John 8:9

9 When they heard this, ^[a] they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.

John 8:9 Meaning and Commentary

John 8:9

And they which heard it
Not all, not the disciples of Christ, nor the multitude, but the Scribes and Pharisees:

being convicted by their own conscience;
that they were not without sin, nor free from this; they had a beam in their own eye, who were so forward to observe the mote in another's; and oftentimes so it is, that those who are most forward to reprove, and bear hardest on others for their sins, are as culpable in another way, if not in the same; when sin lies at the door, and conscience is awakened and open, it is as good as a thousand witnesses; and lets in, and owns the sin which lies heavy, and makes sad work; and fills with anguish, confusion, and shame, as it did these men: who

went out one by one;
from the temple, in as private a manner, and as unobserved as they could:

beginning at the eldest:
who might have been most culpable, or however soonest took the hint; being more wise and sagacious:

unto the last;
this is wanting in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions, and in two of Beza's copies, and the Basil edition:

and Jesus was left alone;
not by his disciples, nor the multitude, but his antagonists, who came to tempt and ensnare him: for it follows,

and the woman standing in the midst;
that is, of the company as before.

John 8:9 In-Context

7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.”

8 And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.

9 When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there.

10 Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”

Footnotes

• [a]. NE, BYZ, and TR include and were convicted by their conscience,