a mere human claiming divine identity. This accusation ironically captures the central tension of John's Gospel—they correctly understand Jesus' claim but reject its truth, seeing only a man elevating himself to deity.