John 8 - Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

8 ¹ But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.^(A)

An Adulteress Forgiven

² At dawn He went to the temple complex^(B) again, and all the people were coming to Him.^(C) He sat down^(D) and began to teach them.

³ Then the scribes and the Pharisees^(E) brought a woman caught in adultery,^(F) making her stand in the center. ⁴ “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery.^{(G) 5} In the law Moses^(H) commanded us to stone such women.^(I) So what do You say?” ⁶ They asked this to trap Him,^(J) in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him.

Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. ⁷ When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin^(K) among you^(L) should be the first to throw a stone at her.”^(M)

⁸ Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. ⁹ When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only He was left, with the woman in the center. ¹⁰ When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ “No one, Lord,”^[a] she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,”^(N) said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”]^[b]

The Light of the World

¹² Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am^(O) the light^(P) of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”^(Q)

¹³ So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are testifying about Yourself. Your testimony is not valid.”^[c]

¹⁴ “Even if I testify about Myself,” Jesus replied, “My testimony is valid,^[d] because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going.^{(R) 15} You judge^(S) by human standards.^[e](T) I judge no one.^{(U) 16} And if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone, but I and the Father who sent Me judge^(V) together.^{(W) 17} Even in your law it is written that the witness of two men is valid.^{(X) 18} I am the One who testifies^(Y) about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me.”

¹⁹ Then they asked Him, “Where is Your Father?”

“You know neither Me nor My Father,”^(Z) Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would also know My Father.”^{(AA) 20} He spoke these words by the treasury,^[f](AB) while teaching in the temple complex. But no one seized Him, because His hour^[g] had not come.

Jesus Predicts His Departure

²¹ Then He said to them again, “I’m going away;^(AC) you will look for Me, and you will die in your sin.^(AD) Where I’m going, you cannot come.”^(AE)

²² So the Jews said again, “He won’t kill Himself, will He, since He says, ‘Where I’m going, you cannot come’^(AF)?”

²³ “You are from below,” He told them, “I am from above.^(AG) You are of this world;^(AH) I am not of this world.^{(AI) 24} Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He,^[h] you will die in your sins.”

²⁵ “Who are You?” they questioned.

“Precisely what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. ²⁶ “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the One who sent Me^(AJ) is true, and what I have heard from Him—these things I tell the world.”^(AK)

²⁷ They did not know He was speaking to them about the Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,^(AL) then you will know that I am^(AM) He, and that I do nothing on My own.^(AN) But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. ²⁹ The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone,^(AO) because I always do what pleases Him.”

Truth and Freedom

³⁰ As He was saying these things, many believed in Him. ³¹ So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word,^[i](AP) you really are My disciples. ³² You will know the truth,^(AQ) and the truth will set you free.”

³³ “We are descendants^[j] of Abraham,”^(AR) they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴ Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.^{(AS) 35} A slave does not remain in the household forever,^(AT) but a son does remain forever.^{(AU) 36} Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free. ³⁷ I know you are descendants^[k] of Abraham,^(AV) but you are trying to kill Me because My word^[l] is not welcome among you. ³⁸ I speak what I have seen^(AW) in the presence of the Father;^[m](AX) therefore, you do what you have heard from your father.”

³⁹ “Our father is Abraham!” they replied.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” Jesus told them, “you would do what Abraham did.^{(AY) 40} But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth^(AZ) that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this! ⁴¹ You’re doing what your father does.”^(BA)

“We weren’t born^(BB) of sexual immorality,”^(BC) they said. “We have one Father—God.”^(BD)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me,^(BE) because I came from God^(BF) and I am here. For I didn’t come on My own, but He sent Me. ⁴³ Why don’t you understand what I say? Because you cannot listen to^[n] My word.^{(BG) 44} You are of your father the Devil,^(BH) and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer^(BI) from the beginning^(BJ) and has not stood in the truth,^(BK) because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature,^[o] because he is a liar and the father of liars.^{[p] 45} Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. ⁴⁶ Who among you can convict Me of sin?^(BL) If I tell the truth, why don’t you believe Me? ⁴⁷ The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

Jesus and Abraham

⁴⁸ The Jews responded to Him, “Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan^(BM) and have a demon?”^(BN)

⁴⁹ “I do not have a demon,” Jesus answered. “On the contrary, I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. ⁵⁰ I do not seek My glory;^(BO) the One who seeks it also judges. ⁵¹ I assure you: If anyone keeps My word,^(BP) he will never see death—ever!”

⁵² Then the Jews said, “Now we know You have a demon. Abraham died and so did the prophets. You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death—ever!’ ⁵³ Are You greater than our father Abraham who died? Even the prophets died. Who do You pretend to be?”^[q]

⁵⁴ “If I glorify Myself,” Jesus answered, “My glory is nothing. My Father—you say about Him, ‘He is our God’—He is the One who glorifies Me. ⁵⁵ You’ve never known Him, but I know Him. If I were to say I don’t know Him,^(BQ) I would be a liar like you. But I do know Him,^(BR) and I keep His word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it^(BS) and rejoiced.”

⁵⁷ The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham?”^[r]

⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.”^[s](BT)

⁵⁹ At that, they picked up stones^(BU) to throw at Him.^(BV) But Jesus was hidden^[t](BW) and went out of the temple complex.^[u](BX)

Footnotes

1. John 8:11 Or Sir; Jn 4:15,49; 5:7; 6:34; 9:36
2. John 8:11 Other mss omit bracketed text
3. John 8:13 The law of Moses required at least 2 witnesses to make a claim legally valid (v. 17).
4. John 8:14 Or true
5. John 8:15 Lit You judge according to the flesh
6. John 8:20 A place for offerings to be given, perhaps in the court of women
7. John 8:20 The time of His sacrificial death and exaltation; Jn 2:4; 7:30; 12:23,27; 13:1; 17:1
8. John 8:24 Jesus claimed to be deity, but the Pharisees didn’t understand His meaning.
9. John 8:31 Or My teaching, or My message
10. John 8:33 Or offspring; lit seed; Jn 7:42
11. John 8:37 Or offspring; lit seed; Jn 7:42
12. John 8:37 Or My teaching, or My message
13. John 8:38 Other mss read of My Father
14. John 8:43 Or cannot hear
15. John 8:44 Lit from his own things
16. John 8:44 Lit of it
17. John 8:53 Lit Who do You make Yourself?
18. John 8:57 Other mss read and Abraham has seen You?
19. John 8:58 I AM is the name God gave Himself at the burning bush; Ex 3:13-14; see note at Jn 8:24.
20. John 8:59 Or Jesus hid Himself
21. John 8:59 Other mss add and having gone through their midst, He passed by

Cross references

1. 8:1 : Mt 21:1
2. 8:2 : Ac 21:26
3. 8:2 : Mk 1:45
4. 8:2 : Mk 9:35
5. 8:3 : Mk 7:3
6. 8:3 : Nm 5:11
7. 8:4 : Mt 5:27-28
8. 8:5 : Ps 77:20; Mt 8:4; Heb 3:2
9. 8:5 : Lv 20:10; Dt 22:22-24; Ezk 16:38-41
10. 8:6 : Lk 11:54
11. 8:7 : Rm 3:23; 6:23
12. 8:7 : Rm 2:1, 22
13. 8:7 : Dt 17:7
14. 8:11 : Jn 3:17
15. 8:12 : Ex 3:14; Jn 8:24, 58
16. 8:12 : Ps 36:9; Jn 12:46; 1Jn 2:8
17. 8:12 : Ex 13:21-22; 14:19-25; Is 42:6; 49:6; 60:19-22; Zch 14:5-8; Jn 9:5; 12:46
18. 8:14 : Jn 3:8; 7:28; 9:29; 12:35; 13:3, 36; 14:5; 16:5, 28; 1Jn 2:11
19. 8:15 : Lk 6:37; Rv 19:11
20. 8:15 : Php 3:3
21. 8:15 : Jn 3:17; 12:47
22. 8:16 : Mt 12:41; 2Th 1:5
23. 8:16 : Jn 16:32
24. 8:17 : Nm 35:30; Jn 8:14
25. 8:18 : 1Jn 5:7, 9
26. 8:19 : Jn 7:28; 1Jn 2:23
27. 8:19 : Lk 10:22; Jn 17:3; 1Jn 4:8
28. 8:20 : Mk 12:41, 43; Lk 21:1
29. 8:21 : Jn 14:2; 16:5
30. 8:21 : Dt 24:16; Ezk 3:18; 33:8; Jn 15:22; Rm 3:23; 6:23
31. 8:21 : Jn 7:34, 36; 8:22; 13:33
32. 8:22 : Jn 8:21
33. 8:23 : Jn 3:13, 31; 18:36; Col 3:1-2
34. 8:23 : 1Jn 4:5
35. 8:23 : Jn 15:19; 17:14-16; 18:36
36. 8:26 : Jn 5:19
37. 8:26 : Jn 3:32; 15:15
38. 8:28 : Mk 2:10
39. 8:28 : Jn 8:24
40. 8:28 : Mk 6:5; Jn 9:33; 15:5
41. 8:29 : Jn 16:32; Ac 10:38
42. 8:31 : Jn 2:22; 18:32
43. 8:32 : Ps 119:142; Jn 14:6; 2Th 2:10
44. 8:33 : Gn 16:15; Jn 8:37; Heb 2:16
45. 8:34 : Rm 6:17-20; 2Pt 2:19
46. 8:35 : 1Jn 2:17
47. 8:35 : Gn 21:10; Lk 15:31; Gl 4:30
48. 8:37 : Lk 19:9; Jn 8:31-47; Ac 13:26; Rm 4:11, 16; Gl 3:7
49. 8:38 : Jn 3:32; 5:19; 6:46
50. 8:38 : Mt 5:16; 11:27; Lk 11:13; Jn 8:42
51. 8:39 : Gl 3:7, 9
52. 8:40 : Ps 119:142; Jn 14:6
53. 8:41 : 2Jn 9
54. 8:41 : 1Jn 2:29
55. 8:41 : Hs 2:4; 1Th 4:3
56. 8:41 : Dt 32:6
57. 8:42 : Dt 6:5; Lk 10:27; 1Jn 5:1
58. 8:42 : Jn 13:3; 16:27; 1Jn 5:20
59. 8:43 : Lk 6:47; Jn 18:32
60. 8:44 : Mt 4:1; Jn 13:2, 27; Eph 2:1-3
61. 8:44 : 1Jn 3:15
62. 8:44 : Gn 3:1-4; 4:8-9; Ac 26:4; 2Co 11:3; 1Jn 3:8-15; Rv 12:9
63. 8:44 : Jn 14:6; Rm 3:7
64. 8:46 : Jn 15:22; 1Jn 3:5
65. 8:48 : Lk 9:52; Ac 1:8
66. 8:48 : Jn 7:20; 10:20; Rv 9:20; 18:2
67. 8:50 : Jn 17:24; Php 3:19; 1Pt 5:4
68. 8:51 : Jn 8:52, 55; 14:23-24; 15:20; 17:6; 18:32; 1Jn 2:5; Rv 1:3; 3:8, 10; 22:7, 9
69. 8:55 : Jn 7:28
70. 8:55 : Mt 11:27
71. 8:56 : Lk 10:24; Heb 11:13-19
72. 8:58 : Ex 3:14; Ps 45:8; Jn 1:15; 8:24; 17:5; Col 1:17
73. 8:59 : Jn 10:33
74. 8:59 : Ex 17:4; Lv 24:16; 1Sm 30:6; 1Kg 21:10-13; Jn 10:31; 11:8
75. 8:59 : Lk 4:30; Jn 12:36
76. 8:59 : Ac 21:26