John 16 16

John 16:16 kjv

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.

John 16:16 nkjv

"A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

John 16:16 niv

Jesus went on to say, "In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me."

John 16:16 esv

"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me."

John 16:16 nlt

"In a little while you won't see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again."

John 16 verses

John 16 16 Meaning

Jesus here makes a profound, yet enigmatic, declaration to His disciples about His impending departure and subsequent return. "A little while, and you will see Me no longer" refers primarily to His death, burial, and absence during the period between His crucifixion and resurrection. "And again a little while, and you will see Me" promises His reappearance, specifically His resurrection appearances to them after His triumph over death. It signifies a transition from their current fellowship with Him to a brief period of deep sorrow and absence, which would then be transformed into renewed joy through His glorious return to them in resurrection.

John 16 16 Context

John 16:16 is nestled within Jesus's Farewell Discourse (John 13-17) on the eve of His crucifixion. This specific section of John 16 (verses 16-33) addresses the confusion and sorrow of the disciples regarding His impending departure and the ultimate joy of His return and their receiving of the Holy Spirit. Jesus has been preparing them for His physical absence, promising the Advocate (Holy Spirit) and speaking of the world's hatred and their future persecution. This verse acts as a pivotal moment, directly challenging their immediate understanding of His continuous physical presence and introducing a paradox of absence and return within a "little while." Historically, the disciples still harbored strong messianic expectations of an earthly, ever-present king who would establish an immediate kingdom, making the concept of His leaving them for even a brief period profoundly perplexing and unsettling. They struggled to grasp the spiritual and temporal nuances of His words before His death and resurrection enlightened them.

John 16 16 Word analysis

• A little while (ἔτι μικρὸν - eti mikron):

  • Literally "still a short time" or "yet a little."
  • Signifies a remarkably brief period.
  • This phrase emphasizes the imminent nature of His departure (His crucifixion and death).
  • Its repetition underscores the brevity of both the sorrowful separation and the joyful reunion.
  • This "little while" is understood in human terms, marking days, not millennia.

• and you will see Me no longer (καὶ οὐκέτι θεωρεῖτέ με - kai ouketi theōreite me):

  • οὐκέτι (ouketi): "no longer," indicating a definite cessation.
  • θεωρεῖτέ (theōreite): "you will be beholding," "perceive," "gaze upon," "contemplate." Implies observation, a thoughtful perception.
  • This points to His death and the consequent physical absence of Jesus's living presence from the disciples' sight. They would witness His death, but then His body would be laid in a tomb, out of their direct view.
  • It highlights the breaking of their constant physical companionship and visual observation of their Master.

• and again a little while (καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν - kai palin mikron):

  • πάλιν (palin): "again," signaling a renewed or repeated action.
  • Reiterates the brevity of the interim period between His departure and return.
  • This emphasizes the divinely orchestrated short duration of their sorrow and separation.

• and you will see Me (καὶ ὄψεσθέ με - kai opsesthe me):

  • ὄψεσθέ (opsesthe): "you will see," "will perceive." From horao, which often denotes physical sight, but can also encompass spiritual perception or experience. It lacks the contemplative nuance of theoreite.
  • This directly refers to His post-resurrection appearances to His disciples. They would physically behold Him alive, risen from the dead.
  • In a broader sense, for the Church throughout history, it points to the spiritual seeing and experience of Christ through the Holy Spirit (John 14:18-19), and ultimately to His glorious Second Coming.

• "you will see Me no longer; and again... you will see Me" (words-group):

  • This creates a direct antithesis, a stark contrast between His immediate absence and His imminent return.
  • It is a prophetic statement meant to confuse the disciples initially, leading them to ponder its meaning and ultimately revealing its profound truth through experience (resurrection).
  • This progression signifies a transition from the pain of physical separation to the joy of resurrected presence, reflecting a core Christian experience of faith enduring suffering towards hope.

John 16 16 Bonus section

• The deliberate change in Greek verbs for "to see" – from theōreō (contemplative observing) to horao (general seeing/perceiving) – in some interpretations suggests a nuanced difference in the kind of seeing. Perhaps theōreō referred to their continuous, instructional viewing of Him during His ministry, while horao for His return denotes a sudden, unmistakable, revelatory appearance.
• The disciples' bewilderment recorded in John 16:17-18 highlights the profound depth of Jesus's spiritual truth versus their earthly, literal understanding at that moment. Their lack of comprehension further underscores the veiled nature of prophetic truth before its fulfillment.
• The phrase "a little while" is critical not just temporally but theologically. It communicates divine control over events, ensuring that sorrow and absence are contained and temporary, designed to transition into lasting joy and a deeper form of spiritual presence through the Holy Spirit.

John 16 16 Commentary

John 16:16 is a cryptic promise that pivots on two "little whiles," each marking a distinct, short phase. The first "little while" signals Jesus's imminent death, during which His disciples would no longer behold Him physically. This was a period of intense grief and disorientation for them, an abrupt end to their continuous companionship. However, this sorrow was prophesied to be short-lived, as the second "little while" would culminate in His resurrection, restoring Him to their physical sight. This sequence not only underscores the literal event of Christ's triumph over death but also establishes a pattern for the Christian experience: a temporary period of waiting, often filled with trial or a sense of absence, followed by the revelation of God's presence and intervention. While the immediate fulfillment was the resurrection, the verse also carries wider implications, alluding to the coming of the Holy Spirit (allowing a spiritual "seeing" and communion), and the ultimate return of Christ in glory at the consummation of the age, when every eye will literally see Him. Thus, the verse comforts with the assurance that all periods of separation and suffering are temporary and ultimately lead to renewed fellowship and divine joy.