This verse begins in Greek with the same words rendered so in verse 16; as the clause beginning because in verse 16 explains these words, so the clause beginning not only in this verse explains why the Jews were determined to kill Jesus.

In some languages the motive which made the Jewish authorities more determined to kill Jesus must be expressed as a cause, for example, “because Jesus had said this, the Jewish authorities were all the more determined to kill him” or “… decided definitely to kill him” or “… to cause him to die.”

The final two causes for the decision of the Jewish authorities may be made even more explicit by saying “They not only decided to do so because he had broken the Sabbath law, but also because he had said that God was his own Father.”

The Sabbath law may be rendered “the law about what people could do on the rest day” or “the law about what was permitted on the rest day.”

But he had said that God was his own Father may be translated “but also he said, ‘God is my own Father’ ” or “but he also called God his own Father” or “… spoke of God as his own Father.”

The Jews were quick to see the implications of Jesus’ argument and concluded immediately that he had made himself equal with God. The remainder of the chapter explains the sense in which Jesus claimed equality with God.

Some translators endeavor to render made himself equal with God as “said that there was no difference between himself and God.” This translation introduces theological difficulties, because Jesus does not speak of his Father as being different from himself. The concept of equality may be expressed in some languages: “he measured himself with God” or “he ranked himself with God” or “he put himself right alongside of God.”

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 .