New Living Translation
John 16:19
19Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again.
John 16:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
- New International Version (NIV)Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
Context of John 16:19
17Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.
Read all of John 16John 16:19 word by word
Ἔγνω ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἤθελον αὐτὸν ἐρωτᾶν, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· περὶ τούτου ζητεῖτε μετ᾽ ἀλλήλων ὅτι εἶπον· μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nowοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- knewγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- they were desirousθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
- to askἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Do ye enquireζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212
- amongμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- yourselvesἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
- ofπερίperi · aboutG4012
- ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- A little whileμικρόςmikros mikroteros · smallG3398
- ye shallθεωρέωtheōreō · to see/experienceG2334
- notοὐou · noG3756
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- againπάλινpalin · againG3825
- ye shall seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
Cross-references for John 16:19
- John 16:30Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”
- John 2:24But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people.
- John 21:17A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
- Psalms 139:1O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
- Matthew 6:8Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
- Matthew 9:4Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts?
- Mark 9:33After they arrived at Capernaum and settled in a house, Jesus asked his disciples, “What were you discussing out on the road?”
- Hebrews 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
- Revelation 2:23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.
- John 16:16“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”
- John 7:33But Jesus told them, “I will be with you only a little longer. Then I will return to the one who sent me.
- John 13:33Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going.
- John 14:19Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.
Commentaries on John 16:19
- 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
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries