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John 8:9
ESV But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.
NIV At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
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.
CSB When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center.
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.
KJV 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.
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.

What does John 8:9 mean?

Of all of Jesus' responses to His critics, this seems to be the most dramatic. Typically, those who challenged Jesus (Matthew 16:1; 19:3; 22:35; Luke 10:25; 11:53–54) were simply foiled or frustrated. Here, they're driven off entirely. The Pharisees attempted to trick Jesus by challenging Him to stone a woman caught in adultery. However, they have not followed the entire law. The guilty man is not present (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22), they are not planning to begin the execution themselves (Deuteronomy 17:7), and they seem to have no appreciation for God's sense of mercy (Deuteronomy 4:31; Psalm 145:8).

When Jesus writes on the ground and challenges their approach, the men turn and leave. Not only do they fail to ruin Jesus' reputation with the people, but they make Him look even wiser, and themselves even less holy.

The phrasing here can be interpreted to mean that Jesus and the woman are literally the only two people in this area. Yet Jesus was teaching His followers when the Pharisees arrived (John 8:2). That context strongly suggests that Jesus and the woman are only alone "in the midst" of the crowd, now that the Pharisees have left (John 8:3).
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