John 10:20Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?"
The setting
Jerusalem, ~30 AD. Temple courts during winter. Religious leaders and crowds debate after Jesus claims to be one with the Father, some picking up stones...
The emotion here: furious and threatened by Jesus' claims
The original word
daimónion (δαιμόνιον) — not just 'demon' but an evil spirit causing madness and deception
Why it matters
Accusations of demon possession were serious legal charges that could result in stoning
Read with care
What most readers miss in John 10:20
This wasn't casual name-calling — they were building a legal case for execution
Common misconceptionPeople think this was just an insult, but calling someone demon-possessed was a formal accusation that could lead to execution under Jewish law.
The thread continues
Verses that echo John 10:20
Bible Genome reading
John 10:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
John 10:20 comes from the book of John, written during the gospel period. The setting is the Temple. These words are attributed to critics. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include accusation, rejection. Notable phrases: has a demon; is insane.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does John 10:20 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "angry"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.