John 14 16

John 14:16 kjv

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

John 14:16 nkjv

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever?

John 14:16 niv

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever?

John 14:16 esv

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

John 14:16 nlt

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.

John 14 verses

John 14 16 Meaning

In John 14:16, Jesus reassures His disciples, troubled by His impending departure, that He will not leave them bereft. He promises to intercede with God the Father, who will then provide "another Helper" – the Holy Spirit – to be with them perpetually. This Helper is presented as an ongoing divine presence, offering comfort, guidance, and assistance, mirroring Jesus' own ministry and presence among them, but in a spiritual, eternal form.

John 14 16 Context

John 14:16 is part of Jesus' "Upper Room Discourse" (John 13-17), delivered on the eve of His crucifixion. The disciples are distressed by Jesus' announcement of His departure ("Where I am going you cannot come," 13:33). Jesus is comforting them, revealing profound truths about His relationship with the Father and the future role of the Holy Spirit. He begins by speaking of preparing a place for them (14:1-3) and assuring them of their union with Him (14:12), conditioned by their obedience to His commandments out of love (14:15). This promise of "another Helper" is a direct response to their grief and anxiety, assuring them that they will not be abandoned but will have an even more intimate and constant divine presence. Historically, the disciples, steeped in Jewish expectation of a Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, struggled to comprehend a spiritual presence replacing the physical Jesus.

John 14 16 Word analysis

• And I: Connects this promise to the previous verse's command of loving obedience. Jesus Himself takes the initiative and guarantees the provision.
• will ask (ἐρωτήσω - erotēsō): This Greek term signifies a request made by an equal or intimate. It suggests an appeal within the Trinitarian Godhead, highlighting the deep unity and cooperation between the Father and the Son, rather than a subordinate's petition. It differs from aiteō, which implies a request from an inferior to a superior.
• the Father: Emphasizes God's paternity and the divine source of this gift. The Father's willingness and authority are the ultimate grounds for the Helper's sending.
• and he will give (δώσει - dōsei): Highlights the Father's active role as the benevolent giver, a sovereign act of bestowing a divine gift to His children. This underscores His generous love for the disciples.
• you: Refers to the immediate disciples present, but through them, it extends to all future believers in Christ throughout history.
• another (ἄλλον - allon): This is a crucial distinction. Allon means "another of the same kind" or "another of the same quality," implying the Helper is fully divine and will function in a manner consistent with Jesus Himself. It contrasts with heteros, which would mean "another of a different kind."
• Helper (Παράκλητον - Paraklēton): This rich Greek term, often transliterated as "Paraclete," carries multiple layers of meaning:
  • Advocate: One who pleads one's cause in court, speaks in defense of another (similar to 1 Jn 2:1 for Jesus Himself).
  • Counselor: One who gives guidance and advice.
  • Comforter/Consoler: One who provides solace, strength, and encouragement during distress or difficulty.
  • Intercessor: One who mediates or prays on behalf of others.
  • Assistant/Ally: One who comes alongside to assist, support, and strengthen.
  • The literal meaning, "one called alongside," encompasses all these facets, emphasizing an intimate and ever-present support. This term was commonly used in Hellenistic Judaism for various types of support roles, including legal or pastoral advocates.
• to be with you: Emphasizes continuous, personal companionship and presence. This presence is more intimate than Jesus' physical presence, as the Spirit will indwell believers.
• forever (εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα - eis ton aiōna): Signifies eternal, unending duration. This stands in stark contrast to Jesus' temporary physical presence among them, assuring them that this new divine Helper's presence is permanent and unconditional for all eternity.

John 14 16 Bonus section

• The promise of the Paraclete marks a crucial aspect of the "new covenant" prophesied in the Old Testament (e.g., Jer 31, Ezek 36), where God's law would be written on hearts and His Spirit would indwell His people, enabling them to live righteously.
• The Paraclete is inextricably linked to the truth: referred to as the "Spirit of truth" (Jn 14:17, 15:26, 16:13), implying His role in revealing, confirming, and guiding believers into all truth about Christ.
• This verse shows the Spirit's identity and mission as deeply Christological: the Spirit comes because of Jesus, in the likeness of Jesus, to glorify Jesus.
• The experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, initiated by this promise, is described elsewhere as being "born of the Spirit" (Jn 3:5), "sealed" by the Spirit (Eph 1:13), and the power for living the Christian life and effective witness (Acts 1:8).
• The Father sending the Spirit at Jesus' request underscores that while the Spirit is distinct, He works in unity with and subject to both the Father and the Son, maintaining the order of the Trinity.

John 14 16 Commentary

John 14:16 is a pivotal verse, offering profound theological comfort and establishing the ongoing work of the Triune God in the life of believers. Jesus' promise of "another Helper" signals a shift from His physical, localized presence to the omnipresent, spiritual reality of the Holy Spirit. This Helper is not a substitute for Jesus, but His alter-ego, one of the same kind, continuing His ministry in and through believers. The Father's act of "giving" highlights divine generosity, initiated by Jesus' "asking," demonstrating the perfect harmony within the Trinity. The Holy Spirit's multifaceted role as Paraclete – advocate, counselor, comforter – assures the disciples (and all future believers) of constant divine support, guidance, and strengthening. This indwelling, eternal presence means believers are never truly alone or without divine assistance, making this promise a foundational truth for Christian experience and resilience.