Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
Parallel translations
- WEB Now in our law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. What then do you say about her?”
- BSB In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. So what do You say?”
- NKJV Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”
- NASB Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?”
- NLT The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They cite Moses' command to stone such women and ask what Jesus says. They set a trap between upholding the law and showing mercy.
Overview
By invoking the Mosaic penalty, the leaders try to force Jesus either to contradict the law or to abandon His reputation for compassion. The dilemma is designed to discredit Him whichever way He answers. Jesus' coming response will uphold both the seriousness of sin and the offer of mercy, exposing the accusers' own guilt.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Lev 20:10And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
- Deut 22:21–24Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father’s house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father’s house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.
- Ezek 16:38–40And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.
- Matt 5:17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
- Matt 19:6–8Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
- Matt 22:16–18And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.
- Ezek 23:47And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
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Original language
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