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.
Parallel translations
- WEB They, when they heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning from the oldest, even to the last. Jesus was left alone with the woman where she was, in the middle.
- BSB 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.
- NKJV Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
- NASB Now when they heard this, they began leaving, one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman where she was, in the center of the courtyard.
- NLT When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.
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
Convicted by conscience, the accusers left one by one, oldest first, until Jesus was left alone with the woman. His words pierced their pretense of righteousness.
Overview
The accusers' departure shows that Jesus' challenge exposed every one of them as sinners, none qualified to condemn. That the oldest left first may suggest greater awareness of their own sin. The scene leaves the guilty woman alone with the only one who was truly without sin, the one able both to judge and to forgive.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Rom 2:15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
- Eccl 7:22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
- 1 Jn 3:20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
- Gen 42:21–22And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
- Ps 71:13Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
- Job 5:12–13He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
- Rom 2:22Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
- John 8:10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
- Job 20:27The heaven shall reveal his iniquity; and the earth shall rise up against him.
- Luke 13:17And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
- John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
- Ps 40:14Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.
- Luke 12:1–3In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
- 1 Kgs 17:18And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?
- Ps 50:21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
- Ps 9:15–16The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
- Job 20:5That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?
- 1 Kgs 2:44The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the LORD shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
- Mark 6:14–16And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
- John 8:2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
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Original language
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