Translation commentary on John 8:7

As they stood there asking him questions is translated by Moffatt and Jerusalem Bible “as they persisted with their question” and by New English Bible “when they continued to press their question.” This phrase is more literally translated “but as they remained asking questions.” Good News Translation understands the verb “remained” to have the force of “remained standing,” while the other two translations connect it more closely with the participle “asking questions.” Both choices are grammatically possible. Revised Standard Version translates “And as they continued to ask him.” The inclusion of the pronoun “him” is apparently not a translational matter with Revised Standard Version, but a textual matter since “him” is possibly, though not probably, an original part of the Greek text.

Whichever one of you has committed no sin (Jerusalem Bible “If there is one of you who has not sinned”; Revised Standard Version “Let him who is without sin”) is an accurate representation of what Jesus said. The point of reference is one who has not committed sin, rather than “one who is faultless” (New English Bible). One might wrongly infer from reading Moffatt that some of the group were children, “Let the innocent among you throw the first stone.” Has committed no sin may be translated “has never sinned” or “has never done anything wrong.”

Instead of saying may throw the first stone at her, it may be necessary to say “may be the first one to throw a stone at her.” In some languages it may be necessary to indicate that the hurling of the stones was designed to injure and harm. If so, one may say “may be the first one to throw a stone in order to harm her” or “to cause her to suffer” or “to cause her death.”

According to the teaching of Deuteronomy 17.6-7, a person could not be given the death penalty apart from the testimony of two or three witnesses. The witnesses themselves were to throw the first stones at the condemned person. That is obviously the law to which Jesus has reference here, though he qualifies it by stating that only a witness who himself has not sinned may be the first to throw a stone at the woman.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on John 8:7

8:7a

When they continued to question Him: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as When they continued to question Him is more literally “but as they remained asking questions.” It indicates that the religious leaders continued to ask Jesus what his opinion was. Even though Jesus seemed to ignore them, they did not go away.

Here are other ways to translate this clause:

When they continued to ask Jesus their question (New Century Version)
-or-
They kept on asking Jesus about the woman (Contemporary English Version)

8:7b

He straightened up: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He straightened up probably indicates that Jesus stood up from his bent over position. It is the opposite of the word translated as “bent down” in 8:6c.

Here is another way to translate this clause:

he stood up (Revised Standard Version)

and said to them: The words and said to them introduce a direct quotation of Jesus’ words to the religious leaders. In some languages it may be more natural to start a new sentence here. For example:

He said/replied to them

8:7c–d

Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Let…cast is a command in the third person. Jesus did not directly answer the question he had been asked. Instead, he said that someone who had never sinned should be the one to begin to punish the woman.

Here are other ways to translate this sentence:

If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her. (New International Version)
-or-
“If any of you have never sinned, you may throw the first stone at her!”

8:7c

him who is without sin among you: Jesus challenged the woman’s accusers to consider their own lives. He did not say that some of them were actually sinless. He expected that all the accusers would realize that they were sinful. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

anyone here who has never sinned (New Century Version)
-or-
whichever of you is free from sin (Revised English Bible)

8:7d

be the first to cast a stone at her: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be the first to cast a stone at her means “let him throw a stone at her first.” In some languages it may be natural to translate this with a verb phrase. For example:

may throw the first stone at her (Good News Translation)

at her: The pronoun her refers to the woman. In some languages it is more natural to make this explicit. For example:

at this woman

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