The pronoun you is emphatic.

In a purely human way is literally “according to the flesh.” Phillips and Jerusalem Bible translate “by human standards”; New English Bible “by worldly standards”; and New American Bible “according to appearances.” “According to the flesh” is a term found frequently in Paul’s writings. It is used only here by John; no other New Testament writer uses it. In 7.24 Jesus had warned the crowd not to judge by external standards. It may be that in a purely human way and by external standards are very close. The first throws emphasis on what something seems to be, while the second phrase stresses the subjective aspect of the person making the judgment. That is, he judges as he does because he is “flesh” and not God, and his judgments are therefore neither adequate nor valid. In a purely human way may be rendered “following people’s customs” or “in the way in which people generally judge” or “in the way in which people usually condemn others.”

Many believe that Jesus’ words I pass judgment on no one prompted the addition of the story of the woman caught in adultery. Elsewhere Jesus says he does judge (9.39), and the very heart of the Gospel of John is to proclaim to the world that it is judged in the light of who Jesus is. However, there is no essential contradiction in the truth stated here. Jesus is merely stating in another way his perfect unity with the Father. Thus any judgment that Jesus makes is not made on his own, as though in a purely human way; rather, it is a judgment made on the basis of his absolute relationship with God. So then, any judgment that Jesus makes actually originates from God.

Usually in translating I pass judgment on no one, it is useful to employ a neutral word of “judging.” However, in this particular context it is possible to employ a term which may suggest primarily “condemning,” that is, “I am not condemning anyone.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .