A Woman Caught in Adultery

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Now early in the morning he came again to the temple courts.[a] And all the people were coming,[b] and he sat down and[c] began to teach[d] them.

Now the scribes and the Pharisees brought to him a woman[e] caught in adultery. And standing her in their midst, they said to him, testing him,[f] “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery! Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” (Now they were saying this to test him, so that they would have an occasion[g] to bring charges against him.) But Jesus, bending down, began to write[h] with his[i] finger on the ground, taking no notice.[j] And when they persisted in asking him, straightening up he said[k] to them, “The one of you without sin, let him throw the first stone at her!” And bending down again, he wrote on the ground. Now when they[l] heard it,[m] being convicted by their conscience,[n] they began to depart,[o] one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus[p] was left alone—and the woman who was in their midst. 10 So Jesus, straightening up and seeing no one except the woman,[q] said to her, “Where are those accusers of yours?[r] Does no one condemn you?” 11 And she said, “No one, Lord.” So Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and[s] sin no more.”]][t]

Jesus, the Light of the World

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify concerning yourself! Your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I testify concerning myself, my testimony is true, because I know where I have come from and where I am going. But you do not know where I have come from or where I am going. 15 You judge according to externals; I do not judge anyone. 16 But even if I judge, my judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent me. 17 And even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true.[u] 18 I am the one who testifies concerning myself, and the Father who sent me testifies concerning me.”

19 So they were saying to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus replied, “You know neither me nor my Father! If you had known me, you would have known my Father also.” 20 He spoke these words by the treasury while[v] teaching in the temple courts,[w] and no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me and will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come!” 22 Then the Jews began to say,[x] “Perhaps he will kill himself, because he is saying, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’” 23 And he said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are from this world; I am not from this world. 24 Thus I said to you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

25 So they began to say to him,[y] “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What[z] I have been saying to you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but the one who sent me is true, and the things which I heard from him, these things I say to the world.” 27 (They did not know that he was speaking to them about the Father.)

28 Then Jesus said,[aa] “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will recognize that I am he, and I do nothing from myself, but just as the Father taught me, I say these things. 29 And the one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” 30 While[ab] he was saying these things, many believed in him.

The Truth Will Set You Free

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you continue in my word you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They replied to him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus replied to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And the slave does not remain in the household forever;[ac] the son remains forever.[ad] 36 So if the son sets you free, you will be truly free. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you. 38 I speak the things that I have seen with the Father; so also you do the things that you have heard from the Father.”

The Priority of Jesus Over Abraham

39 They answered and said to him, “Abraham is our father!” Jesus said to them, “If you are children of Abraham, do the deeds of Abraham! 40 But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who spoke to you the truth which I heard from God. This Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father!”

They said[ae] to him, “We were not born from sexual immorality! We have one father, God!” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your father, you would love me, for I have come forth from God and have come. For I have not come from myself, but that one sent me. 43 Why[af] do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own nature,[ag] because he is a liar and the father of lies.[ah] 45 But because I am telling the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Who among you convicts me concerning sin? If I am telling the truth, why[ai] do you not believe me? 47 The one who is from God listens to the words of God. Because of this you do not listen—because you are not of God.”

48 The Jews answered and said to him, “Do we not correctly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” 49 Jesus replied, “I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me! 50 But I do not seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges! 51 Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death forever.”[aj]

52 The Jews[ak] said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham and the prophets died, and you say, ‘If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death forever.’[al] 53 You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you?[am] And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself to be?” 54 Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. The one who glorifies me is my Father, about whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ 55 And you have not known him, but I know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you! But I know him and I keep his word. 56 Abraham your father rejoiced that he would see my day, and he saw it[an] and was glad.”

57 So the Jews said to him, “You are[ao] not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am!” 59 Then they picked up stones in order to throw them[ap] at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple courts.[aq]

Footnotes

  1. John 8:2 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  2. John 8:2 Some manuscripts have “were coming to him”
  3. John 8:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“sat down”) has been translated as a finite verb
  4. John 8:2 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to teach”)
  5. John 8:3 Some manuscripts have “brought a woman”
  6. John 8:4 Some manuscripts omit “testing him
  7. John 8:6 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  8. John 8:6 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to write”)
  9. John 8:6 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  10. John 8:6 Some manuscripts omit “taking no notice”
  11. John 8:7 Some manuscripts have “he straightened up and said”
  12. John 8:9 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  13. John 8:9 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  14. John 8:9 Some manuscripts omit “being convicted by their conscience”
  15. John 8:9 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to depart”)
  16. John 8:9 Some manuscripts have “he”
  17. John 8:10 Some manuscripts omit “and seeing no one except the woman”
  18. John 8:10 Some manuscripts have “said to her, ‘Woman, where are they?”
  19. John 8:11 Some manuscripts have “and from now on”
  20. John 8:11 John 7:53–8:11 is not found in the earliest and best manuscripts and was almost certainly not an original part of the Gospel of John; one significant group of Greek manuscripts places it after Luke 21:38
  21. John 8:17 An allusion to Deut 17:6
  22. John 8:20 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“teaching”) which is understood as temporal
  23. John 8:20 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself
  24. John 8:22 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”)
  25. John 8:25 *The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to say”)
  26. John 8:25 Literally “that which”
  27. John 8:28 Some manuscripts have “said to them”
  28. John 8:30 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was saying”)
  29. John 8:35 Literally “for the age”
  30. John 8:35 Literally “for the age”
  31. John 8:41 Some manuscripts have “Then they said”
  32. John 8:43 Literally “because of what”
  33. John 8:44 *The word “nature” is not in the Greek text but is implied
  34. John 8:44 Literally “of it”
  35. John 8:46 Literally “because of what”
  36. John 8:51 Literally “for the age”
  37. John 8:52 Some manuscripts have “Then the Jews”
  38. John 8:52 Literally “for the age”
  39. John 8:53 *The negative construction in Greek anticipates a negative answer here, indicated in the translation by the phrase “are you
  40. John 8:56 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  41. John 8:57 Literally “you have”
  42. John 8:59 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  43. John 8:59 *Here “courts” is supplied to distinguish this area from the interior of the temple building itself

but de Jesus Iēsous went poreuō to eis the ho Mount oros of ho Olives elaia. Early orthros in the morning · de he came paraginomai again palin to eis the ho temple hieron. · kai All pas the ho people laos were coming erchomai to pros him autos, and kai he sat kathizō down and began to teach didaskō them autos. The ho scribes grammateus and kai the ho Pharisees Pharisaios brought agō · de a woman gynē who had been caught katalambanō in epi adultery moicheia, and kai making histēmi her autos stand before en mesos them, they said legō to Jesus autos, “ Teacher didaskalos, this houtos · ho woman gynē was caught katalambanō in epi the very act autophōros of committing moicheuō adultery . Moses Mōysēs commanded entellō us hēmeis in en · de the ho law nomos to stone lithazō to death · ho such toioutos women . But oun you sy, what tis do you say legō?” ( They said legō this houtos · de as a trap peirazō, so hina they could have echō some basis for accusing katēgoreō him autos.) · ho · de Jesus Iēsous bent kyptō down katō and started writing katagraphō on eis the ho ground with his ho finger daktylos. When hōs · de they kept epimenō on questioning erōtaō him autos, he straightened anakyptō up and kai said legō to them autos, “ The ho man among you hymeis without sin anamartētos, let him ballō be the first prōtos to throw ballō a stone lithos at epi her autos.” · kai Once again palin he bent katakyptō down and wrote graphō on eis the ho ground . At this de, those ho who had heard akouō began to leave exerchomai one heis by kata one heis, starting archō with apo the ho oldest presbyteros; and kai Jesus alone monos was left kataleipō, with kai the ho woman gynē standing eimi before en mesos him. 10 Jesus Iēsous straightened anakyptō up · de · ho and said legō to her autos, “ Woman gynē, where pou are eimi they ? Did katakrinō no oudeis one condemn katakrinō you sy?” 11 She ho · de said legō, “ No oudeis one , Lord kyrios.” Then de Jesus Iēsous said legō, · ho Neither oude do katakrinō I egō condemn katakrinō you sy; go poreuō, and kai from apo · ho now nyn on sin hamartanō no mēketi more .”

12 Again palin Jesus Iēsous spoke laleō to them autos, · ho saying legō, “ I egō am eimi the ho light phōs of the ho world kosmos. The ho one who follows akoloutheō me egō will never ou mē walk peripateō in en · ho darkness skotia, but alla will have echō the ho light phōs of ho life zōē.” 13 Therefore oun the ho Pharisees Pharisaios said legō to him autos, “ You sy are bearing witness martyreō about peri yourself seautou; · ho your sy testimony martyria is eimi not ou valid alēthēs.” 14 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai them autos, · kai saying legō, “ Even kan if I egō am bearing witness martyreō about peri myself emautou, my egō testimony martyria is eimi valid alēthēs, · ho because hoti I know oida where pothen I came erchomai from and kai where pou I am going hypagō. You hymeis, on de the other hand , do not ou know oida where pothen I come erchomai from or ē where pou I am going hypagō. 15 You hymeis judge krinō according kata to · ho human sarx standards ; I egō judge krinō no one oudeis. 16 But de even kai if ean I egō do judge krinō, · ho my emos judgment krisis · ho is eimi trustworthy alēthinos, because hoti it is eimi not ou I eimi alone monos who judge, but alla I egō and kai the ho Father patēr who sent pempō me egō. 17 · kai In en · ho your own hymeteros law nomos · de · ho it is written graphō that hoti the ho testimony martyria of two dyo men anthrōpos is eimi conclusive alēthēs. 18 I egō am eimi one ho who bears witness martyreō about peri myself emautou, and kai the ho Father patēr who sent pempō me egō also bears martyreō witness about peri me egō.” 19 Then oun they began asking legō him autos, “ Where pou is eimi · ho your sy father patēr?” Jesus Iēsous replied apokrinomai, “ You know oida neither oute me egō nor oute · ho my egō Father patēr. If ei you knew oida me egō you oida would an know oida my egō Father patēr also kai.” · ho 20 Jesus spoke laleō these houtos · ho words rhēma near en the ho treasury gazophylakion as he was teaching didaskō in en the ho temple hieron. · kai No oudeis one seized piazō him autos because hoti his autos hour hōra had not oupō yet come erchomai. · ho

21 Then oun he said legō to them autos again palin, “ I egō am going hypagō away , and kai you will search zēteō for me egō but kai will die apothnēskō in en · ho your hymeis sin hamartia. Where hopou I egō am going hypagō, you hymeis cannot ou dynamai come erchomai.” 22 So oun the ho Jews Ioudaios said legō, “ Surely he is not mēti going to kill apokteinō himself heautou, is he , because hoti he said legō, ‘ Where hopou I egō am going hypagō, you hymeis cannot ou dynamai come erchomai’?” 23 · kai He said legō to them autos, “ You hymeis are eimi from ek · ho below katō; I egō am eimi from ek · ho above anō. You hymeis are eimi of ek this houtos · ho world kosmos; I egō am eimi not ou of ek · ho this houtos world kosmos. 24 This is why oun I said legō to you hymeis that hoti you would die apothnēskō in en · ho your hymeis sins hamartia, for gar if ean you do not believe pisteuō that hoti I egō am eimi he, you will die apothnēskō in en · ho your hymeis sins hamartia.” 25 So oun they said legō to him autos, “ Who tis are eimi you sy?” Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, · ho Just hos what tis I have been telling laleō you hymeis from the ho beginning archē. · kai 26 I have echō many polys things to say laleō about peri you hymeis · kai by way of judgment krinō; but alla the ho one who sent pempō me egō is eimi truthful alēthēs, and kagō I say laleō to eis the ho world kosmos only that houtos which hos I have heard akouō from para him autos.” 27 They did not ou understand ginōskō that hoti he was speaking legō to them autos about the ho Father patēr. 28 So oun Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, · ho When hotan you lift hypsoō up the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos, then tote you will know ginōskō that hoti I egō am eimi he. · kai I do poieō nothing oudeis on apo my emautou own , but alla speak laleō only kathōs those things houtos the ho Father patēr has taught didaskō me egō. 29 And kai the ho one who sent pempō me egō is eimi with meta me egō; he has not ou left aphiēmi me egō alone monos, for hoti I egō always pantote do poieō what ho is pleasing arestos to him autos.” 30 As laleō he autos was saying laleō these houtos things , many polys came to believe pisteuō in eis him autos.

31 Jesus Iēsous therefore oun said legō · ho to pros the ho Jews Ioudaios who had put their trust pisteuō in him autos, “ If ean you hymeis continue menō in en · ho my emos word logos, · ho you are eimi truly alēthōs my egō disciples mathētēs, 32 and kai you will come to know ginōskō the ho truth alētheia, and kai the ho truth alētheia will set you hymeis free eleutheroō.” 33 They replied apokrinomai to pros him autos, “ We are eimi descendants sperma of Abraham Abraam and kai have douleuō never pōpote been slaves douleuō to anyone oudeis! How pōs can you sy say legō, ‘ You will become ginomai free eleutheros’?”

34 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai them autos, · ho I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn, everyone pas who ho commits poieō · ho sin hamartia is eimi a slave to ho sin hamartia. 35 A ho · de slave does not ou remain menō in en the ho house oikia for eis all ho time aiōn, but a ho son hyios remains menō for eis all ho time aiōn. 36 If ean therefore oun the ho Son hyios sets you hymeis free eleutheroō, you will be eimi free eleutheros indeed ontōs. 37 I know oida that hoti you are eimi Abraham’ s Abraam descendants sperma; but alla you are intent zēteō on killing apokteinō me egō, because hoti · ho my emos teaching logos · ho makes no ou headway chōreō in en you hymeis. 38 I speak about laleō the things hos I egō have seen horaō while with para my ho Father patēr, but kai you hymeis do poieō that which hos you have heard akouō from para your ho father patēr.”

39 They answered apokrinomai · kai him autos, saying legō, · ho Our hēmeis father patēr is eimi Abraham Abraam!” Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, · ho If ei you were eimi really Abraham’ s Abraam children teknon, · ho you would be doing poieō the ho deeds ergon of ho Abraham Abraam. 40 But de now nyn you are intent zēteō on killing apokteinō me egō, a man anthrōpos who hos has told laleō you hymeis the ho truth alētheia that hos I heard akouō from para · ho God theos. This houtos is not ou what Abraham Abraam did poieō! 41 You hymeis are doing poieō the ho deeds ergon of ho your hymeis father patēr.” They said legō to him autos, “ We hēmeis have gennaō not ou been born gennaō as a result ek of fornication porneia; we have echō only one heis father patēr, · ho God theos himself.” 42 Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, · ho If ei · ho God theos were eimi your hymeis Father patēr, you would an love agapaō me egō, for gar I egō came exerchomai from ek · ho God theos and kai now I am here hēkō. I have erchomai not oude come erchomai on apo my emautou own , but alla he ekeinos sent apostellō me egō. 43 Why dia tis do you ginōskō not ou understand ginōskō the ho way I emos speak lalia? · ho It is because hoti you are unable ou to grasp akouō · ho my emos message logos. · ho 44 You hymeis belong eimi to ek your ho father patēr the ho devil diabolos, and kai your will is thelō to carry out poieō the ho desires epithumia of ho your hymeis father patēr. He ekeinos was eimi a murderer anthrōpoktonos from apo the beginning archē and kai never ou did stand stēkō in en the ho truth alētheia, because hoti there is eimi no ou truth alētheia in en him autos. When hotan he lies laleō, · ho he is giving expression laleō to ek · ho his idios own nature, for hoti he is eimi a liar pseustēs and kai the ho father patēr of lies autos. 45 Yet de because hoti I egō am speaking legō the ho truth alētheia, you do not ou believe pisteuō me egō. 46 Who tis among ek you hymeis can prove me egō guilty elenchō of peri any sin hamartia? If ei I am speaking legō the truth alētheia, why dia tis don’ t ou you hymeis believe pisteuō me egō? 47 Whoever ho belongs eimi to ek · ho God theos listens to akouō the ho words rhēma of ho God theos. The reason why dia you hymeis do not ou listen akouō is that hoti you do eimi not ou belong eimi to ek · ho God theos.”

48 The ho Jews Ioudaios answered apokrinomai · kai him autos, saying legō, “Are we hēmeis not ou correct kalōs in saying legō that hoti you sy are eimi a Samaritan Samaritēs and kai have echō a demon daimonion?” 49 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai, “ I egō do echō not ou have echō a demon daimonion; but alla I honor timaō · ho my egō Father patēr, and kai you hymeis dishonor atimazō me egō. 50 I egō · de am not ou seeking zēteō · ho glory doxa for myself egō; there is eimi one ho who seeks zēteō it and kai he is the one who judges krinō. 51 I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn, if ean anyone tis keeps tēreō · ho my emos word logos, he will never ou mē see theōreō death thanatos.” 52 The ho Jews Ioudaios therefore oun said legō to him autos, “ Now nyn we know ginōskō that hoti you have echō a demon daimonion! Abraham Abraam died apothnēskō, and kai so did the ho prophets prophētēs, yet kai you sy say legō, ‘ If ean anyone tis keeps tēreō · ho my egō word logos, he will never ou mē taste geuomai death thanatos.’ 53 Surely you sy are eimi not greater megas than ho our hēmeis father patēr Abraham Abraam, are you ? He hostis died apothnēskō as kai did apothnēskō the ho prophets prophētēs. Who tis are you making poieō yourself seautou out to be?” 54 Jesus Iēsous replied apokrinomai, “ If ean I egō glorify doxazō myself emautou, · ho my egō glory doxa amounts to eimi nothing oudeis. It is eimi · ho my egō Father patēr who ho glorifies doxazō me egō, of whom hos you hymeis say legō, ‘ He is eimi our hēmeis God theos.’ 55 And kai you have not ou known ginōskō him autos, but de I egō know oida him autos. If kan I were to say legō that hoti I did not ou know oida him autos, I would be eimi like homoios you hymeis, a liar pseustēs; but alla I do know oida him autos, and kai I keep tēreō · ho his autos word logos. 56 Abraham Abraam · ho your hymeis father patēr rejoiced agalliaō to hina see · ho my emos day hēmera; · ho · kai he saw it and kai was glad chairō. 57 So oun the ho Jews Ioudaios said legō to pros him autos, “ You are echō not yet oupō fifty pentēkonta years etos old , and kai you have seen horaō Abraham Abraam?” 58 Jesus Iēsous said legō to them autos, “ I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn, before prin Abraham Abraam came ginomai to be , I egō am eimi!” 59 Then oun they picked airō up stones lithos to hina throw ballō at epi him autos; but de Jesus Iēsous hid kryptō himself and kai went exerchomai out of ek the ho temple hieron.