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John 8:5
ESV Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"
NIV In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"
NASB Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?'
CSB In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?"
NLT The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?'
KJV Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
NKJV Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?”

What does John 8:5 mean?

Leviticus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 22:22 prescribed the death penalty for couples who committed adultery. The Pharisees brought a guilty woman to Jesus (John 8:3–4). Their goal (John 8:6) is to trick Jesus into a public blunder. They assume there are only two options. Jesus can stone the woman, which would ruin His reputation for mercy (Matthew 11:19; Luke 6:36) and break Roman law (John 18:31). Or, He can defy the law of Moses (John 8:6). In trying to show their superiority they failed to fully follow the Law themselves: they have not brought the guilty man!

Some interpreters believe this very fact plays into Jesus' response. Jesus writes something on the ground (John 8:6), silently absorbing questions until He chooses to respond (John 8:7). It's possible He was writing Mosaic laws these men claimed to follow to highlight their hypocrisy. Perhaps He wrote the names of the accusing Pharisees and their own sins. We aren't told exactly what He writes. Yet Jesus successfully answers this dilemma using a principle valuable for all Christians: the difference between what we are able to do, and what we ought to do.
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