John 7:53

And euery man went vnto his owne house. John 7:53 (KJV)

There is a noticeable difference of opinion concerning the presence of John 7:53 in the King James Version. Some readers report that the KJV chapter ends at verse 52 and proceeds directly to John 8:1, suggesting that the verse numbered John 7:53 is absent. Other copies of the KJV, however, do contain the passage and label it as John 7:53‑8:11. This apparent discrepancy has led to frequent questions about the correct reference.

The passage in question is the well‑known story of the woman caught in adultery, often called the “Pericope Adulterae” or the “Story of the Adulterous Woman.” In many modern translations the narrative is presented as a continuous unit extending from John 7:53 through John 8:11. The narrative describes a crowd bringing a woman accused of adultery before Jesus, testing Him with the law of Moses, and Jesus’ famous reply, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

Textual scholars note that the earliest and most reliable manuscripts of the New Testament do not contain these verses. The pericope is missing from the oldest Greek codices, and its absence in those sources has prompted ongoing debate about its originality. Because of this manuscript evidence, many biblical editions include the story but attach a note indicating its uncertain status. The note often alerts readers that the passage is considered by some scholars to be a later addition to the Gospel of John.

The scholarly discussion centers on whether the passage reflects an authentic tradition about Jesus or represents a later editorial insertion. While the story has been embraced in the life and teaching of the church for centuries, the textual evidence invites careful study and humility when citing the passage. Readers are encouraged to consult the manuscript apparatus of their translation and to be aware that the inclusion of John 7:53‑8:11 varies among editions, reflecting the complex history of the biblical text.