John 8:7

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

So {G1161} when {G5613} they continued {G1961} asking {G2065} him {G846}, he lifted up himself {G352}, and said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846}, He that is without sin {G361} among you {G5216}, let him {G906} first {G4413} cast {G906} a stone {G3037} at {G1909} her {G846}.

When they kept questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “The one of you who is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

But when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

Commentary

In John 8:7, Jesus delivers one of His most profound and challenging statements during a pivotal encounter in the Temple. This verse is central to the narrative of the woman caught in adultery, revealing Jesus' divine wisdom, moral authority, and compassionate nature in the face of legalistic accusation.

Context

This powerful declaration is spoken during a dramatic scene where the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman caught in the act of adultery before Jesus. Their true motive was not justice for the woman, but to trap Jesus, forcing Him to either contradict the Mosaic Law (which prescribed stoning for adultery, as seen in Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22) or to appear merciless. Jesus initially stoops down and writes on the ground, a symbolic gesture of profound contemplation or perhaps even a silent indictment of their own sins. When they persisted in demanding His judgment, He stood up and uttered these unforgettable words.

Key Themes

  • Divine Wisdom and Authority: Jesus expertly navigates a legalistic trap without directly opposing the Law. His statement shifts the focus from the woman's sin to the accusers' own moral standing, exposing their hypocrisy and demonstrating His superior wisdom.
  • Hypocrisy and Self-Examination: The core message challenges the accusers to confront their own sinfulness before condemning others. It highlights the danger of self-righteousness, where one is quick to point out the faults of others while ignoring their own.
  • Mercy Over Condemnation: While not condoning the woman's sin, Jesus prioritizes mercy and offers a path to grace. He does not condemn her, but instead, invites her to "go, and sin no more" after her accusers depart. This underscores a key aspect of God's character.
  • Universal Sinfulness: Implicit in Jesus' challenge is the truth that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). No human being is truly "without sin" in an absolute sense, making any judgment from a position of moral superiority impossible.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "He that is without sin" (Greek: ho anhamartētos) refers to someone who is entirely free from moral fault or guilt, not just in the specific act of adultery, but in their entire being. Jesus' challenge is absolute, requiring a moral purity that none of the accusers possessed. The act of "casting a stone" was the initial, decisive action in an execution by stoning, symbolizing the ultimate act of condemnation and judgment.

Practical Application

This verse profoundly impacts our understanding of judgment, mercy, and personal responsibility. It serves as a timeless reminder:

  • Guard Against Hypocrisy: Before we are quick to judge or condemn others for their failings, we must first examine our own hearts and lives. As Jesus teaches elsewhere, we should remove the "beam" from our own eye before attempting to remove the "mote" from our brother's eye (Matthew 7:5).
  • Embrace Humility: Acknowledging our own imperfections fosters humility and empathy, leading us to extend grace to others rather than harsh judgment.
  • Focus on Grace: While sin must be addressed, this passage encourages a spirit of restoration and forgiveness, mirroring God's own character, rather than immediate condemnation.

John 8:7 continues to challenge believers to live lives marked by self-reflection, compassion, and a humble awareness of their own need for grace, rather than self-righteous judgment.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Matthew 7:1

    Judge not, that ye be not judged.

  • Matthew 7:5

    Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

  • Romans 2:21

    Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

  • Romans 2:25

    For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

  • Romans 2:1

    ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

  • Romans 2:3

    And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

  • Deuteronomy 17:6

    At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; [but] at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
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