KJV: This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
YLT: and this they said, trying him, that they might have to accuse him. And Jesus, having stooped down, with the finger he was writing on the ground,
Darby: But this they said proving him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus, having stooped down, wrote with his finger on the ground.
ASV: And this they said, trying him, that they might have whereof to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
Τοῦτο | This |
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular Root: οὗτος Sense: this. |
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δὲ | now |
Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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ἔλεγον | they were saying |
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
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πειράζοντες | testing |
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural Root: πειράζω Sense: to try whether a thing can be done. |
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ἵνα | so that |
Parse: Conjunction Root: ἵνα Sense: that, in order that, so that. |
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ἔχωσιν | they might have [grounds] |
Parse: Verb, Present Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Plural Root: ἔχω Sense: to have, i.e. to hold. |
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κατηγορεῖν | to accuse |
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: κατηγορέω Sense: to accuse. |
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ὁ | - |
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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Ἰησοῦς | Jesus |
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor. |
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κάτω | down |
Parse: Adverb Root: κάτω Sense: down, downwards. |
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κύψας | having stooped |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: κύπτω Sense: to stoop down, bend forward, to bow the head. |
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δακτύλῳ | [His] finger |
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular Root: δάκτυλος Sense: a finger. |
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κατέγραφεν | began writing |
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: γράφω Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters. |
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γῆν | ground |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: γῆ Sense: arable land. |
Greek Commentary for John 8:6
Evil sense of this present active participle of πειραζω peirazō as so often (Mark 8:11; Mark 10:2, etc.). That they might have whereof to accuse him Purpose clause with ινα hina and present active subjunctive of εχω echō This laying of traps for Jesus was a common practice of his enemies (Luke 11:16, etc.). Note present active infinitive of κατηγορεω katēgoreō (see Matthew 12:10 for the verb) to go on accusing (with genitive αυτου autou). It was now a habit with these rabbis. Stooped down First aorist active participle of κυπτω kuptō old verb to bow the head, to bend forward, in N.T. only here and John 8:8; Mark 1:7. The use of κατω katō (down) gives a vivid touch to the picture. With his finger Instrumental case of δακτυλος daktulos for which see Matthew 23:4. Wrote on the ground Imperfect active of καταγραπω katagraphō old compound, here only in N.T., to draw, to delineate, to write down, apparently inchoative, began to write on the sand as every one has done sometimes. The only mention of writing by Jesus and the use of καταγραπω katagraphō leaves it uncertain whether he was writing words or drawing pictures or making signs. If we only knew what he wrote! Certainly Jesus knew how to write. And yet more books have been written about this one who wrote nothing that is preserved than any other person or subject in human history. There is a tradition that Jesus wrote down the names and sins of these accusers. That is not likely. They were written on their hearts. Jesus alone on this occasion showed embarrassment over this woman‘s sin. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 8:6
From κατά , against, and ἀγορεύω , to speak in the assembly ( ἀγορά ). Hence, properly, to bring an accusation in court. John uses no other verb for accuse, and this only here, John 8:6, and Revelation 12:10. Once in the New Testament διαβάλλω occurs (Luke 16:1, on which see note), signifying malicious accusation, and secret, as distinguished from public, accusation ( κατηγορία ). Αἰτιάομαι occurs once in the compound προῃτιασάμεθα , we before laid to the charge (Romans 3:9). This has reference especially to the ground of accusation ( αἰτία ). Ἑγκαλέω occurs only in Acts, with the exception of Romans 8:33. It means to accuse publicly, but not necessarily before a tribunal. See Acts 23:28, Acts 23:29; Acts 26:2, Acts 26:7. [source]
Imperfect active indicative of επιμενω epimenō (waiting in addition or still, επι epi old verb) with supplementary active participle of ερωταω erōtaō to question. See same construction in Acts 12:16 The verb επιμενω epimenō does not occur in John. They saw that Jesus seemed embarrassed, but did not know that it was as much because of “the brazen hardness of the prosecutors” as because of the shame of the deed. He lifted himself up First aorist active indicative of ανακυπτω anakuptō the opposite of κατακυπτω katakuptō to bend down (John 8:8) or of κατω κυπτω katō kuptō (John 8:6). He that is without sin Verbal adjective Objective genitive. First cast The nominative πρωτος prōtos means first before others, be the first to cast, not cast before he does something else. See John 20:4. The verb is second aorist imperative of βαλλω ballō old verb to fling or cast. Jesus thus picks out the executioner in the case. [source]
First aorist active participle of κατακυπτω katakuptō old and rare verb (in Epictetus II, 16. 22) instead of κατω κυπσας katō kupsas in John 8:6. With his finger Not genuine, only in D and Western class. Wrote on the ground Imperfect active of the simplex γραπω graphō not καταγραπω katagraphō The second picture of Jesus writing on the ground. [source]
This language, peculiar to John, could take up the idea in Josephus that these rabbis came from Gehenna whence they will go as children of the devil (John 8:44), but the use of εκ του κοσμου τουτου ek tou kosmou toutou (“of this world” in origin) as parallel to what we have here seems to prove that the contrast between κατω katō and ανω anō here is between the earthly (sensual) and the heavenly as in James 3:15-17. See also Colossians 3:1. This is the only use of κατω katō in John (except John 8:6). These proud rabbis had their origin in this world of darkness (John 1:9) with all its limitations. I am from above The contrast is complete in origin and character, already stated in John 3:31, and calculated to intensify their anger. [source]
Lit., that you may have it. A similar use of have, in the sense of to be able, occurs Mark 14:8. The same meaning is also foreshadowed in Matthew 18:25, had not to pay; and John 8:6, have to accuse. [source]