8:2 8:2

John 8:3

8:4 8:4

Bible Versions

And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
And {G1161} the scribes {G1122} and {G2532} Pharisees {G5330} brought {G71} unto {G4314} him {G846} a woman {G1135} taken {G2638} in {G1722} adultery {G3430}; and {G2532} when they had set {G2476} her {G846} in {G1722} the midst {G3319},
The Torah-teachers and the P’rushim brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery and made her stand in the center of the group.
The scribes and Pharisees, however, brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before them
And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst,

Context of John 8:3

This verse immediately follows Jesus' teaching in the Temple, where He declared Himself the "light of the world." The scene unfolds in the temple courts, a public and prominent place, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation. The individuals bringing the woman are the scribes and Pharisees, key religious leaders of the time. Their primary motivation in this encounter, as becomes evident in subsequent verses, was not to uphold justice or moral purity, but to entrap Jesus in His words, hoping to find grounds for accusation either against Roman law or against the Mosaic Law.

The act of "setting her in the midst" highlights the public nature of their accusation and the deliberate intent to shame the woman and create a spectacle for Jesus to address. This event is a classic example of the tension between the strict legalism of the Pharisees and Jesus' message of grace and truth.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Hypocrisy of Religious Leaders: The scribes and Pharisees presented themselves as upholders of the Law, yet their actions here reveal a profound hypocrisy. They focused solely on the woman's sin while ignoring the man involved in the adultery (who, according to the Law, should also have been brought forth – Leviticus 20:10). Their true aim was not justice, but a public trap for Jesus.
  • The Trap for Jesus: By bringing the woman, they presented Jesus with a dilemma. If He upheld the Mosaic Law by calling for her stoning (Deuteronomy 22:22), He would appear cruel and potentially violate Roman authority (which reserved capital punishment). If He showed mercy, they could accuse Him of undermining the Law. This moment was designed to force Jesus into an impossible position.
  • Public Shame and Judgment: The woman is brought to Jesus in the most humiliating way possible, "taken in adultery" and "set in the midst." This public exposure was meant to maximize her shame and pressure Jesus into making a judgment. It underscores the harshness of a legalistic system devoid of compassion.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "taken in adultery" (Greek: moicheuomenē) indicates she was caught in the very act, leaving no room for doubt about her guilt under the Law. The choice of verb emphasizes the undeniable nature of the transgression, which the accusers used to strengthen their case against Jesus. The term "scribes and Pharisees" identifies them as the two dominant religious-legal groups of the time, often associated with strict adherence to the Law and traditions, and frequently found in conflict with Jesus throughout the Gospels.

Practical Application

John 8:3 serves as a powerful reminder about the dangers of self-righteousness and the judgmental spirit. It challenges us to examine our own motives when confronting the sins of others. Are we genuinely seeking justice and restoration, or are we using someone else's failings to elevate ourselves or to condemn others? This verse also highlights Jesus' consistent confrontation with hypocrisy, showing that outward religious observance without inward purity and compassion is empty. It sets the stage for Jesus' profound display of grace and wisdom in the verses that follow, offering a pathway to mercy over condemnation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

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