Devine Scripture

John 8:5

What does John 8:5 mean?

A plain-English look at John 8:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 8:5 means

They appeal to Moses’ law, which prescribed severe penalties for adultery, including stoning in certain cases. Their question—“what then sayest thou of her?”—is a snare. If Jesus contradicts the Law, they can accuse Him of lawlessness. If He endorses immediate stoning, they can claim He lacks compassion and perhaps place Him in conflict with Roman oversight of executions. Their tactic pits mercy against justice, hoping to discredit Him either way. Yet they misunderstand the Law’s purpose and the Messiah’s mission. Jesus will uphold the Law’s holiness and reveal its true end: not to license hypocrisy, but to lead sinners to repentance and life.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Now in the law Moses gave directions that such women were to be stoned; what do you say about it?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and in the law, Moses did command us that such be stoned; thou, therefore, what dost thou say?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Now Moses in the law commanded us to stone such a one. But what sayest thou?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Now in the law Moses has commanded us to stone such; thou therefore, what sayest thou?

Context

This verse tightens the legal frame and forces an answer. The claim that Moses commanded stoning puts Jesus under public scrutiny as a teacher of Israel. The next verse explains their motive clearly: they want grounds to accuse Him. Understanding this malicious intent helps the reader appreciate Jesus’ nonverbal response—stooping and writing—and His later, piercing word about who may cast the first stone. The Law is now on the table; how Jesus relates to it will shape the crowd’s perception and anticipate later debates in the chapter about witness, judgment, and truth.

v.4they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act.

v.5This passage

v.6And this they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 5:17

    Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.

  • Matthew 22:16

    And they send to him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, and carest not for any one: for thou regardest not the person of men.

  • Matthew 19:6

    So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

  • Ezekiel 16:38

    And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of wrath and jealousy.

  • Leviticus 20:10

    And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

  • Deuteronomy 22:21

    then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death with stones, because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the harlot in her father’s house: so shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.

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