John 8 4

John 8:4 kjv

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

John 8:4 nkjv

they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.

John 8:4 niv

and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

John 8:4 esv

they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.

John 8:4 nlt

"Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the act of adultery.

John 8 verses

John 8 4 Meaning

This verse describes the action of the scribes and Pharisees bringing a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, testing Him. The core action is their presentation of this woman to Jesus, their motive being to entrap Him in His words concerning the Mosaic Law on adultery.

John 8 4 Context

This event occurs during Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem, likely near the Feast of Tabernacles, as suggested by John 7:14. Jesus had been teaching in the temple courts, and His teachings, as well as His growing popularity, caused considerable unease among the religious authorities. The scribes and Pharisees, representatives of the religious elite, were actively seeking ways to discredit Jesus, particularly by presenting Him with complex legal or theological dilemmas that they hoped would force Him into error or public disagreement with the Law of Moses. Their aim was to expose Jesus as either defying the Law or as being ignorant of it, thereby undermining His authority in the eyes of the people.

John 8 4 Word analysis

• καὶ (kai): "and" - A simple conjunction, connecting this action to what preceded or will follow.
• αὐτὸν (auton): "him" (accusative masculine singular pronoun) - Refers to Jesus, the direct object of their action.
• ἠρέμησαν (ēresan): "they brought" (from ἐρωτάω, erōtaō, but contextually likely means "they led/brought") - signifies presenting someone or something. The specific word choice can imply leading with a question or seeking an opinion. In older manuscripts, words like ἤγαγον (ēgagon - they brought) are used, which are more straightforward.
• γυναῖκα (gunaika): "woman" (accusative feminine singular noun) - The subject being brought.
• ἐν (en): "in" - A preposition indicating location or circumstance.
• αὐτοφώρῳ (autophorō): "in the very act" (dative neuter singular adjective, from αὐτόφωρος, autophōros) - This is a crucial word. It implies they found her and presumably her partner in the compromising situation, not just suspecting adultery. It adds a layer of stark reality to their accusation.
• τῇ (tē): "the" (definite article) - Used with "moicheia".
• μοιχείᾳ (moicheia): "adultery" (dative feminine singular noun, from μοιχεία, moicheia) - The specific sin they are accused of.
• θέλωντες (thelontes): "wishing/desiring" (present active participle, nominative masculine plural, from θέλω, thelo) - Reveals their intention or motivation.
• αὐτὸν (auton): "him" - Again, referring to Jesus.
• πριάσθαι (priasthai): "to ensnare/trap/test" (infinitive verb, from πειράζω, peirazō, or similar verb contextually, the exact Greek word here can vary in some older translations, "príazō" might refer to a trapping action, or "peirázo" for testing. The most common rendering is from πειράζω, meaning to test or tempt.) - Their ultimate goal.

Word Group Analysis

• "scribes and Pharisees": This identifies the specific group of religious leaders who brought the accusation. They represent the established religious authority, steeped in the Law.
• "brought a woman...caught in adultery": The action itself, presenting concrete evidence (in their view) of sin. The detail "in the act" makes the accusation severe.
• "tempting him": This clearly states their underlying motive – not a genuine concern for justice or the woman, but a strategic maneuver to catch Jesus in a contradiction.

John 8 4 Bonus section

This scenario powerfully illustrates the difference between religious legalism and the spirit of Christ. The scribes and Pharisees focused on outward adherence to the letter of the Law, using it as a weapon. Jesus, conversely, focused on the internal condition of the heart and the demonstration of God's mercy, which coexists with truth and justice. His silence initially and then His specific words profoundly exposed their judgmentalism. This event is often seen as a prefigurement of Christ’s ministry as not only a Law-giver but also a fulfiller and a harbinger of a new covenant characterized by grace and forgiveness, accessible through repentance. The use of the stone (as a means of judgment) and then the dust (where seeds of righteousness can be sown) also provides symbolic depth.

John 8 4 Commentary

The religious authorities' bringing of the woman caught in adultery to Jesus was a sophisticated trap. They cited the Mosaic Law (Deut 22:22) which prescribed stoning for adultery. Their intention was to force Jesus into a position where He would either:

1. Condemn the woman and uphold the Mosaic Law, potentially being seen as harsh and unmerciful, contrasting with His reputation for compassion.
2. Absolve the woman or propose a lighter sentence, thus appearing to contradict or abolish Moses' Law, a severe offense in the eyes of the people.

Jesus, however, saw through their hypocrisy and the unrighteousness of their method. He recognized that they were not seeking justice for the woman but were using her as a pawn in their game to condemn Him. His response, by stooping down and writing in the dust, and then challenging the guiltless to cast the first stone, turned their own accusations back upon them, highlighting their sin and inability to cast the first stone without judgment. He shifted the focus from the legal punishment to the state of the accusers' own hearts, demonstrating His divine wisdom and righteous judgment, which is deeper than human legalism.