John 8:4
What does John 8:4 mean?
A plain-English look at John 8:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 8:4 means
The leaders press the charge with precision: the woman was caught “in the very act.” They stress certainty, leaving no room for doubt. Their emphasis, however, masks a deeper problem—zeal for condemnation rather than justice. While the facts seem clear, their motives are not. This framing attempts to force Jesus into agreeing with their verdict and chosen penalty. Yet by underscoring the flagrancy of the sin, they inadvertently prepare the stage for Jesus to address a larger truth: God’s standard pierces beyond acts to the heart, where hidden sins abound among accusers as well as the accused.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And putting her forward, they said to him, Master, this woman has been taken in the very act of sinning against the married relation.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862they say to him, `Teacher, this woman was taken in the very crime--committing adultery,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And said to him: Master, this woman was even now taken in adultery.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890they say to him, Teacher, this woman has been taken in the very act, committing adultery.
Context
The leaders move from physically presenting the woman to verbally charging her, tightening their legal net around Jesus. They build momentum toward invoking Moses’ law in the next verse. The careful wording sets up a binary choice: condone or condemn. The scene is confrontational and calculated. The reader needs to see this escalation to understand why Jesus’ later answer, which seems simple, is in fact profoundly wise—He affirms the Law’s justice while exposing hypocrisy and extending mercy without excusing sin.
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