The woman threatened with stoning in John 7:53–8:11 in the light of gender-based violence: New insights for interpreting the pericope

The article presents an analysis of John 7:53–8:11, using the interpretive framework of symbolic violence to expose how patriarchy has been legitimised by Judeo-Christian tradition through the naturalisation of violence against women. Unlike moralising interpretations, which emphasise the contrast between female guilt and divine mercy, this study demonstrates that the core of the narrative lies in the instrumentalisation of the woman by their accusers. This constitutes an act of male domination legitimised ‘behind the narrative’ (in the Hebrew Bible), exercised ‘within the narrative’ by the accusers, and perpetuated ‘in front of the narrative’ in patriarchal reinterpretations of it. Thus, a suitable number of its receptions have reinforced symbolic violence against women by emphasising the guilt of the accused woman and ignoring the abuse she was subjected to by the circle of men who brought her before Jesus. Similarly, Jesus’ symbolic action of rejecting violence while confronting the conscience of the accusers, but comforting and restoring dignity to the woman, has not been sufficiently appreciated. It is proposed that Jesus’ attitude lays the foundation for an understanding of gender equality, and his symbolic act of rejecting violence is analysed. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This approach to the story allows us to deconstruct the imaginaries and practices of violence against women and encourage those who have been abused to rebuild their lives and projects without fear of stigma or abuse.