John 8 6

John 8:6 kjv

This 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.

John 8:6 nkjv

This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

John 8:6 niv

They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.

John 8:6 esv

This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.

John 8:6 nlt

They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

John 8 verses

John 8 6 Meaning

John 8:6 describes the intent of the scribes and Pharisees, who were setting a legal trap for Jesus by bringing a woman caught in adultery. Their motive was to test Him, hoping He would make a statement or decision that they could use to accuse Him legally, either for violating Roman law by ordering an execution or for disregarding Mosaic Law by pardoning her. Jesus' initial response was not to engage verbally, but He stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, an action that deliberately avoided their direct challenge and left them in suspense, seemingly oblivious to their question.

John 8 6 Context

This verse is part of the account often known as the Pericope Adulterae (John 7:53-8:11), occurring in the temple treasury area after the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus had been teaching there, claiming to be the light of the world. The scribes and Pharisees, representatives of religious authority, were deeply antagonistic towards Jesus due to His teachings and growing popularity. They brought a woman "caught in adultery" before Jesus, seeking to discredit Him. This scenario presented a classic legal dilemma for Jesus: if He upheld the Mosaic Law (Deut 22:22), He would command her stoning, thereby violating Roman legal authority which reserved capital punishment for the Roman governor. If He acquitted her, He would appear to disregard God's law, undermining His claims of divine authority and righteousness. Their primary goal, as stated in the verse, was not justice for the woman but to find an "accusation" (Greek: katēgorian) against Jesus, aiming to ruin His reputation or have Him arrested.

John 8 6 Word analysis

• This they said: (touto de elegon, τοῦτο δὲ ἔλεγον)

  • Highlights their direct, verbal confrontation. Their words are emphasized as a calculated challenge.

• testing Him: (peirazontes auton, πειράζοντες αὐτόν)

  • Peirazō implies more than a mere question; it signifies tempting, scrutinizing, or trying with hostile intent, aiming to reveal a weakness or make Him stumble.
  • This term is often used in the context of putting God to the test in a challenging or doubting manner.
  • Significance: Reveals the malicious and insidious nature of their inquiry, not a genuine desire for truth.

• that they might have something of which to accuse Him: (hina echōsin katēgorein autou, ἵνα ἔχωσιν κατηγορεῖν αὐτοῦ)

  • Katēgoreō specifically means to accuse formally, to bring charges, often in a legal sense.
  • This phrase clarifies their precise legal objective: to find legal grounds to indict Jesus, regardless of the woman's actual guilt or justice.
  • Significance: Underscores their primary agenda was to trap Jesus, not uphold righteousness.

• But Jesus: (Ho de Iēsous, Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς)

  • "But" (de) introduces a sharp contrast, shifting from their verbal assault to Jesus' unexpected, silent response.
  • Significance: Marks the immediate shift in narrative and highlights Jesus' unconventional counter-move.

• stooped down: (katō kypsas, κάτω κύψας)

  • Kyptō means to bend down or stoop, often out of humility, to pick something up, or to concentrate.
  • This physical action suggests an unhurried, thoughtful, or perhaps even dismissive posture towards their challenge.
  • Significance: Could convey ignoring them, collecting His thoughts, or focusing on something more important (the ground).

• and wrote on the ground: (egraphen eis tēn gēn, ἔγραφεν εἰς τὴν γῆν)

  • Graphō is "to write." The imperfect tense egraphen (was writing) suggests a continuous, repetitive, or ongoing action.
  • The "ground" (gē) indicates writing in the dirt or dust, implying temporary marks that can be easily erased.
  • Significance: Highly enigmatic action. Numerous interpretations range from symbolic judgments to a simple act of ignoring them, buying time, or preparing a deeper message.

• with His finger: (tō dactylō, τῷ δακτύλῳ)

  • This detail evokes potent Old Testament imagery where the "finger of God" (dactylō theou) signifies divine agency, particularly in writing the Ten Commandments (Exod 31:18; Deut 9:10).
  • Significance: Connects Jesus' action directly to God's act of law-giving and judgment, hinting at His divine authority and perhaps an implicit re-inscription or re-interpretation of the Law.

• as though He did not hear them: (mē prosopoioumenos, μὴ προσποιούμενος)

  • This phrase indicates a deliberate act of feigning ignorance or disregard, a calculated non-response.
  • It's a way for Jesus to avoid directly answering their trap without refusing to acknowledge the situation.
  • Significance: Gave Jesus time to think, denied them an immediate verbal answer to twist, and heightened the tension, focusing attention on His physical act.

• Word-groups analysis:

  • "This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him."

    • This complete clause reveals the antagonists' malicious premeditation and tactical brilliance in attempting to trap Jesus within a legal, moral, and political dilemma. They carefully crafted their question with the explicit intent of finding grounds for legal condemnation (katēgorein) against Him. It sets the stage for Jesus' need for a profound and clever response.

  • "But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear them."

    • This group of words describes Jesus' full and complex initial reaction. The "But" sharply contrasts His action with their aggressive questioning. His physical posture of "stooping down" signifies a change of focus or a deliberate withdrawal from their direct verbal assault. The act of "writing on the ground with His finger" is the central mystery, charged with possible divine significance (linking to God writing the Law) and ambiguity. His feigned inattention ("as though He did not hear") provides a crucial delay, allows Him to consider His reply, and frustrates their immediate goal of eliciting a reactive answer they could use.

John 8 6 Bonus section

The passage John 7:53-8:11, including John 8:6, faces significant textual questions. While accepted into the New Testament canon and deeply treasured for its theological and spiritual insights, it is absent from some of the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts. When it does appear, its location varies. However, from a theological and narrative perspective, it perfectly fits within John's portrayal of Jesus' wisdom, mercy, and His confrontations with the religious leaders. Regardless of its specific manuscript history, its message about testing Jesus, human hypocrisy, and divine mercy remains consistent with the overall Gospel message. Many scholars interpret Jesus' writing on the ground as His silent appeal to a higher, divine law, reminding the accusers that the One who truly judges is God, who also discerns the heart, thus challenging their right to cast the first stone. Some interpret it as a means for Jesus to appear non-compliant with their legal process or even writing their own secret sins in the dust.

John 8 6 Commentary

John 8:6 depicts Jesus' masterly handling of a carefully constructed trap designed by His adversaries. Instead of falling into the dilemma of either violating Roman authority or the Mosaic Law, Jesus offers a silent, enigmatic response. His act of writing on the ground, potentially drawing on imagery from Jeremiah 17:13 ("those who forsake me shall be written in the earth"), suggests a divine pronouncement or a challenge to their own sin. This pause, and His unique response, stripped the accusers of the quick answer they sought, shifting the focus from the woman's alleged sin to the accusers' motives and hearts. Jesus' action conveyed wisdom, divine authority, and patience, forcing His questioners to reconsider their position before He ultimately delivered His piercing verdict (v. 7). This approach exemplified Jesus' wisdom in not engaging with malicious intent on its own terms, but redirecting the conversation towards righteousness and truth.