John 8 9

John 8:9 kjv

And 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.

John 8:9 nkjv

Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

John 8:9 niv

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.

John 8:9 esv

But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

John 8:9 nlt

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

John 8 verses

John 8 9 Meaning

This verse describes a profound moment of compassion and moral conviction by Jesus. Faced with a woman caught in adultery and the harsh judgment of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus intervenes. His response reveals his divine understanding and mercy, challenging the accusers' hypocrisy and offering the woman a path to repentance rather than immediate condemnation.

John 8 9 Context

This incident occurs during Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem, likely around the Feast of Tabernacles. He is teaching in the temple courtyard. The scribes and Pharisees, seeking to trap Jesus or discredit him, bring a woman caught in adultery. Under the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 22:22), the prescribed punishment was stoning. Their intention is to force Jesus to either contradict the Law, thus making him an enemy of the Law, or to agree with the Mosaic Law and appear cruel and unmerciful by advocating for her death, which would likely have angered the crowds who were beginning to follow Jesus.

John 8 9 Word Analysis

• καὶ (kai) - and: A simple conjunction connecting phrases and ideas, establishing flow.
• ἐν (en) - in, with, by: A preposition indicating location or means. Here it refers to the location of his teaching.
• τῷ (tō) - the: Definite article, masculine singular.
• ἱερῷ (hierō) - temple: The sacred precinct of Jerusalem, the center of Jewish worship and religious life. This highlights the public and religious setting of the confrontation.
• παρεγένετο (paregeneto) - he came, he arrived: A verb indicating Jesus' presence in the temple, positioning him as the focal point of the narrative.
• ὄρθρου (orthrou) - early morning, dawn: Suggests an early start to the day's teaching and events, emphasizing the urgency or immediate nature of the encounter.
• καὶ (kai) - and: Connecting the act of coming with the teaching.
• πᾶς (pas) - all: Referring to the entirety of the crowd.
• ὁ (ho) - the: Definite article.
• λαὸς (laos) - people: Denotes the general populace, the common people of Israel.
• πρὸς (pros) - to, toward: Indicating movement and direction.
• αὐτὸν (auton) - him: The direct object, referring to Jesus.
• καὶ (kai) - and: Linking the arrival of the people with Jesus' action.
• διδάσκοντος (didaskontos) - teaching: Present participle, describing Jesus' ongoing activity. It emphasizes his role as an instructor and his authority in religious matters.
• αὐτοῦ (autou) - his: Possessive pronoun, referring to Jesus.
• συνῆλθεν (synēlthen) - came together, assembled: Indicates a gathering or congregation of the people around Jesus.
• πᾶς (pas) - all: Again, referring to the entirety of those present.
• ὁ (ho) - the: Definite article.
• λαὸς (laos) - people: Emphasizes the crowd.
• καὶ (kai) - and:
• καθίσας (kathisas) - having sat down: The participle indicates Jesus’ settled posture, a typical position for teaching in that culture, signifying a calm and authoritative presence amidst the arriving crowd.
• ἐδίδασκεν (edidasken) - he taught: Imperfect tense, denoting continuous or repeated action. Jesus was actively and continuously teaching.

Group analysis: The phrase "He came early in the morning and taught them" establishes the setting and Jesus’ consistent dedication to his ministry. The subsequent "all the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them" portrays a growing audience and Jesus' receptiveness and willingness to engage with the crowds. This sets a scene of open teaching, which the scribes and Pharisees will disrupt.

John 8 9 Bonus Section

The exact placement of this passage (John 7:53-8:11) in ancient manuscripts has been a subject of scholarly discussion. While it is absent from some very early manuscripts and others place it elsewhere, the overwhelming majority of later manuscripts include it, and it has been received as Scripture by the church throughout history. The act of writing in the dust by Jesus might also have symbolic significance. In Jewish tradition, writing on the ground could be associated with actions of judgment or with the dissolving of charges, especially if written in the dust where the words would easily be erased. This non-verbal communication added another layer to his message of grace and mercy.

John 8 9 Commentary

Jesus was teaching early in the temple. People gathered to hear him, indicating the growing influence and popularity of his teachings. The crowd's presence underscores the public nature of the encounter that followed. Jesus' response to the woman caught in adultery, instead of engaging with the accusers' trap directly, was to write in the dust. This act is seen as a symbol of inscribing the law of love and mercy upon their hearts and the hearts of all who would later read this account. His invitation for the sinless among them to cast the first stone was a brilliant unmasking of their hypocrisy. By not condemning the woman but instead urging her to sin no more, Jesus demonstrated a higher law of grace and forgiveness, pointing towards his own atoning sacrifice for sins. He offered a path of repentance and renewed life, which is central to his mission.