1◆ but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2◆ Early in the morning he returned to the Temple where many people gathered around him and he sat down and taught them. 3◆ The religious teachers and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught committing adultery and made her stand before everyone. 4◆ They said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5◆ Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. What do you say?” 6◆ They said this to try and trap Jesus so they could condemn him. But Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger. 7◆ They kept on demanding an answer, so he stood up and told them, “Whichever one of you has never sinned may throw the first stone at her.” 8◆ Then he bent down again and went on writing on the ground. 9◆ When they heard this they began to leave, one by one, starting with the oldest, leaving Jesus alone in the middle of the crowd with the woman still standing there. 10◆ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Where are they? Didn't anybody stay to condemn you?” 11◆ “No one did, sir,” she replied. “I don't condemn you either,” Jesus told her. “Go, and don't sin anymore.” 12 Jesus spoke again to the people, telling them, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me you won't walk in darkness for you will have the life-giving light.” 13 The Pharisees replied, “You can't be your own witness! What you say doesn't prove anything!” 14 “Even if I am my own witness, my testimony is true,” Jesus told them, “for I know where I came from and where I'm going. But you don't know where I came from or where I'm going. 15 You judge in a typically human way, but I don't judge anyone. 16 Even if I did judge, my judgment would be right because I am not doing this alone. The Father who sent me is with me. 17 Your own law states that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. 18 I am my own witness, and my other witness is my Father who sent me.” 19 “Where is your father?” they asked him. “You don't know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me then you would know my Father as well.” 20 Jesus explained this while he was teaching near the Temple treasury. Yet no one arrested him because his time had not yet come. 21 Jesus told them again, “I'm leaving, and you'll search for me, but you'll die in your sin. You can't come where I'm going.” 22 The Jews wondered out loud, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means when he says ‘You can't come where I'm going’?” 23 Jesus told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 That is why I told you that you'll die in your sins. For if you don't trust in me, the ‘I am,’ you'll die in your sins.” 25 Then they asked him, “Who are you?” “Exactly who I told you I was from the beginning,” Jesus replied. 26 “There's much I could say about you, and much I could condemn. But the one who sent me tells the truth, and what I'm saying to you here in this world is what I heard from him.” 27 They didn't understand that he was talking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus explained to them: “When you have lifted up the Son of man then you'll know that I am the ‘I am,’ and that I do nothing of myself, but only say what the Father taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not abandoned me, for I always do what pleases him.” 30 Many who heard Jesus say these things put their trust in him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who trusted in him, “If you follow my teaching then you really are my disciples. 32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “We're descendants of Abraham! We've never been anyone's slaves,” they answered. “How can you say that we'll be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave doesn't have a permanent place in the family, but the son is part of the family forever. 36 If the Son sets you free, then you're truly free. 37 I know you're Abraham's descendants, yet you're trying to kill me because you refuse to accept my words. 38 I'm telling you what the Father has revealed to me, while you do what your father told you.” 39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you really were children of Abraham, you'd do what Abraham did,” Jesus told them. 40 “But you are trying to kill me now, because I told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham would never have done that. 41 You're doing what your father does.” “Well we are not illegitimate,” they responded. “God alone is our father!” 42 Jesus replied, “If God really was your father, you would love me. I came from God and now I am here. The decision to come wasn't mine, but the one who sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I'm saying? It's because you refuse to hear my message! 44 Your father is the devil, and you love to follow your father's evil desires. He was a murderer from the beginning. He never stood for the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies he reveals his true character, for he's a liar and the father of lies. 45 So because I tell you the truth, you don't believe me! 46 Can any one of you prove that I'm guilty of sin? If I'm telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone who belongs to God listens to what God says. The reason you don't listen is because you don't belong to God.” 48 “Aren't we right to call you a Samaritan who is demon-possessed?” said the Jews. 49 “No, I don't have a demon,” Jesus replied. “I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. 50 I'm not here looking to glorify myself. But there is one who does this for me and who judges in my favor. 51 I tell you the truth, anyone who follows my teaching will never die.” 52 “Now we know you're demon-possessed,” said the Jews. “Abraham died, and the prophets did too, and you're telling us ‘anyone who follows my teaching will never die’! 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and the prophets died. Who do you think you are?” 54 Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. But it is God himself who glorifies me, the one you claim, ‘He is our God.’ 55 You don't know him, but I know him. If I were to say, ‘I don't know him,’ I'd be a liar, just like you. But I do know him, and I do what he says. 56 Your father Abraham was delighted as he looked forward to see my coming, and was so happy when he saw it.” 57 The Jews replied, “You're not even fifty years old, and you've seen Abraham?” 58 “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am,” said Jesus. 59 At this they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus was hidden from them and he left the Temple.
John 8 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Cross references (55)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Matthew 21:1; Mark 11:1; Luke 19:37
- 2 Matthew 26:55; Luke 21:37; Luke 4:20; Matthew 5:1–2; Luke 5:3
- 5 Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:21–24; Ezekiel 16:38–40; Matthew 5:17; Matthew 19:6–8
- 6 Jeremiah 17:13; Luke 10:25; Psalm 38:12–14; Ecclesiastes 3:7; Amos 5:10
- 7 Matthew 7:1–5; Romans 2:21–25; Romans 2:1–3; Matthew 23:25–28; Deuteronomy 17:6–7
- 9 Ecclesiastes 7:22; Romans 2:15; 1 John 3:20; Genesis 42:21–22; Romans 2:22
- 10 Isaiah 41:11–12
- 11 John 3:17; John 5:14; Isaiah 1:16–18; John 8:15; Luke 15:7
- 12 John 12:46; John 9:5; John 12:35; Matthew 5:14; Job 33:28
- 13 John 5:31–47
- 14 John 16:28; John 13:3; John 8:42; John 14:10; Numbers 12:3
- 15 1 Samuel 16:7; John 12:47; John 3:17; John 7:24; Romans 2:1
- 16 John 8:29; Acts 17:31; Isaiah 32:1–2; 1 Samuel 16:7; John 16:32
- 17 Deuteronomy 19:15; Deuteronomy 17:6; Hebrews 10:28; Matthew 18:16; Galatians 3:24
- 18 John 8:58; Revelation 1:17–18; John 8:38; John 8:12; John 8:51
- 19 John 8:54–55; John 16:3; John 14:6–9; 2 Corinthians 4:4–6; Matthew 11:25
- 20 John 7:30; John 7:8; Mark 12:41; Mark 12:43; John 7:44
- 21 John 7:34; John 8:24; 1 Corinthians 15:17–18; John 13:33; Ezekiel 3:18–19
- 22 Psalm 22:6; John 8:52; John 8:48; Psalm 31:18; Hebrews 12:3
- 23 John 3:31; 1 John 2:15–16; John 17:14; John 17:16; 1 John 4:5–6
- 24 John 3:36; Mark 16:16; John 3:18; Hebrews 10:26–29; Hebrews 12:25
- 25 John 5:17–29; John 8:12; John 1:22; Luke 22:67; John 19:9
- 26 John 15:15; John 12:47–50; John 8:40; John 7:28; John 17:8
- 27 Isaiah 6:9; Isaiah 59:10; Romans 11:7–10; John 8:43; John 8:47
- 28 John 5:19; John 5:30; John 6:38; John 12:49–50; John 3:14
- 29 John 6:38; John 16:32; John 15:10; John 5:30; John 4:34
- 30 John 7:31; John 2:23; John 6:14; John 11:45; John 10:42
- 31 2 John 9; John 15:4–9; 2 Timothy 3:14; 1 Timothy 4:16; James 1:25
- 32 Romans 8:2; John 8:36; John 17:17; 1 Peter 2:16; John 14:6
- 33 Matthew 3:9; John 8:39; Nehemiah 5:4–8; Nehemiah 9:27–28; John 8:37
- 34 Romans 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19; Proverbs 5:22; 1 John 3:8–10; Romans 6:12
- 35 Galatians 4:4–7; Luke 15:31; Genesis 21:10; Romans 8:15–17; Galatians 4:30–31
- 36 2 Corinthians 3:17; Galatians 5:1; Romans 8:2; John 8:31–32; Luke 4:18
- 37 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 8:45–47; Romans 9:7; John 7:1; John 8:59
- 38 John 5:19; John 8:44; John 5:30; John 8:41; John 12:49–50
- 39 Galatians 3:7; Romans 9:7; John 8:37; Romans 2:28–29; Matthew 5:45
- 40 John 8:26; Galatians 4:29; Galatians 4:16; Revelation 12:12–13; Psalm 37:32
- 41 Isaiah 64:8; Isaiah 63:16; John 8:38; John 8:44; Malachi 2:11
- 42 John 12:49; John 14:10; John 17:8; John 17:25; John 15:23–24
- 43 Romans 8:7–8; John 12:39–40; John 7:17; John 5:43; Proverbs 28:5
- 44 Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:12; 1 John 3:8–10; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 12:9
- 45 2 Timothy 4:3–4; John 7:7; John 18:37; 2 Thessalonians 2:10; John 3:19–20
- 46 Hebrews 4:15; John 16:8; Matthew 21:25; 1 Peter 2:22; John 8:7
- 47 John 10:26–27; 2 John 9; John 18:37; John 6:45–46; 1 John 3:10
- 48 John 7:20; John 8:52; James 2:19; Matthew 10:25; John 10:20
- 49 1 Peter 2:23; Philippians 2:6–11; John 11:4; John 8:29; John 13:31–32
- 50 John 5:41; John 8:54; John 7:18; John 5:20–23; John 12:47–48
- 51 John 11:25–26; John 5:24; John 3:15–16; John 6:50; John 15:20
- 52 Hebrews 2:9; John 8:51; John 8:48; John 9:24; Zechariah 1:5–6
- 53 John 4:12; Hebrews 7:1–7; Romans 9:5; Isaiah 9:6; John 10:33
- 54 Proverbs 25:27; John 8:50; 2 Peter 1:17; Psalm 110:1–4; 2 Corinthians 10:18
- 55 John 8:19; John 7:28–29; John 8:44; Matthew 11:27; Revelation 3:9
- 56 Hebrews 11:13; Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:7–9; Matthew 13:17; John 8:39
- 58 Exodus 3:14; Colossians 1:17; John 17:5; John 1:1–2; Isaiah 44:6
- 59 John 11:8; John 10:39–40; John 10:30–33; Leviticus 24:16; Luke 4:29–30
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- John 7:53–8:11: the woman taken in adultery
The story of the woman brought to Jesus, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone,” is missing from the earliest Greek manuscripts of John and wanders to other places in some later ones. Yet it was known in the early Church, is printed in the Patriarchal Text, and is read in Orthodox services. Most scholars think it is a genuine early tradition that was not originally part of John.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Ye know well, Beloved, that we all have One Master, and are fellow disciples under Him. Nor are we your masters, because we speak to you from this higher spot; but He is the Master of all, who dwelleth in us all.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
What we have just heard and attentively received, as the holy Gospel was being read, I doubt not that all of us have also endeavored to understand, and that each of us according to his measure apprehended what he could of so great a matter as that which has been read; and while the bread of the word is laid …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
Oh the folly of the Jews! seeking Him as they did before the Passover, and then having found Him in the midst of them, and having often attempted to take Him by their own or by others' hands without being able; they were not even so awed by His power, but set themselves to their wickedness, and desisted not.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
For when the Lord said to them, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day; and he saw it, and was glad," they answered Him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?" Now, such language is fittingly applied to one who has already passed the age of forty, without having as yet reached his fiftieth …
The same is Thy Word, which is also "the Beginning," because also It speaketh unto us. Thus, in the gospel He speaketh through the flesh; and this sounded outwardly in the ears of men, that it might be believed and sought inwardly, and that it might be found in the eternal Truth, where the good and only Master teacheth all …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)