John 16:25

John 16:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
• New International Version (NIV)“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.
• English Standard Version (ESV)"I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.

Context of John 16:25

23In that day you will not [need to] ask Me about anything. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name [as My representative], He will give you. 24Until now you have not asked [the Father] for anything in My name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full and complete. “I have told you these things in figurative language (veiled language, proverbs); the hour is now coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in My name, and I am not saying to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf [because it will be unnecessary]; 27for the Father Himself [tenderly] loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from the Father.

John 16:25 word by word

Ταῦτα ἐν παροιμίαις λελάληκα ὑμῖν· ἔρχεται ὥρα ὅτε οὐκέτι ἐν παροιμίαις λαλήσω ὑμῖν ἀλλὰ παρρησίᾳ περὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ἀπαγγελῶ ὑμῖν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• These thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• have I spokenλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• proverbsπαροιμίαparoimia · proverbG3942
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• the timeὥραhōra · hourG5610
• comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• whenὅτεhote ho te hē te tō te · whenG3753
• noοὐou · noG3756
• moreἔτιeti · stillG2089
• I shall shewἀναγγέλλωanaggellō · to reportG312
• plainlyπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
• the Fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962

Cross-references for John 16:25

• John 16:12“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear [to hear] them now.
• Psalms 49:4I will incline my ear and consent to a proverb; On the lyre I will unfold my riddle.
• Psalms 78:2I will open my mouth in a parable [to instruct using examples]; I will utter dark and puzzling sayings of old [that contain important truth]—
• Proverbs 1:6To understand a proverb and a figure [of speech] or an enigma with its interpretation, And the words of the wise and their riddles [that require reflection].
• Matthew 13:10Then the disciples came to Him and asked, “Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?”
• Mark 4:13Then He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand and grasp the meaning of all the parables?
• John 16:28I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
• Acts 2:33Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear.
• 2 Corinthians 3:12Since we have such a [glorious] hope and confident expectation, we speak with great courage,
• 2 Corinthians 4:2But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

Commentaries on John 16:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25In Proverbs - That is, words which, besides their plain, literal meaning, have another, viz. a spiritual or figurative one. I have represented heavenly things to you through the medium of earthly. The time cometh - viz. the interval from his resurrection to his ascension, which consisted of forty days, during which he instructed his disciples in the most sublime mysteries and truths of his kingdom. Acts 1:3.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25In proverbs - In a manner that appears obscure, enigmatical, and difficult to be understood. It is worthy of remark, that though his declarations in these chapters about his death and resurrection appear to us to be plain, yet to the apostles, filled with Jewish prejudices, and unwilling to believe that he was about to die, they would appear exceedingly obscure and perplexed. The plainest declarations to them on the subject would appear to be involved in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-27Verses 23-27 Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples did not fully understand…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25Jesus spoke using figures of speech, which could only be interpreted with God’s help (1 Corinthians 1:18–25). With the coming of the Holy Spirit, the disciples would understand.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 23-2823-28. In that day--of the dispensation of the Spirit (as in Joh 14:20). ye shall ask--inquire of me nothing--by reason of the fulness of the Spirit's teaching (Joh 14:26; 16:13; and compare 1Jo 2:27).Read the comment

Topics related to John 16:25

• God
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Desirous
• Reprove
• Sure
• Tribulation
• Atonement
• Comforter
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ
• Johannine Theology
• John, Gospel of

Commentaries on John 16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings