What Does John 8:11 Mean?
Two renderings of the same sentence, the verses it belongs to, and what the passage is doing — so you can decide what it means rather than take someone's word for it.
"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." John 8:11, King James Version
The same verse in modern English
"“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”" John 8:11, Berean Standard Bible
What it sits inside
A verse quoted on its own is the commonest way one gets misread. Here it is with what comes immediately before and after, in the King James Version.
John 8:9 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.
John 8:10 When 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?
John 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
John 8:12 Then 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.
John 8:13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
A conversation built on it
Your worst moment is not the whole truth about you. When everyone else was ready to make an example of her, He knelt down instead of joining in. He sees who you actually are — and He'll walk right beside you when you're ready to step back out.
Questions people ask
What does John 8:11 mean?
In modern English (Berean Standard Bible) it reads: ““No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”” The King James rendering most people know is: “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
What is the context of John 8:11?
The verses immediately around it read: (John 8:9) 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. (John 8:10) When 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? (John 8:11) She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:12) Then 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. (John 8:13) The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
How is John 8:11 used in a conversation about this?
Your worst moment is not the whole truth about you. When everyone else was ready to make an example of her, He knelt down instead of joining in. He sees who you actually are — and He'll walk right beside you when you're ready to step back out.
Reading it is one thing. Saying what it stirs up is another.
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