John 8 8

John 8:8 kjv

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

John 8:8 nkjv

And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

John 8:8 niv

Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

John 8:8 esv

And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.

John 8:8 nlt

Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

John 8 verses

John 8 8 Meaning

John 8:8 depicts Jesus stooping a second time to write on the ground, an action following His challenging statement to the accusers: "He who is without sin among you, let him first throw a stone at her." This repetition emphasizes the profound intentionality and wisdom of His actions. It signifies a deliberate pause, an act of silent judgment that convicts the accusers by turning their focus from the woman's sin to their own, leading them to self-condemn and depart. His action simultaneously highlights His divine authority and compassionate wisdom in resolving a moral and legal trap set by His adversaries.

John 8 8 Context

John 8:8 is situated within the narrative of Jesus in the temple courts, teaching the people, when Scribes and Pharisees bring before Him a woman caught in the act of adultery. Their intention is not justice for the woman but to ensnare Jesus. According to Mosaic Law, adultery was punishable by stoning (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22-24). However, under Roman occupation, Jewish authorities lacked the power of capital punishment. If Jesus affirmed the Law, He risked violating Roman decree; if He opposed it, He would be seen as undermining Mosaic Law. His act of stooping and writing on the ground, especially repeated, serves as a crucial diversion, a moment of profound contemplation, and a challenge to His accusers to self-examine, ultimately defusing their trap. The immediate verse builds upon John 8:7, where Jesus first uttered the challenge, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." The repeated writing prolongs the tension, forces reflection, and shifts the burden of judgment back onto those who accuse.

John 8 8 Word analysis

• And again (Greek: καὶ πάλιν - kai palin): "Palin" means anew, back again, or repeatedly. Its use here indicates a deliberate re-engagement in the same action Jesus performed just prior in verse 6. It signifies His calm resolve, a purposeful re-setting of the scene, and further emphasis on the silent, compelling nature of His response.
• He stooped down (Greek: κατακύψας - katakypsas): An aorist participle, conveying a completed action preceding the main verb "wrote." This verb means "to bend down" or "to incline." This physical posture of lowliness conveys humility, thoughtfulness, and an avoidance of direct, eye-level confrontation, redirecting focus away from Himself and the woman. It is not an act of submission, but a position of authority veiled in humble wisdom, forcing the accusers to contemplate.
• And wrote (Greek: καὶ ἔγραφεν - kai egraphen): The imperfect tense of "to write." This form suggests a continuous or repeated act of writing, or writing as an ongoing action at that moment, not merely a single word. The specific content of what Jesus wrote remains unstated, leading to centuries of interpretive speculation. However, the act of writing is crucial. It functions as a delay tactic, a silent reproof, and an appeal to conscience. The mysterious act creates suspense and compels the accusers to confront the implications of His previous statement.
• On the ground (Greek: εἰς τὴν γῆν - eis tēn gēn): Literally "into the earth" or "onto the soil/dust." The ground is an impermanent, transient medium for writing, in stark contrast to stone tablets on which the Law was inscribed. This might allude to Jeremiah 17:13, where those who forsake the Lord are "written in the earth," symbolizing their ephemeral nature and ultimate shame or destruction. This fleeting medium further suggests that the "writing" was less about a permanent record and more about a catalytic, transient moment of conviction.

• Word Group: "And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground."This complete phrase describes a specific, repeated, and symbolic action of Jesus. It embodies several layers of meaning: a tactical avoidance of their trap, a profound act of non-verbal communication that bypasses intellectual debate and appeals directly to the conscience, and a prophetic gesture hinting at judgment upon those who would condemn without self-reflection. The repetition of the action reinforces its importance and Jesus's measured control over the volatile situation. It transformed a public accusation into a private, inward examination for each accuser.

John 8 8 Bonus section

The unknown content of what Jesus wrote on the ground has fostered countless interpretations throughout Christian history. Some common conjectures include: listing the specific, secret sins of the accusers; writing down the Ten Commandments, thereby reminding them of the Law they professed to uphold but violated; or simply drawing/scribbling to underscore His quiet composure and make them uncomfortable, shifting their attention away from the woman and back onto themselves. Regardless of the exact content, the impact of His writing is the crucial element: it allowed for a public withdrawal of the accusers, providing them a measure of dignity even as their guilt was exposed by their own conscience. This scenario contrasts beautifully with God writing the Law on permanent stone (Ex 31:18) versus Jesus writing in temporary dust, subtly pointing to a shift from rigid external observance to an internal recognition of sin and grace. This profound silence and action demonstrate Jesus's method of dealing with hostility not by verbal combat, but by quiet authority that probes the human heart.

John 8 8 Commentary

John 8:8 highlights Jesus's profound divine wisdom and strategic grace in facing an insidious trap. By repeatedly stooping and writing on the ground, He doesn't merely avoid the Pharisees' challenge; He masterfully deflates it. This deliberate action creates a crucial, tension-filled pause, forcing the self-righteous accusers to wait and contemplate their own state, rather than engaging in a direct argument that would only serve their agenda. The silent act of writing redirects the piercing light of judgment from the accused woman back upon the accusers themselves, stirring their consciences in the wake of Jesus's powerful previous statement, "He who is without sin among you, let him first throw a stone at her." What Jesus wrote is unstated, amplifying its mysterious yet undeniably convicting effect, leading the accusers, exposed by their own hearts, to depart one by one. This unique moment perfectly encapsulates Jesus as the righteous Judge who is also abounding in mercy, prioritizing an awakening of conscience over rigid, hypocritical legalism.