# John 8

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-28 | updated: 2026-05-28 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Range note

John 8 contains two notable units. **Verses 1-11 are the *Pericope Adulterae*** (the woman caught in adultery), a textually disputed passage almost certainly **not in the original autograph of John**, absent from the earliest and best manuscripts (P66, P75, Sinaiticus, Vaticanus); see the parallel-passage [John 7.53-8.11](/codex/john-7-53-8-11/) and the textual-criticism issues at [Mark 16.9-20](/codex/mark-16-9-20/). **Verses 12-59 are the I-am-the-light-of-the-world / before-Abraham-was-I-am discourse**, fully attested across the manuscript tradition and load-bearing for Christological readings.

## The woman caught in adultery, verses 3-11 (pericope adulterae)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 3. And the scribes and the Pharisees bring a woman taken in adultery; and having set her in the midst, 4. they say unto him, Teacher, this woman hath been taken in adultery, in the very act. 5. Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such: what then sayest thou of her? 6. And 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. 7. But when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.</span> 8. And again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground. 9. And they, when they heard it, went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst. 10. And Jesus lifted up himself, and said unto her, <span class="rl-speech">Woman, where are they? did no man condemn thee?</span> 11. And she said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said, <span class="rl-speech">Neither do I condemn thee: go thy way; from henceforth sin no more.]</span> (John 8:3-11, ASV, pericope bracketed in ASV apparatus)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 3. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4. They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6. This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.</span> 8. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, <span class="rl-speech">Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?</span> 11. She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, <span class="rl-speech">Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.</span> (John 8:3-11, KJV, pericope retained in TR-based KJV without bracket)

## The I-am claim, verses 56-59

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 56. <span class="rl-speech">Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.</span> 57. The Jews therefore said unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58. Jesus said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.</span> 59. They took up stones therefore to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple. (John 8:56-59, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 56. <span class="rl-speech">Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.”</span> 57. The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?” 58. Jesus said to them, <span class="rl-speech">“Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”</span> 59. Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by. (John 8:56-59, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 56. <span class="rl-speech">Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.</span> 57. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58. Jesus said unto them, <span class="rl-speech">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.</span> 59. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:56-59, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 56. <span class="rl-speech">Abraham, your father, was glad that he might see my day; and he saw, and did rejoice.'</span> 57. <span class="rl-speech">The Jews, therefore, said unto him, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and Abraham hast thou seen?'</span> 58. Jesus said to them, <span class="rl-speech">'Verily, verily, I say to you, Before Abraham's coming, I am;'</span> 59. they took up, therefore, stones that they may cast at him, but Jesus hid himself, and went forth out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (John 8:56-59, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John (traditionally) the apostle / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** the Jewish-Christian and pagan-Christian audience of late-first-century Asia Minor
- **Location:** Jerusalem (the temple, during the Feast of Tabernacles continuation from ch. 7)
- **Time period:** events c. AD 28-30; composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

_John 8 is twice-load-bearing: the **pericope adulterae** (vv. 1-11, textually disputed) is the canonical OT-capital-offense test-case where Jesus *refuses to enact* a Mosaic-capital judgment ("let him who is without sin..."), cited in [Lesson 4.3, Old Testament Difficulties](/codex/lesson-4-3-old-testament-difficulties/) as one of the three witnesses ([Numbers 15](/codex/numbers-15/) / [2 Samuel 11](/codex/2-samuel-11/) / John 8) for the capital-list-is-canonical-but-not-consistently-enacted argument; the **I-am claim** in v. 58 is one of the strongest NT statements of Christ's pre-existent deity, deployed in Christological hubs. The book of John hub ([John](/codex/john-the-apostle/)) provides higher-level theological context. The textual status of the pericope is treated at [John 7.53-8.11](/codex/john-7-53-8-11/) and parallels the issues at [Mark 16.9-20](/codex/mark-16-9-20/)._

## See also

- [Lesson 4.3, Old Testament Difficulties](/codex/lesson-4-3-old-testament-difficulties/), the Course lesson
- [Old Testament Difficult Texts](/codex/old-testament-difficult-texts/), the master OT-difficulties hub
- [Christs Deity](/codex/christs-deity/), related Christological domain
- [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/), book hub

<!-- BACKLINKS:START -->
## Quoted in

**Arguments and defeaters:**

- [Anointing Implies Subordination Objection Defeater](/codex/anointing-implies-subordination-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Anonymous Gospels Objection Defeater](/codex/anonymous-gospels-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.57](/codex/john-8-57/)
- [Anselms Four-Dimensionalist Eternity](/codex/anselms-four-dimensionalist-eternity/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Argument from Conscience](/codex/argument-from-conscience/), via [John 8.9](/codex/john-8-9/)
- [Argument from the Creation of Time](/codex/argument-from-the-creation-of-time/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Atheism Promotes Hatred Lies and Self-Idolatry](/codex/atheism-promotes-hatred-lies-and-self-idolatry/), via [John 8.32](/codex/john-8-32/), [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [Cumulative Case for the Deity of Christ](/codex/cumulative-case-for-the-deity-of-christ/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Did Jesus Send Muhammad Dilemma Argument](/codex/did-jesus-send-muhammad-dilemma-argument/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Jesus Has a God Therefore Not God Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-has-a-god-therefore-not-god-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Jesus Never Claimed to Be God Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-never-claimed-to-be-god-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.24](/codex/john-8-24/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/), [John 8.58-59](/codex/john-8-58-59/)
- [Jesus Said Only God Is Good Objection Defeater](/codex/jesus-said-only-god-is-good-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.46](/codex/john-8-46/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Liar Lunatic or Lord](/codex/liar-lunatic-or-lord/), via [John 8.24](/codex/john-8-24/), [John 8.28](/codex/john-8-28/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Manuscript Variants Bible Corruption Objection Defeater](/codex/manuscript-variants-bible-corruption-objection-defeater/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection Defeater](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.24](/codex/john-8-24/), [John 8.56-58](/codex/john-8-56-58/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/), [John 8.59](/codex/john-8-59/)
- [Paul Invented Christianity Objection Defeater](/codex/paul-invented-christianity-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Perfection Argument](/codex/perfection-argument/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Quran Confirms Jesus is God Argument](/codex/quran-confirms-jesus-is-god-argument/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Religious Pluralism Objection Defeater](/codex/religious-pluralism-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Tree of Knowledge Objection Defeater](/codex/tree-of-knowledge-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [Trinity Invented at Nicaea Objection Defeater](/codex/trinity-invented-at-nicaea-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Unitarian Oneness Binitarian Objection Defeater](/codex/unitarian-oneness-binitarian-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.29](/codex/john-8-29/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Woman Caught in Adultery Was Added Objection Defeater](/codex/woman-caught-in-adultery-was-added-objection-defeater/), via [John 8.1-11](/codex/john-8-1-11/)

**Concepts:**

- [100 Verses of Compassion and God's Goodness](/codex/100-verses-of-compassion-and-gods-goodness/), via [John 8.10-11](/codex/john-8-10-11/)
- [Atheism](/codex/atheism/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/), [John 8.56-58](/codex/john-8-56-58/)
- [Christ is God](/codex/christ-is-god/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Christ vs Other Religion-Founders](/codex/christ-vs-other-religion-founders/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Christ Was Made (Misread Proof-Texts)](/codex/christ-was-made-misread-proof-texts/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Christian Muslim Defender](/codex/christian-muslim-defender/), via [John 8.46](/codex/john-8-46/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Christianity](/codex/christianity/), via [John 8.24](/codex/john-8-24/), [John 8.28](/codex/john-8-28/), [John 8.57-58](/codex/john-8-57-58/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Christology](/codex/christology/), via [John 8.12](/codex/john-8-12/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Christs Deity](/codex/christs-deity/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Divine Wipeouts and Their Justification](/codex/divine-wipeouts-and-their-justification/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Doctrine](/codex/doctrine/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Eternity (Divine)](/codex/eternity-divine/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [External Sources of Thought](/codex/external-sources-of-thought/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [Father-Son Authority Asymmetry](/codex/father-son-authority-asymmetry/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Hypostatic Union](/codex/hypostatic-union/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Incarnation](/codex/incarnation/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Islamic Dilemma](/codex/islamic-dilemma/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/)
- [Lesson 2.4, Christology in One Lesson](/codex/lesson-2-4-christology-in-one-lesson/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Lesson 4.3, Old Testament Difficulties](/codex/lesson-4-3-old-testament-difficulties/)
- [Lesson 4.5, Comparative Religion Engagement](/codex/lesson-4-5-comparative-religion-engagement/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Miaphysitism vs Dyophysitism](/codex/miaphysitism-vs-dyophysitism/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Old Testament Christology](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/), via [John 8.22-24](/codex/john-8-22-24/), [John 8.28](/codex/john-8-28/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Old Testament Witness to the Deity of Christ](/codex/old-testament-witness-to-the-deity-of-christ/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Oneness Pentecostalism](/codex/oneness-pentecostalism/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [OT Sexual-Violence Laws](/codex/ot-sexual-violence-laws/), via [John 8.1-11](/codex/john-8-1-11/)
- [OT vs NT God Objection](/codex/ot-vs-nt-god-objection/), via [John 8.56-58](/codex/john-8-56-58/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/), [John 8.7](/codex/john-8-7/)
- [Salvation of the Unevangelized](/codex/salvation-of-the-unevangelized/), via [John 8.56](/codex/john-8-56/)
- [Satan](/codex/h7854-satan/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [Spirit of Bondage](/codex/spirit-of-bondage/), via [John 8.36](/codex/john-8-36/)
- [Spirit of Hatred](/codex/spirit-of-hatred/), via [John 8.36](/codex/john-8-36/)
- [The Devil](/codex/the-devil/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [The Muslim Defense](/codex/the-muslim-defense/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/), [John 8.59](/codex/john-8-59/)
- [Tree of Knowledge Objection](/codex/tree-of-knowledge-objection/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [Trinity vs Oneness vs Modalism vs Arianism](/codex/trinity-vs-oneness-vs-modalism-vs-arianism/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Virgin Birth](/codex/virgin-birth/), via [John 8.41](/codex/john-8-41/)
- [Young's Literal Translation](/codex/ylt/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [Zeitgeist - Pagan Parallels](/codex/zeitgeist-pagan-parallels/), via [John 8.12](/codex/john-8-12/)

**People:**

- [Jesus](/codex/jesus/), via [John 8.12](/codex/john-8-12/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [John the Apostle](/codex/john-the-apostle/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)

**Lexicon:**

- [G0165 - aion](/codex/g0165-aion/), via [John 8.35](/codex/john-8-35/)
- [G0225 - aletheia](/codex/g0225-aletheia/), via [John 8.32](/codex/john-8-32/)
- [G1096 - ginomai](/codex/g1096-ginomai/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [G1097 - ginosko](/codex/g1097-ginosko/), via [John 8.32](/codex/john-8-32/)
- [G1228 - diabolos](/codex/g1228-diabolos/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [G1401 - doulos](/codex/g1401-doulos/), via [John 8.34-36](/codex/john-8-34-36/)
- [G1492 - oida](/codex/g1492-oida/), via [John 8.55](/codex/john-8-55/)
- [G1510 - eimi](/codex/g1510-eimi/), via [John 8.12](/codex/john-8-12/), [John 8.24](/codex/john-8-24/), [John 8.28](/codex/john-8-28/), [John 8.56-59](/codex/john-8-56-59/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [G3004 - lego](/codex/g3004-lego/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)
- [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), via [John 8.44](/codex/john-8-44/)
- [H0571 - emet](/codex/h0571-emet/), via [John 8.31-32](/codex/john-8-31-32/), [John 8.32](/codex/john-8-32/)
- [H3068 - YHWH](/codex/h3068-yhwh/), via [John 8.24](/codex/john-8-24/), [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)

**Other pages:**

- [Religious Pluralism Objection](/codex/religious-pluralism-objection/), via [John 8.58](/codex/john-8-58/)

<!-- BACKLINKS:END -->
## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.