John 16:19
in John 16Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me?
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?
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This verse in John 16
Commentary
14 notes on this verseChrist, however, anticipates their desire for information, and once more very seasonably shows them that He knows their hearts as God, and that He is as well aware of what they are turning over in their minds, and what was as yet buried in the depths of their hearts, as though they had already given utterance to it in speech. For what is there which can be hid from Him before Whom all things are naked?
This site's exposition
In a little while
on John 16:16-19
In a little while covers two spans, the hours the grave hides Him and the day He stands among them again. The disciples turn the saying over with one another and cannot make it out. Jesus knows the question before they ask it.
This site's exposition
Aware that they wanted to question Him
Jesus answers the question they had kept among themselves, as one who knows hearts. He answers before they call. Seeing them burdened with sorrow, He speaks more plainly of His death and teaches the humble who own their ignorance.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Tr. c. 1) The meaning of these words however was obscure, before their fulfilment; 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. (Tr. ci. 1) For above, because He did not say, A little while, but simply, I go to the Father, He seemed to speak plainly. But what to them was obscure at the time, but by and by manifested, is manifest to us. For in a little while He suffered, and they did not see Him; and again, in a little while He rose again, and they saw Him. He says, And ye shall see Me no more; for the mortal Christ they saw no more. (Tr. ci) Which must be understood thus, viz. that the disciples sorrowed at their Lord's death, and then immediately rejoiced at His resurrection. The world (i. e. the enemies of Christ, who put Him to death) rejoiced just when the disciples sorrowed, i. e. at His death: Ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (Tr. ci) This comparison does not seem difficult to understand. It was one which lay near at hand, and He Himself immediately shows its application. And ye now therefore have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice. The bringing forth is compared to sorrow, the birth to joy, which is especially true in the birth of a boy. And your joy no man taketh from you: their joy is Christ. This agrees with what the Apostle saith, Christ being risen from the dead dieth no more. (Rom. 6:9) (Tr. ci. 6) To this joy it is better to refer what was said above, A little while and ye shall not see Me, and again, a little while and ye shall see Me. For the whole space of time that this world continues is but a little while. […]
A commentator
Cyril of AlexandriaCommentary on the Gospel of John, Book 11 · Written before 444.
proposed
As then they were thirsting for information and sought to know more exactly the meaning of His words, He gives a clearer exposition of His Passion, and vouchsafes them the foreknowledge of the sufferings that He was about to undergo to their great profit. It was not in order that He might engender in them premature alarm that He deemed it meet to give them this explanation beforehand, but in order that, forearmed by their knowledge, they might perchance be found more courageous to withstand the terror that would assail them. For that of which the advent is expected is milder in its approach than that which is wholly unlooked for.
The Medieval Church3 voices
The Lord saw that the disciples, burdened with sorrow, did not fully understand His words; therefore He offers them a clearer teaching about His death, so that, having grown accustomed to the words and deeds, they might bear it courageously.
But Jesus knew. Here the third point is touched upon, namely the removal of doubt, which was done by the Master before the inquiry of the disciples; on account of which he says: Jesus knew that they wished to ask him, etc.; Sirach twenty-three: "The …
It follows; 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? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament. Their merciful Master, understanding their ignorance and doubts, replied so as to explain what He had said.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
2125 Now their perplexity is revealed. First, it is acknowledged by Christ; secondly, it is cleared up (v 20); and thirdly Christ presents a similar situation (v 21). 2126 He does two things about the first. First, he shows how the perplexity of the disciples …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Before we call, he answers. Another reason why Christ explained it was because he observed them canvassing this matter among themselves: " Do you enquire this among yourselves? Well, I will make it easy to you." This intimates to us who they are that Christ will teach: (1.) The humble, that confess their ignorance, for so much their enquiry implied.
Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
At the same time the sorrow of the widowed Church in the absence of her Lord in the heavens, and her transport at His personal return, are certainly here expressed.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
Not all Christ's sayings were understood by His disciples. We are told this distinctly in the passage we have now read. "What is this that he says? We cannot tell what he says." None ever spoke so plainly as Jesus. None were so thoroughly accustomed to His style of teaching as the Apostles. Yet even the Apostles did not always take in their Master's meaning. Surely we have no right to be surprised if we cannot interpret Christ's words. There are many depths in those who we have no line to fathom.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1869)
proposed
Not all Christ's sayings were understood by His disciples. We are told this distinctly in the passage we have now read. "What is this that he says? We cannot tell what he says." None ever spoke so plainly as Jesus. None were so thoroughly accustomed to His style of teaching as the Apostles. Yet even the Apostles did not always take in their Master's meaning. Surely we have no right to be surprised if we cannot interpret Christ's words. There are many depths in those who we have no line to fathom. But let us thank God that there are many sayings of our Lord recorded which no honest mind can fail to understand. Let us use diligently the light that we have, and not doubt that "to him that has, more shall be given." We learn, for one thing, in these verses, that Christ's absence from the earth will be a time of sorrow to believers, but of joy to the world. It is written, "You shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice." To confine these words to the single point of Christ's approaching death and burial, appears a narrow view of their meaning. Like many of our Lord's sayings on the last evening of His earthly ministry, they seem to extend over the whole period of time between His first and second advents. Christ's personal absence must needs be a sorrow to all true-hearted believers. "The children of the bride-chamber cannot but fast when the bridegroom is taken from them." Faith is not sight. Hope is not certainty. Reading and hearing are not the same as beholding. Praying is not the same as speaking face to face. There is something, even in the hearts of the most eminent saints, that will never be fully satisfied as long as they are on earth and Christ is in heaven.
The words behind it
28 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ἔγνω | egno | Knew | G1097 → | 221 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰησοῦς | iesous | Jesus | G2424 → | 908 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἤθελον | ethelon | they were desiring | G2309 → | 208 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἐρωτᾶν, | erotan | to ask, | G2065 → | 62 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εἶπεν | eipen | He said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| αὐτοῖς· | autois | to them; | G846 → | 5565 times |
| περὶ | peri | Concerning | G4012 → | 332 times |
| τούτου | toutou | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ζητεῖτε | zeteite | do you inquire | G2212 → | 117 times |
| μετ᾽ | met᾽ | among | G3326 → | 461 times |
| ἀλλήλων | allelon | one another | G240 → | 100 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| εἶπον· | eipon | I said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| μικρὸν | mikron | A little [while] | G3398 → | 46 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| θεωρεῖτέ | theoreite | you do behold | G2334 → | 58 times |
| με, | me | Me, | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πάλιν | palin | again | G3825 → | 139 times |
| μικρὸν | mikron | a little [while] | G3398 → | 46 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὄψεσθέ | opsesthe | you will behold | G3700 → | 54 times |
| με;¶ | me | Me’? | G3165 → | 1936 times |
ἜγνωKnew
egnoG1097 →221 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
ἸησοῦςJesus
iesousG2424 →908 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἤθελονthey were desiring
ethelonG2309 →208 times
αὐτὸνHim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἐρωτᾶν,to ask,
erotanG2065 →62 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εἶπενHe said
eipenG2036 →925 times
αὐτοῖς·to them;
autoisG846 →5565 times
περὶConcerning
periG4012 →332 times
τούτουthis
toutouG3778 →1381 times
ζητεῖτεdo you inquire
zeteiteG2212 →117 times
μετ᾽among
met᾽G3326 →461 times
ἀλλήλωνone another
allelonG240 →100 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
εἶπον·I said;
eiponG2036 →925 times
μικρὸνA little [while]
mikronG3398 →46 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
θεωρεῖτέyou do behold
theoreiteG2334 →58 times
με,Me,
meG3165 →1936 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πάλινagain
palinG3825 →139 times
μικρὸνa little [while]
mikronG3398 →46 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὄψεσθέyou will behold
opsestheG3700 →54 times
με;¶Me’?
meG3165 →1936 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 16:16In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”
it leads to
- John 7:33
So Jesus said, “I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 10:40–41
God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen—
- John 16:28
I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.”
- John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
- John 7:33
Through
John 14:19In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.
it leads to
- John 16:16
In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”
- John 6:56–58
Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.
- Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
- Colossians 3:3–4
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
- John 16:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About John
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Alcuin of York, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on John, Chapter 16; Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 11; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, John; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on John and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on John.