Veritable King James Version
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
2Early in the morning He came again to the temple. All the people came to Him, and He sat down and taught them.
3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst
4they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
5Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?”
6This they said to test Him, that they might have some charge to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger on the ground.
7And as they continued to ask Him, He stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”
8And once more He bent down and wrote on the ground.
9But 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.
10Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
Note: Verses 1–11 (pericope adulterae) are a textual variant not in the earliest MSS but included in many later ones. VKJV follows tradition by including it with this note, as it aligns with Jesus’ character.
“Mount of Olives” (oros tōn elaiōn) location, retained.
“Scribes and the Pharisees” (grammateis kai hoi Pharisaioi) religious leaders, lowercase per VKJV.
“Caught in adultery” (kateilēmmenēn epi moicheia) literal, translated directly for gravity.
“Teacher” (didaskale, Aramaic influence) respectful title, translated as “Teacher.”
“In the Law, Moses commanded” quotes Leviticus 20:10/Deuteronomy 22:22, translated as “Law.”
“Test Him...charge” (peirazontes auton...katēgorian echōsin) entrapment, translated as “test...charge.”
“Wrote with His finger on the ground” (kampsas tō daktylō egraphen eis tēn gēn) mysterious action, translated literally (theories abound, but VKJV avoids speculation).
“Without sin” (anamartētos) sinless, translated as “without sin.”
“Throw a stone” (baletō lithon) echoes Deuteronomy 17:7, translated directly.
“One by one, beginning with the older ones” (heis kath’ heis arxamenoi apo tōn presbyterōn) orderly departure, translated clearly.
“Woman” (gynai, vocative) respectful, translated directly.
“Sin no more” (mēketi hamartane, present imperative) ongoing cessation, translated modernly.
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “You” capitalized per VKJV deity convention (ho Iēsous, autos, egō).
“Her,” “she,” “woman” (autē, gynē, feminine) lowercase and gender-specific.
“They,” “them” for scribes/Pharisees/people (autoi, autois) gender-neutral as groups.
“Him who is without sin,” “he” (ho anamartētos, masculine) gender-neutral in translation for accusers.
12Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
13So the Pharisees said to Him, “You are bearing witness about Yourself; Your testimony is not true.”
14Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness about Myself, My testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
15You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.
16Yet even if I do judge, My judgment is true, for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent Me.
17In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true.
18I am the one who bears witness about Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness about Me.”
19They said to Him therefore, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”
20These words He spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; but no one arrested Him, because His hour had not yet come.
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“I am the light of the world” (egō eimi to phōs tou kosmou) second “I am” statement, translated literally.
“Follows Me...walk in darkness” (akolouthōn moi...peripatēsei en tē skotia) discipleship metaphor, translated directly.
“Light of life” (to phōs tēs zōēs) eternal light, retained.
“Bearing witness about Yourself” (sy martyreis peri seautou) self-testimony, translated as “bearing witness about Yourself.”
“Not true” (ouk estin alēthēs) invalid per Jewish law (Deuteronomy 19:15), translated as “not true.”
“Judge according to the flesh” (krinete kata tēn sarka) superficial judgment, translated clearly.
“Your Law” (nomō hymeterō) Torah from Jesus’ perspective, translated as “your Law.”
“Testimony of two people” quotes Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, translated as “testimony of two people.”
“Treasury” (gazophylakiō) temple area, translated as “treasury.”
“His hour” (hē hōra autou) divine timing, retained (cf. 2:4).
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You,” “Father” capitalized per VKJV deity convention (*ho Iēsous*, *autos*, *egō*, *patēr*).
“Whoever” (*hos an*) gender-neutral for followers.
“The one” (*ho martyron*) gender-neutral in translation.
21Yet again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
22So the Jews said, “Will He kill Himself, since He says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?”
23He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins.”
25So they said to Him, “Who are You?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
26I have much to say about you and much to judge, but He who sent Me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from Him.”
27They did not understand that He had been speaking to them about the Father.
28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own authority, but speak just as the Father taught Me.
29And He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.”
30As He was saying these things, many believed in Him.
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Going away” (hypagō) implies departure/death, translated as “going away.”
“Die in your sin/sins” (en tē hamartia hymōn/apothanete en tais hamartiais hymōn) singular/plural, translated as “sin/sins” for variation.
“From below...from above” (ek tōn katō...ek tōn anō) contrast earthly/divine, translated directly.
“I am He” (egō eimi) divine self-revelation (cf. 8:58), translated as “I am He” to emphasize.
“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning” (tēn archēn ho ti kai lalō hymin) ambiguous, translated as “just what...from the beginning” per context.
“Lifted up the Son of Man” (hypsōsēte ton huion tou anthrōpou) crucifixion/exaltation, translated as “lifted up” (cf. 3:14).
“Speak just as the Father taught Me” (kathōs edidaxen me ho patēr) divine instruction, translated as “speak just as...taught.”
“Things that are pleasing to Him” (ta aresta autō) obedience, translated as “things that are pleasing.”
“Believed in Him” (episteusan eis auton) faith, translated as “believed in Him.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You,” “Father,” “Son of Man” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“They” for Jews (*hoi Ioudaioi*) gender-neutral as group.
“Many” (*polloi*) gender-neutral for believers.
31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples,
32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33They answered Him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”
34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.
35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.
36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
37I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill Me because My word finds no place in you.
38I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
39They answered Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,
40but now you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.
41You are doing the works your father did.” They said to Him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.”
42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of My own accord, but He sent Me.
43Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My word.
44You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
46Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
47Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Abide in My word” (meinetai en tō logō tō emō) discipleship, translated as “abide.”
“Know the truth...set you free” (gnōsesthe tēn alētheian...eleutherōsei hymas) liberation, translated clearly.
“Offspring of Abraham” (sperma Abraam) physical descent, translated as “offspring” for modern tone.
“Enslaved” (dedouleukamen) bondage, translated as “enslaved.”
“Slave to sin” (doulos tēs hamartias) bondage metaphor, translated literally.
“Son remains forever” (ho huios menei eis ton aiōna) son/slave contrast, capitalized for Jesus.
“My word finds no place” (ho logos ho emos ou chōrei en hymin) no room, translated as “finds no place.”
“Doing the works Abraham did” (ta erga tou Abraam epoieite) obedience, translated as “doing the works.”
“Born of sexual immorality” (ek porneias gegennēmetha) accusation against Jesus’ birth, translated as “born of sexual immorality.”
“One Father—even God” (hena patera echomen ton theon) claim, translated clearly.
“Father the devil” (patros tou diabolou) origin, translated as “father the devil.”
“Murderer from the beginning” (anthropoktonos ēn ap’ archēs) echoes Genesis 3, translated literally.
“No truth in him” (ouk estin alētheia en autō) falsehood, translated as “no truth.”
“Father of lies” (patēr autou) originator, translated as “father of lies.”
“Convicts Me of sin” (elegchei me peri hamartias) challenge, translated as “convicts...of sin.”
“Hears the words of God” (akouei ta rhēmata tou theou) obedience, translated directly.
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You,” “Father,” “God,” “Son” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“They” for Jews (*autoi*) gender-neutral as group.
“We” (*hēmeis*) gender-neutral for speakers.
“Everyone,” “the one,” “whoever” (*pas*, *ho*, *hos*) gender-neutral for sinners/believers.
“He,” “him,” “his” for devil (*autos*, masculine) lowercase.
48The Jews answered Him, “Are we not right in saying that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50Yet I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge.
51Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
52The Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, he will never taste death.’
53Are You greater than our father Abraham, who died? And the prophets died! Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
54Jesus answered, “If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing. It is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’
55But you have not known Him. I know Him. If I were to say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you, but I do know Him and I keep His word.
56Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad.”
57So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
59So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.
Translation notes
Greek Terms and Choices:
“Samaritan...demon” (Samaritēs ei sy...daimonion echeis) insult, translated directly.
“Honor...dishonor” (timō...atimazete) contrast, translated as “honor...dishonor.”
“Never see death” (thanaton mē theōrēsē eis ton aiōna) eternal life, translated as “never see death.”
“Never taste death” (geusetai thanatou eis ton aiōna) synonymous with “see death,” translated as “taste” for variation.
“Who do You make Yourself out to be?” (sy tina seauton poieis) challenge, translated as “make Yourself out to be.”
“Glorify Myself” (doxazō emauton) self-glorification, translated directly.
“He is our God” (theos hēmōn estin) claim, translated as is.
“Liar like you” (pseustēs an ō hōs hymeis) strong accusation, translated as “liar like you.”
“Abraham rejoiced...saw My day” (ēgalliasato...eiden tēn hēmeran tēn emēn) alludes to Genesis 17:17 or 22:8, translated as “rejoiced...saw...was glad.”
“Not yet fifty years old” (pentēkonta etē oupō echeis) implies age, translated literally.
“Before Abraham was, I am” (prin Abraam genesthai egō eimi) eternal existence (egō eimi), translated literally for impact.
“Picked up stones” (ēran lithous) attempted stoning for blasphemy, translated as “picked up stones.”
“Hid Himself” (ekrybē) miraculous escape, translated as “hid Himself.”
Pronouns:
“Jesus,” “He,” “Him,” “His,” “I,” “Me,” “My,” “You” capitalized per VKJV deity convention.
“We” (*hēmeis*) gender-neutral for speakers.
“Anyone,” “he” (*tis*, masculine) gender-neutral for keepers of word.
“Our father Abraham” (ho patēr hēmōn Abraam) ancestors, gender-neutral in context.
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