Meaning

To cast the first stone

Categorised in: English phrases and sayings that derive from the Bible ·Proverbs from the Bible ·A list of phrases about the natural world

What's the meaning of the phrase 'To cast the first stone'?

Be the first to attack a sinner. The implication in Jesus' teaching was that the members of the congregation were only in a position to condemn a sinner if they were without sin themselves - in other words, 'judge not lest you be judged'.

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘To cast the first stone’?

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Casting the first stone was adroitly satirised in the stoning scene in The Life of Brian.
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This phrase derives from the Bible- John 8:7. The earliest biblical example of it in print in English comes in Miles Coverdale’s Bible, 1535:

Now whyle they contynued axynge him, he lift him self vp, and sayde vnto them: He that is amonge you without synne, let him cast the first stone at her.

Historical trend

“To cast the first stone” in printed material over time

Source: Google Books Ngrams (1860–2020).

To cast the first stone

WikipediaJesus and the woman taken in adultery - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

Backlink data verified May 2026 via Ahrefs (live index). These sources cite Phrase Finder as a reference for the meaning and origin of this expression. Also referenced by Wikipedia editions in Spanish.