God’s Word Translation
John 16:17
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.”
John 16:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
- New International Version (NIV)At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)So some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'; and, 'because I am going to the Father'?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?”
Context of John 16:17
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.’ 16“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. Then in a little while you will see me again.” Some 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.” 19Jesus knew they wanted to ask him something. So he said to them, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, and in a little while you will see me again’?
Read all of John 16John 16:17 word by word
εἶπαν οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους· τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν· μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; καὶ ὅτι ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- disciplesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- disciplesμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
- amongπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- themselvesἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
- Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- he saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- A little whileμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- ye shallθεωρέωtheōreō · to see/experienceG2334
- notοὐou · noG3756
- againπάλινpalin · againG3825
- ye shall seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- Becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- goὑπάγωhupagō · to goG5217
- the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
Cross-references for John 16:17
- John 16:1⌞Jesus continued,⌟ “I have said these things to you so that you won’t lose your faith.
- John 12:16At first Jesus’ disciples didn’t know what these prophecies meant. However, when Jesus was glorified, the disciples remembered that these prophecies had been written about him. The disciples remembered that they had taken part in fulfilling the prophecies.
- John 14:5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. So how can we know the way?”
- Mark 9:10They kept in mind what he said but argued among themselves what he meant by “come back to life.”
- Luke 9:45They didn’t know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they didn’t understand it. Besides, they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.
- Luke 18:34But they didn’t understand any of this. What he said was a mystery to them, and they didn’t know what he meant.
Commentaries on John 16:17
- 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. 16-33a little while: Jesus repeated this phrase to comfort his disciples. He wanted them to know that their separation from him would not last long. Although he would soon leave them, he would return to them again.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 16:17
In the dictionaries
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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