John 16:13 kjv
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 16:13 nkjv
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
John 16:13 niv
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
John 16:13 esv
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13 nlt
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
John 16 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 14:26 | But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things. | Father sending Spirit to teach all things |
| 1 Corinthians 2:10 | For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. | Spirit's ability to search God's depths |
| 1 Corinthians 2:13 | And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom, but taught by the Spirit, | Spirit-taught words, not human wisdom |
| 1 John 2:27 | But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as that anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is not a lie—just as it has taught you—abide in Him. | Inner anointing of the Spirit teaches |
| John 16:8 | And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. | Spirit convicts the world |
| John 14:17 | ...the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He abides with you, and in you will be. | Spirit of truth, known by believers |
| John 8:31-32 | So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” | Truth sets free |
| Psalm 25:5 | Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. | Prayer for God's truth and teaching |
| Isaiah 42:16 | I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, and the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone. | God's guidance in blindness |
| Jeremiah 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. | God's law written on hearts |
| Hebrews 8:10 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. | Covenant: God's laws on minds and hearts |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. | Spirit gives power to witness |
| Romans 8:14 | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. | Led by the Spirit leads to sonship |
| Galatians 5:18 | But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. | Led by the Spirit means freedom from law |
| 1 Timothy 3:15 | ...how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth. | Church as pillar of truth |
| 2 Timothy 2:7 | Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. | Lord gives understanding |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, | Scripture breathed by God |
| 1 Peter 1:12 | ...to them it was revealed that not for themselves, but for you, they were serving in the things that now have been told to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look! | Angels long to look into Gospel truths |
| John 14:26 | but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. | Spirit teaches and reminds |
| John 15:26 | “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. | Spirit bears witness of Jesus |
| John 16:7 | Nevertheless, I am telling 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. | Jesus' departure necessary for Spirit's coming |
John 16 verses
John 16 13 Meaning
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own authority, but will tell you what He hears, and will declare to you what is to come. This verse describes the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit, specifically His role in leading believers into a deeper understanding of God's truth.
John 16 13 Context
This verse is spoken by Jesus during His final discourse with His disciples before His crucifixion. It follows His departure from them, a concept they found difficult to grasp. Jesus is reassuring them that His going away is necessary for the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will continue His work among them and in the world. This discourse occurs within the Upper Room, a private setting focused on preparing His followers for His absence and the future of His ministry. The historical context is Jerusalem on the eve of Passover, a time of deep spiritual significance.
John 16 13 Word Analysis
But (δὲ - de): A conjunction often used to introduce a contrast or a new but related thought. Here it signals a transition from Jesus' impending departure to the promised role of the Spirit.
when (ὅταν - hotan): Indicates a future, yet certain, event.
the Spirit (τὸ Πνεῦμα - to Pneuma): Refers specifically to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity.
of truth (τῆς ἀληθείας - tes alētheias): This phrase emphasizes the Holy Spirit's nature and His mission. He is the Spirit who embodies and reveals truth. Truth (ἀλήθεια - alētheia) refers to reality, genuineness, and divine revelation, in contrast to falsehood or deception.
of truth, (τῆς ἀληθείας): In ancient Greek thought, truth was often seen as revealed by the divine. This connects the Spirit to the very nature of God's unveiling of Himself.
comes, (ἔρχεται - erchetai): Present tense, indicating an ongoing or imminent arrival and continuous presence.
He will guide (ὁδηγήσει - hēgeitai): Future tense, active voice of ὁδηγέω (hēgeitai), meaning to guide, lead, direct, or show the way. This is not a forceful compulsion but a gentle leading.
you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): Plural pronoun, addressing the disciples collectively and by extension, all believers.
into all truth. (εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν - eis pasan tēn alētheian): "Into" signifies entering a sphere or state. "All truth" is comprehensive, meaning the fullness of divine truth, not limiting it to specific doctrines but encompassing the totality of God's revelation.
He will not speak (οὐ λαλήσει - ou lalēsei): Future tense, active voice of λαλέω (laléō), meaning to speak, talk, or communicate. This emphasizes the Spirit's dependence on God and Jesus, not independent or self-generated speech.
from Himself; (ἀφ’ ἑαυτοῦ - aph’ heautou): "From Himself" indicates self-origination. The Spirit does not have His own independent message apart from the Father and the Son.
but whatever He hears (ἀλλὰ ὅσα ἀκούει - alla hosa akoūei): "But" signals the contrast. "Whatever He hears" refers to the reception of divine communication from the Father and the Son.
He will speak, (λαλήσει - lalēsei): Future tense, the Spirit will articulate what He has heard.
and (καὶ - kai): A conjunction connecting the previous action with the next.
He will declare (ἀναγγελεῖ - anangellei): Future tense, active voice of ἀναγγέλλω (anangellō), meaning to announce, report, declare, or proclaim.
to you (ὑμῖν - hymin): Plural pronoun, indicating the recipients of this declaration.
what is to come. (τὰ ἐρχόμενα - ta erchomena): Refers to future events, prophecies, and the unfolding of God's plan. It signifies the Spirit's role in revealing the future in accordance with God's will.
John 16 13 Bonus Section
The concept of "truth" (alētheia) in John's Gospel is robust, referring not merely to factual accuracy but to the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit's role as the "Spirit of truth" thus links His guidance to this profound revelation. The emphasis on the Spirit "hearing" from the Father and Son highlights the divine unity and communion within the Godhead. This mutual sharing of truth is a model for authentic relationship and communication. The prophetic dimension of the Spirit's declaration, revealing "what is to come," aligns with Old Testament prophets who spoke under the inspiration of the Spirit.
John 16 13 Commentary
Jesus assures His disciples that His departure will be compensated by the presence and work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, referred to as the "Spirit of truth," is a divine guide who will lead believers into the full scope of divine truth. This guidance is not abstract but deeply personal and authoritative, stemming from the Father and the Son. The Spirit’s role is to reveal what is to come, thus empowering and guiding the Church throughout history according to God’s redemptive plan. His speech is never His own but is sourced from the divine counsel, ensuring accurate and revelatory communication. This ministry of the Spirit equips believers to understand spiritual realities and navigate the future with divine insight.
- Practical Usage: Believers can actively seek the Spirit's guidance in prayer for understanding difficult biblical passages or when facing life’s decisions.
- Spiritual Discernment: Trusting the Spirit’s voice over human opinions is crucial for maintaining doctrinal purity.
- Forward-looking Hope: The promise of knowing "what is to come" fosters a hope grounded in God's sovereignty and plan for the future.