John 8:9 (DRB)

Passage

But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst.

Nearby Context

John 8:7 When therefore they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

John 8:8 And again stooping down, he wrote on the ground.

John 8:9 But they hearing this, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest. And Jesus alone remained, and the woman standing in the midst.

John 8:10 Then Jesus lifting up himself, said to her: Woman, where are they that accused thee? Hath no man condemned thee?

John 8:11 Who said: No man, Lord. And Jesus said: Neither will I condemn thee. Go, and now sin no more.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hearing", "went", "beginning", "eldest", "jesus", "alone", "remained", and "woman". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hearing" and "went", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "And again stooping down he wrote on..." into verse 10's "Then Jesus lifting up himself said to...", so "hearing" and "went" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hearing" and "went" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.