SEV Biblia, Chapter 8:7
Y como perseverasen preguntndole, se enderez, y les dijo: El que de vosotros est sin pecado, sea el primero en arrojar la piedra contra ella.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 8:7
Verse 7. He that is without sin] anamarthtov, meaning the same kind of sin, adultery, fornication, &c. Kypke has largely proved that the verb amartanein is used in this sense by the best Greek writers. Let him first cast a stone at her.] Or, upon her, ep auth. The Jewish method of stoning, according to the rabbins, was as follows: The culprit, half naked, the hands tied behind the back, was placed on a scaffold, ten or twelve feet high; the witnesses, who stood with her, pushed her off with great force: if she was killed by the fall there was nothing farther done; but, if she was not, one of the witnesses took up a very large stone, and dashed it upon her breast, which generally was the coup de grace, or finishing stroke. This mode of punishment seems referred to, Matt. xxi. 44.
However, this procedure does not appear to have been always attended to. See Lev. xxiv. 16, and ver. 59 of this chapter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. So when they continued asking him , etc.] For observing that he put himself in such a posture, they concluded that they had puzzled and perplexed him, and that he knew not what to say; and therefore they were more urgent for a speedy answer, hoping they should get an advantage of him; and that they should be able to expose him, and that his confusion would appear to all the people: he lift up himself and said unto them ; having raised up himself, he looked wistly at them, and returned them this wise answer to, their confusion: he that is without sin among you ; meaning, not that was entirely free from sin, in heart, in lip, and life; for there is no such person; the most holy man in life is not, in such sense, free from sin; but that was without any notorious sin, or was not guilty of some scandalous sin, and particularly this of adultery; which was in this age a prevailing sin, and even among their doctors; hence our Lord calls that generation an adulterous one, ( Matthew 12:39); and which was literally true of them; with this compare ( Romans 2:22). Adultery increased to such a degree in this age, that they were obliged to leave off the trial of suspected wives, because their husbands were generally guilty this way; and the waters would have no effect, if the husband was criminal also: so the Jews say f374 , when adulterers increased, the bitter waters ceased; and Rabban Jochanan ben Zaccai (who was now living) caused them to cease.
In vindication of which, he cited the passage in ( Hosea 4:14); and this agrees with their own account of the times of the Messiah, and the signs thereof, among which stands this f375 ; in the age in which the son of David comes, the house of assembly (the gloss interprets it the place where the disciples of the wise men meet to learn the law) shall become, twnwzl , a brothel house.
And that this sin so greatly prevailed, our Lord well knew; and perhaps none of those Scribes and Pharisees were free from it, in one shape or another; and therefore bids him that was, let him first cast a stone at her ; alluding to the law in ( Deuteronomy 17:7), which required the hands of the witnesses to be upon a person first, to put him to death; and as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, referring to their own sense and opinion, in trying a wife suspected of adultery; that if the husband was guilty the same way, the waters would have no effect: by this answer of our Lord, he at once wrought himself out of the dilemma, they thought to distress him with; for though he passed no sentence upon the woman, and so took not upon him the judiciary power, with which they could accuse him to the Roman governor, yet he manifestly appeared to agree with Moses, that such an one deserved to be stoned; wherefore they could not charge him with being contrary to Moses; and by putting him that was without sin, to cast the first stone at her, he showed himself merciful to the woman, and to them, to be the searcher of hearts.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Christ neither found fault with the law, nor excused the prisoner' guilt; nor did he countenance the pretended zeal of the Pharisees Those are self-condemned who judge others, and yet do the same thing All who are any way called to blame the faults of others, ar especially concerned to look to themselves, and keep themselves pure In this matter Christ attended to the great work about which he cam into the world, that was, to bring sinners to repentance; not to destroy, but to save. He aimed to bring, not only the accused to repentance, by showing her his mercy, but the prosecutors also, by showing them their sins; they thought to insnare him, he sought to convince and convert them. He declined to meddle with the magistrate' office. Many crimes merit far more severe punishment than they mee with; but we should not leave our own work, to take that upon ourselve to which we are not called. When Christ sent her away, it was with thi caution, God, and sin no more. Those who help to save the life of criminal, should help to save the soul with the same caution. Those ar truly happy, whom Christ does not condemn. Christ's favour to us in the forgiveness of past sins should prevail with us, God then, and sin n more.
Greek Textus Receptus
ως 5613 ADV δε 1161 CONJ επεμενον 1961 5707 V-IAI-3P ερωτωντες 2065 5723 V-PAP-NPM αυτον 846 P-ASM ανακυψας 352 5660 V-AAP-NSM ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S προς 4314 PREP αυτους 846 P-APM ο 3588 T-NSM αναμαρτητος 361 A-NSM υμων 5216 P-2GP πρωτος 4413 A-NSM τον 3588 T-ASM λιθον 3037 N-ASM επ 1909 PREP αυτη 846 P-DSF βαλετω 906 5628 V-2AAM-3S
