New English Translation
John 16:7
7But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.
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
5But now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6Instead your hearts are filled with sadness because I have said these things to you. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment – 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
Read all of John 16John 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 8:45But because I am telling you the truth, you do not believe me.
- Luke 4:25But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land.
- Luke 9:27But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.”
- Acts 10:34Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,
- John 11:50You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.”
- John 14:3And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.
- Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,
- 2 Corinthians 4:17For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
- John 7:39(Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)
- John 14:16Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever –
- John 15:26When the Advocate comes, whom I will send you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me,
- Psalms 68:18You ascend on high, you have taken many captives. You receive tribute from men, including even sinful rebels. Indeed the Lord God lives there!
- Luke 24:49And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
- Acts 1:4While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me.
- Acts 2:33So then, exalted to the right hand of God, and having received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you both see and hear.
- Ephesians 4:8Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.”
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
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
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