John 16:7

John 16:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
• New International Version (NIV)But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

Context of John 16:7

5“Now I’m going to the one who sent me. Yet, none of you asks me where I’m going. 6But because I’ve told you this, you’re filled with sadness. However, I am telling you the truth: It’s good for you that I’m going away. If I don’t go away, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8He will come to convict the world of sin, to show the world what has God’s approval, and to convince the world that God judges it. 9He will convict the world of sin, because people don’t believe in me.

John 16:7 word by word

ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ τὴν ἀλήθειαν λέγω ὑμῖν· συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω· ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἀπέλθω, ὁ παράκλητος οὐκ ἐλεύσεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ, πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Neverthelessἀλλάalla · butG235
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• tellλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• youσύsu · youG4771
• the truthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the truthἀλήθειαalētheia · truthG225
• It is expedientσυμφέρωsumpherō · be profitableG4851
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• go awayἀπέρχομαιaperchomai · to go awayG565
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• notμήmē · notG3361
• the Comforterπαράκλητοςparaklētos · counsellorG3875
• willἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• notοὐou · noG3756
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• butδέde · thenG1161
• I departπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
• I will sendπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for John 16:7

• John 8:45So you don’t believe me because I tell the truth.
• Luke 4:25“I can guarantee this truth: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time. It had not rained for three-and-a-half years, and the famine was severe everywhere in the country.
• Luke 9:27“I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see God’s kingdom.”
• Acts 10:34Then Peter said, “Now I understand that God doesn’t play favorites.
• John 11:50You haven’t even considered this: It is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
• John 14:3If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.
• Romans 8:28We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.
• John 7:39Jesus said this about the Spirit, whom his believers would receive. The Spirit was not yet evident, as it would be after Jesus had been glorified.
• John 14:16I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever.
• John 15:26“The helper whom I will send to you from the Father will come. This helper, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, will declare the truth about me.
• Psalms 68:18You went to the highest place. You took prisoners captive. You received gifts from people, even from rebellious people, so that the Lord God may live there.
• Luke 24:49“I’m sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven.”
• Acts 1:4Once, while he was meeting with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for what the Father had promised. Jesus said to them, “I’ve told you what the Father promises:
• Acts 2:33God the Father used his power to give Jesus the honored position—the one next to him on the heavenly throne. Jesus has also received and has poured out the Holy Spirit as the Father had promised, and this is what you’re seeing and hearing.
• Ephesians 4:8That’s why the Scriptures say: “When he went to the highest place, he took captive those who had captured us and gave gifts to people.”

Commentaries on John 16:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7It is expedient - that I go away - In other places he had showed them the absolute necessity of his death for the salvation of men: see Matthew 20:19; Matthew 26:2; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33, Luke 9:44; Luke 18:32. This he does not repeat here, but shows them that, by the order of God, the Holy Spirit cannot come to them, nor to the world, unless he first die; and consequently men cannot be saved but in this way.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7It is expedient for you … - The reason why it was expedient for them that he should go away, he states to be, that in this way only would the Comforter be granted to them. Still, it may be asked why the presence of the Holy Spirit was more valuable to them than that of the Saviour himself? To this it may be answered: 1. That by his departure, his death, and ascension - by having these great facts before their eyes they would be led by the Holy Spirit to…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-15Verses 7-15 Christ's departure was necessary to the Comforter's coming. Sending the Spirit was to be the fruit of Christ's death, which was his going away. His bodily presence could be only in one place at one time, but his Spirit is every where, in all places, at all times, wherever two or three are gathered together in his name. See here the office of the Spirit, first to reprove, or to convince. Convincing work is the Spirit's work; he can do it…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7the Advocate: This title refers to the Holy Spirit. The word can mean helper, comforter, or one who speaks on behalf of another. Jesus taught that the Spirit would come after his departure and glorification (his death, resurrection, and return to the Father; see 7:37–39; 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:12–14). The Spirit was a promised gift. After Jesus returned to the Father, the Spirit would guide, teach, and strengthen his followers.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-76-7. But because I have said these things ... sorrow hath filled your heart--Sorrow had too much paralyzed them, and He would rouse their energies.Read the comment

Topics related to John 16:7

• Conviction
• Holy Spirit
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Trinity
• Trouble

In the dictionaries

• Advocate
• Apostle
• Comforter
• Desirous
• Holy Ghost
• Reprove
• Sure
• Tribulation
• Aenon
• Ascension

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