The Gospels · New Testament
John 8
John 8: a woman accused, the light of the world, and stones taken up
General context
Early in the temple, scribes and Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery, set her in the midst, cite the law of Moses on stoning and ask what he says. The narrator says they asked to tempt him and have grounds to accuse him. Jesus stoops and writes on the ground, then says the one without sin should cast the first stone, and stoops again. The accusers leave one by one, beginning at the eldest, and he tells the woman that he does not condemn her and to sin no more. He then says he is the light of the world. The Pharisees object that his record of himself is not true, and he answers with the testimony of two, himself and the Father who sent him. He says they will seek him and die in their sins. To those who believe on him he speaks of continuing in his word, of truth that makes free, and of being servants of sin. They claim Abraham as their father, he replies about doing Abraham's works and speaks of their father the devil. When he says that before Abraham was, he is, they take up stones, and he hides himself and leaves the temple.
Cited passages: John 8:3, John 8:5, John 8:6, John 8:7, John 8:9, John 8:11, John 8:12, John 8:13, John 8:17, John 8:21, John 8:30, John 8:31, John 8:32, John 8:33, John 8:34, John 8:39, John 8:44, John 8:48, John 8:58, John 8:59
John 8 (KJV)
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
14Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
19Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.
20These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27They understood not that he spake to them of the Father.
28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
47He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
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Historical context
The text does not say what Jesus wrote on the ground, and it does not report what became of the woman afterward or say anything about the man in the case. The accusers' motive is stated by the narrator, that they spoke to tempt him so as to accuse him, and the reason they leave is given as being convicted by their own conscience. The charge that he is a Samaritan and has a devil is spoken by the Jews, and he denies the second part without answering the first. The claim never to have been in bondage to any man is theirs, not the narrator's. The narrator also notes where the earlier words were spoken, in the treasury as he taught in the temple, and says no one laid hands on him because his hour was not yet come.
Cited passages: John 8:6, John 8:8, John 8:11, John 8:4, John 8:9, John 8:48, John 8:49, John 8:33, John 8:20
Literary context
The chapter opens with a scene in which he says very little, one sentence to the accusers and two to the woman, and then runs into the longest argument in the book so far. Both halves turn on judging: the accusers are asked to judge themselves first, and later Jesus says he judges no man and then that his judgment is true. Father is the contested word, repeated as Abraham, God and the devil in turn, each side claiming a lineage. The exchange escalates by question and counter-question until the last claim is answered with stones rather than words. Light and darkness from the first verses of the book return in the middle of the temple, and the chapter ends with him leaving the place where the argument was held.
Cited passages: John 8:7, John 8:10, John 8:15, John 8:16, John 8:12, John 8:39, John 8:41, John 8:44, John 8:53, John 8:57, John 8:58, John 8:59
Key moments
- A woman set in the midst (John 8:3). Scribes and Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery and place her before him.
- Let him first cast a stone (John 8:7). Jesus tells them the one without sin should throw first.
- The accusers leave (John 8:9). They go out one by one, beginning with the eldest, until she is left alone with him.
- Neither do I condemn thee (John 8:11). Jesus tells the woman he does not condemn her and to sin no more.
- The light of the world (John 8:12). He names himself the light of the world to those in the temple.
- A dispute about fathers (John 8:39). They claim Abraham as father and are answered about Abraham's works.
- Before Abraham was (John 8:58). After his claim about Abraham, stones are taken up and he leaves the temple.
For reflection
The men who bring the woman are asked to begin the stoning themselves, and they leave in order of age. What does the order of their leaving add to the scene?