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 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Conviction of Sin & Conscience | ||
| Rom 2:15 | ...their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another... | Inner operation of conscience. |
| 1 Jn 1:8-9 | If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves... If we confess our sins... | Acknowledging universal sinfulness and need for confession. |
| Ps 38:18 | For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. | Personal sorrow and declaration of sin to God. |
| Ps 51:3 | For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. | Consistent awareness of personal sin. |
| Rom 3:23 | For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; | Universal reality of sin. |
| Tit 1:15 | Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. | Defiled conscience of the unrighteous. |
| Hypocrisy & Judging | ||
| Mt 7:1-5 | Judge not, that ye be not judged... first cast out the beam out of thine own eye... | Warning against hypocritical judgment. |
| Rom 2:1-3 | ...thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself... | Self-condemnation for judging others. |
| Mt 23:27-28 | Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres... | Jesus' rebuke of religious hypocrisy. |
| Jas 4:11-12 | Speak not evil one of another... there is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? | Usurping God's exclusive role as ultimate Judge. |
| Ps 7:15-16 | He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head... | Consequences of devising evil against others. |
| Forgiveness & Grace | ||
| Jn 8:10-11 | When Jesus had lifted up himself... Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. | Jesus' direct act of forgiveness and mercy. |
| Lk 7:47 | Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much... | Grace extended to a repentant sinner. |
| Rom 8:1 | There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus... | Freedom from condemnation in Christ. |
| Rom 5:8 | But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. | God's love shown while humanity was still sinful. |
| Eph 2:4-5 | But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us... hath quickened us together with Christ... | God's rich mercy as the source of salvation. |
| The Law & Righteousness | ||
| Lev 20:10 | And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife... the adulterer and the adulteress shall be surely put to death. | Mosaic Law regarding adultery and its penalty. |
| Deut 22:22 | If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die... | Confirms the legal penalty for adultery. |
| Rom 10:4 | For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. | Christ's fulfillment of the Law for righteousness. |
| Gal 3:10-11 | For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse... no man is justified by the law in the sight of God... | The Law reveals sin but cannot justify. |
| Phil 3:9 | ...not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ... | Righteousness by faith in Christ, not by the Law. |
| Wisdom & Authority of Jesus | ||
| Jn 7:46 | The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. | Acknowledgment of Jesus' unparalleled wisdom and authority. |
| 1 Co 1:25 | Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. | God's divine wisdom surpassing human logic. |
| Mt 22:15-22 | ...they marvelled, and left him, and went their way. | Other instances where Jesus silenced his opponents with wisdom. |
John 8 verses
John 8 9 Meaning
John 8:9 describes the outcome of Jesus' challenge to the accusers of the woman caught in adultery. After Jesus stated, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her," the accusers experienced a profound internal conviction by their own conscience. As a result, they began to depart, one by one, starting with the oldest and continuing until every accuser had left. This left Jesus alone with the woman still standing exposed in the center.
John 8 9 Context
John 8:9 takes place within the widely recognized (though sometimes textually disputed) account of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, located between John 7:53 and 8:11. The setting is the Temple in Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles, where Jesus is teaching. The scene is abruptly interrupted by the scribes and Pharisees, who bring forward a woman caught in the act of adultery. Their true intention is not to uphold justice but to lay a legal trap for Jesus. If He commanded her stoning as per Mosaic Law (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22), He would contravene Roman law, which prohibited Jewish authorities from executing capital punishment. If He dismissed her, they would accuse Him of undermining the Law of Moses. Jesus' response to their persistent questioning—writing on the ground and then declaring, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (Jn 8:7)—masterfully defuses their scheme. Verse 9 then describes the immediate and profound impact of Jesus' words on the accusers.
John 8 9 Word analysis
- And they which heard it: This refers specifically to the scribes and Pharisees who were pushing for the woman's condemnation. "It" refers to Jesus' statement in verse 7: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her," and likely also his preceding and perhaps ongoing action of writing on the ground. Jesus' words shifted the focus from judging the woman's sin to examining their own lives.
- being convicted: The Greek word is elenchomenoi (ἐλεγχόμενοι), a present passive participle of elegchō. This signifies an internal process of being "exposed," "reproved," "convicted," or "demonstrated to be in the wrong." It implies a forceful yet internal realization of guilt, not just an accusation. They weren't just feeling bad; their moral failure was being laid bare.
- by their own conscience: Greek: syneidēseōs (συνειδήσεως). This term denotes the human moral faculty, an internal witness that discerns right from wrong and bears testimony to moral truth. The conviction came from within each individual, aligning with their innate knowledge of God's law (Rom 2:15), activated and highlighted by Jesus' piercing wisdom.
- went out: This signifies a retreat and a concession of their failure to genuinely uphold the Law. It was a withdrawal born of shame and the inability to justify their presence. Their exit was not violent or rebellious, but rather a quiet, shamed departure.
- one by one: Emphasizes the personal nature of the conviction. Each accuser individually processed Jesus' words and his own sinfulness. It was not a collective flight in panic, but a sequence of individual decisions based on self-reflection.
- beginning at the eldest: This detail is significant. The elders (presbyteroi) in Jewish society held positions of respect, authority, and often were presumed to be more knowledgeable in the Law. Their leading the departure indicates a deeper or more immediate recognition of their hypocrisy and sin, perhaps due to accumulated life experiences or a greater understanding of what true righteousness demanded. It implies a leadership of shame, setting an example for the younger ones to follow.
- even unto the last: This underscores the universality of the conviction among the accusers. Not a single person could legitimately claim to be without sin to cast a stone. All were silenced and sent away by their awakened consciences.
- and Jesus was left alone: A profound moment of isolation for Jesus. All the self-righteous accusers, who sought to use the Law for their own agenda, had disappeared. This highlights Jesus' unique position as the only sinless judge and Savior.
- and the woman standing in the midst: She remains in her vulnerable position, physically exposed. However, the absence of her human accusers dramatically shifts her predicament. She is now standing not before a mob seeking her death, but before the only One who is truly righteous and capable of judgment, yet offers mercy.
John 8 9 Bonus section
The power of Jesus' method here highlights that true repentance is an internal work. He didn't preach a long sermon to the accusers; a single, profound truth was sufficient to prick their hearts and activate their conscience. The silent, almost shameful retreat of the religious elite served as a public testament not only to their guilt but also to Jesus' authority, compelling even His adversaries to implicitly acknowledge His divine insight into the human heart. This event showcases Jesus as the ultimate exposer of sin, yet simultaneously the ultimate dispenser of grace. The fact that "the eldest" left first also signifies a sobering reality: accumulated years can mean accumulated sins, and perhaps a deeper burden of hypocrisy for those who are meant to be moral guides.
John 8 9 Commentary
John 8:9 encapsulates the divine wisdom of Jesus, who masterfully turned the judgment back upon the accusers, revealing the internal moral compass God has placed in humanity. His simple yet profound challenge ("He that is without sin...") immediately triggered a deep, personal conviction within each of the scribes and Pharisees. Their orderly, sequential departure, beginning with the most senior, eloquently testified to the undeniable weight of their own hypocrisy and accumulated sin, making them unable to execute the Law they outwardly championed. This powerful scene removes the self-righteous crowd, leaving the sinless Christ alone with the sinner, preparing the way for Jesus' demonstration of grace and mercy, illustrating His true purpose not to condemn but to save.