The woman had stood before Jesus, cowering with fear. His words, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone," had come to her as a death sentence. She dared not lift her eyes to the Saviour's face, but silently awaited her doom. In astonishment she saw her accusers depart speechless and confounded; then those words of hope fell upon her ear, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Her heart was melted, and she cast herself at the feet of Jesus, sobbing out her grateful love, and with bitter tears confessing her sins.

Kvinden havde stået foran Jesus og tildækket sit ansigt af frygt. Hans ord: "Den af jer, der er syndfri, lad ham være den første, der kaster sten på hende," havde lydt for hende som en dødsdom. Hun vovede ikke at hæve blikket til Frelserens ansigt, men afventede i tavshed sin dom. Med forundring så hun sine anklagere gå bort, målløse og forvirrede. Så lød disse håbets ord for hendes øre: "Jeg fordømmer dig heller ikke, gå bort, synd fra nu af ikke mere." Hendes stolthed brød sammen, og hun kastede sig ned for Jesu fødder, medens hun hulkede sin taknemmelige tak frem og under bitre tårer bekendte sine synder.