The Bible In Paintings 73A: THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY, Part 1

c.2,200 BC - c.95 AD | by the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

[left that other site]

My Question is:

WHAT WAS JESUS WRITING IN THE SAND?????

[etabeta]

The painter is Vasily Polenov, a Russian who also traveled to Palestine and Syria to sketch faces, buildings and landscapes. This painting was purchased by Alexander III and kept in the Hermitage until it was moved to the Russian Museum in late 1800 (notes from Russia Beyond).

[Hebrews 11:6]

I, too, am fascinated by it. When I know the painter, I always attribute it. I recall searching for it fruitlessly a month ago when I prepared this thread, but at your inquiry I tried again, using Google Image Search, which returned this:
The URL doesn't refer to an image, or the image is not publicly accessible.

But then I tried the Image Sources, and the Detail's source lists it as:

Vasily Polenov

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thank you, Alba!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Thank you!

[Hebrews 11:6]

A good question. John 7:53-8:11 is suspect, missing from many early manuscripts, so the issue may be moot.

[punknpuss]

I like to think that it’s the names of the men who had relations with her but were outraged that her sin was exposed and they might be exposed too. (Maybe even jealous of her new lover) Why else is there a need to rush to judge her and then execute her?

[Hebrews 11:6]

Well, to revise it, first they must read it, and then this kicks in:

"...my word that goes out from my mouth...
...will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

They had better beware!

[Hebrews 11:6]

Very inventive. As plausible as any.

[left that other site]

I’m aware of the controversy, but I always have believed that these Passages are very much a part of inspired Scripture.

It’s easier to drop something than it is to ADD something.

[left that other site]

Good Analysis! :-)

[Hebrews 11:6]

Most, if not all, publishers include it, so they agree with you.

[left that other site]

Most, if not all, publishers include it, so they agree with you.

Indeed. However, most translations will italicize the questionable passage and include a footnote. I don't mind that, because it makes me aware of the controversy and allows me to make my own decision. That's the difference between a responsible translation and an agenda-driven paraphrase.

[spankalib]

WHAT WAS JESUS WRITING IN THE SAND?????

6 of the paintings feature the ground-writing: #'s 16, 17, 19, 23, 25, & 26. Each artist spent time with the emotions of the on-lookers/stoners. In each, they show chagrin, anger, fear...in #17, the man on the far right is turning away, while his compadre is trying to draw his attention to what is written, as if to say; "I don't want to see any more of that!"
In #19 the centered figure is seen to flee the writing (Aertsen really wants that reaction to be noticed!). In #23, the (again, centered) figure's arms are up in complete dismay. #25's old man with a cane has his hand up in an "I can't take any more of this!" expression, and Dore, in #26 is a bit ambiguous - is the man angrily gesticulating at the woman, or the writing?...but there is a definite feeling of a hunch-shouldered turning away in the background.

Taken together with the implication in the story, that the writing definitely had something to do with their turning away...my feeling is that Jesus was writing their sins in the dirt.

The whole thing was a set-up anyway from the start...to get at Jesus (on the horns of a dilemma)...they probably had already known who the adulteress was, and where to find her so they could time the 'reveal' and set Jesus up.

When I think of the way various artists took the time to portray those emotions and actions, I suspect they suspected that too!

[spankalib]

to reply #34...

[Hebrews 11:6]

A very plausible hypothesis.

It strikes me that it is easy to focus on this extremely interesting question of what we think Jesus wrote, to the exclusion of focusing on what we know Jesus said.

[left that other site]

There are so many layers in this story. :-)

[Tucker39]

My 3 choices of scenes which seem closest to my envisioning of the situation from what is said in the Gospels. Rembrandt, Tintoretto 1550 and Dore’. Difficult to choose a winner. FWIW.

[Hebrews 11:6]

scenes which seem closest to my envisioning of the situation from what is said in the Gospels

That is my chief criterion as well. "FWIW" is a lot since you took the time to consider it, thereby giving the Holy Spirit the opportunity to interact with you about it. FWIW, I think you're dead-wrong and Polenov's #13&14 was closest, but hey--that's just my cockeyed opinion.