John 16:16

John 16:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.
• New International Version (NIV)Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me."
• New King James Version (NKJV)“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

Context of John 16:16

14He will give me glory, because he will tell you what I say. 15Everything the Father says is also what I say. That is why I said, ‘He will take what I say and tell it to you.’ “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then in a little while you will see me again.” 17Some of his disciples said to each other, “What does he mean? He tells us that in a little while we won’t see him. Then he tells us that in a little while we will see him again and that he’s going to the Father.” 18So they were asking each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while’? We don’t understand what he’s talking about.”

John 16:16 word by word

μικρὸν καὶ οὐκέτι θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ μεRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• A little whileμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• ye shallθεωρέωtheōreō · to see/experienceG2334
• notοὐou · noG3756
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• againπάλινpalin · againG3825
• ye shall seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• goὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• the Fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962

Cross-references for John 16:16

• John 16:5“Now I’m going to the one who sent me. Yet, none of you asks me where I’m going.
• John 7:33Jesus said, “I will still be with you for a little while. Then I’ll go to the one who sent me.
• John 12:35Jesus answered the crowd, “The light will still be with you for a little while. Walk while you have light so that darkness won’t defeat you. Those who walk in the dark don’t know where they’re going.
• John 13:33Jesus said, “Dear children, I will still be with you for a little while. I’m telling you what I told the Jews. You will look for me, but you can’t go where I’m going.
• John 14:19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. You will live because I live.
• John 20:19That Sunday evening, the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you!”
• John 21:1Later, by the Sea of Tiberias, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples. This is what happened.
• Acts 1:3After his death Jesus showed the apostles a lot of convincing evidence that he was alive. For 40 days he appeared to them and talked with them about God’s kingdom.
• Acts 10:40but God brought him back to life on the third day. God didn’t show him
• 1 Corinthians 15:5He appeared to Cephas. Next he appeared to the twelve apostles.
• John 16:28I left the Father and came into the world. Again, ⌞as I’ve said,⌟ I’m going to leave the world and go back to the Father.”
• John 13:3The Father had put everything in Jesus’ control. Jesus knew that. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God.
• John 17:5Now, Father, give me glory in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world existed.
• Mark 16:19After talking with the apostles, the Lord was taken to heaven, where he received the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the throne.
• Hebrews 12:2We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him. Now he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the heavenly throne.

Commentaries on John 16:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16A little while - He had but a few hours to live. And ye shall not see me - I shall be hidden from your view in the grave. Again a little while - In three days after my death: Ye shall see me - I will rise again, and show myself to you. Or, As I am going by my ascension to the Father, in a short time, ye shall see me personally no more; but in a little while I shall pour out my Spirit upon you, and others through your ministry; and ye shall see me…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16A little while - His death would occur in a short time. It took place the next day. See John 14:19. Ye shall not see me - That is, he would be concealed from their view in the tomb. And again a little while - After three days he would rise again and appear to their view. Because I go … - Because it is a part of the plan that I should ascend to God, it is necessary that I should rise from the grave, and then you will see me, and have evidence that I am…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 It is good to consider how near our seasons of grace are to an end, that we may be quickened to improve them. But the sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those of a mother, at the sight of her infant. The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter, and neither men nor devils, neither sufferings in life nor in death, would ever deprive them of their joy. Believers have joy or sorrow, according to their sight of Christ, and the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Jesus reassured the disciples that his departure (on the cross) would be short and his return (in the resurrection) would be soon. When they saw him again, the disciples would experience overwhelming joy and intimacy with him in the Spirit.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-2216-22. A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father--The joy of the world at their not seeing Him seems to show that His removal from them by death was what He meant; and in that case, their joy at again seeing Him points to their transport at His reappearance amongst them on His Resurrection, when they could no longer doubt His identity. At the same time the sorrow of the widowed…Read the comment

Topics related to John 16:16

• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Desirous
• Reprove
• Sure
• Tribulation
• Atonement
• Comforter
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ
• Johannine Theology

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