Cast the first stone
Cast the first stone means to be the first to blame or condemn someone, usually with a reminder to consider your own faults; it comes from the story of Jesus and a woman accused of adultery in The Bible.
Where it comes from
The woman and her accusers
The phrase appears in the Gospel of John, in a scene where religious teachers ask Jesus whether an accused woman should be stoned. He challenges anyone without sin to begin the punishment.
In The Bible, Jesus bends down and writes on the ground while the accusers press him for an answer about the woman.
In The Bible by Various authors
A warning against harsh judgment
Today the phrase usually concerns blame rather than physical punishment. It asks people to examine their own conduct before condemning someone else.
In The Bible, the woman's accusers leave one by one after Jesus challenges them, beginning with the older people. No one remains to carry out the proposed punishment.
In The Bible by Various authors
How to use Cast the first stone
- Use it when someone is quick to condemn another person's mistake.
- Make clear that the stone stands for blame, not a real attack.
- Avoid using it to dismiss serious harm or excuse wrongdoing.
Does it mean nobody should ever judge anyone?
No, it warns against self-righteous condemnation rather than every kind of judgment. The story in The Bible asks the accusers to face their own faults. In everyday use, the phrase can encourage fairness without removing responsibility for harmful actions.
Is casting the first stone the same as making the first mistake?
No, casting the first stone means starting the blame or condemnation, not making the original mistake. Someone may have done something wrong already; the phrase concerns the person who steps forward to accuse or punish them.
Related terms
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