John 16 19

John 16:19 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?

John 16:19 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'?

John 16:19 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'?

John 16:19 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'?

John 16:19 nlt

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.

John 16 verses

John 16 19 Meaning

Jesus divinely perceived the unspoken thoughts and questions forming in His disciples' minds. Though they had not yet verbalized their confusion about His recent statements concerning His imminent departure ("a little while, and you will not see Me") and His subsequent return ("and again a little while, and you will see Me"), He preemptively addressed their silent inquiry, prompting them to open their hearts. He explicitly repeated the perplexing words, signaling His awareness of their specific perplexity and readiness to provide clarification regarding His upcoming death, resurrection, and return through the Holy Spirit.

John 16 19 Context

John 16:19 is situated within Jesus' extensive Farewell Discourse (Chapters 13-17), delivered to His disciples in the Upper Room just before His betrayal and crucifixion. In this discourse, Jesus prepares them for His imminent physical departure, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the world's antagonism, and the ultimate victory and joy awaiting them. Immediately preceding verse 19, in John 16:16-18, Jesus had spoken cryptically: "A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me." This profoundly confused the disciples, who debated among themselves the meaning of "a little while" and how He would vanish and reappear. Verse 19 shows Jesus, by His divine knowledge, interrupting their unspoken deliberation to address their confusion head-on, setting the stage for a deeper explanation of His death, resurrection, and the Holy Spirit's role. Culturally, the disciples, expecting a Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, struggled with the concept of their Lord's departure and return in such a paradoxical, seemingly non-linear manner.

John 16 19 Word analysis

• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous): The Greek name, signifying "Yahweh is salvation." Highlights the divine person who possesses unparalleled insight.

• knew (ἔγνω, egnō): From ginōskō, denoting a deep, experiential, and intuitive knowledge. Here, it specifically implies Jesus' supernatural omniscience, perceiving their internal thoughts without needing verbal cues.

• that they wanted (ὅτι ἤθελον, hoti ēthelon): Lit. "that they were desiring." Reveals their internal inclination and strong intention to ask, demonstrating their deep perplexity.

• to ask Him (αὐτὸν ἐρωτᾶν, auton erōtan): Erōtaō typically means to inquire or ask a question. It signifies their desire for clarification, indicative of confusion.

• and He said (καὶ εἶπεν, kai eipen): A direct introduction to Jesus' response, highlighting His immediate and authoritative address.

• to them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Specifically to His disciples, the immediate audience of the Farewell Discourse, whom He was preparing.

• Are you inquiring (Περὶ τούτου ζητεῖτε, Peri toutou zēteite): Zēteō means "to seek," "to search," "to investigate." Jesus poses a direct, rhetorical question affirming their internal discussion.

• among yourselves (μετ’ ἀλλήλων, met' allēlōn): Literally "with one another." This phrase reveals that their confusion was being debated privately within their group, not yet directly voiced to Jesus. It illustrates their human hesitation.

• about this (περὶ τούτου, peri toutou): Specifically points to the contentious statement made by Jesus in the preceding verses (John 16:16-17).

• that I said (ὅτι εἶπον, hoti eipon): Jesus precisely identifies the source of their confusion: His own enigmatic words.

• ‘A little while (Μικρὸν, Micron): Mikron means a short duration of time. The repetition of this phrase was key to their perplexity. It refers to the span between His statement and His death.

• and you will not see Me (καὶ οὐκέτι θεωρεῖτέ με, kai ouketi theōreite me): Theōreō often suggests a contemplative or attentive seeing. It points to His physical removal from their presence due to His crucifixion and burial.

• and again a little while (καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν, kai palin micron): Refers to another brief period, from His death until His resurrection and subsequent appearances.

• and you will see Me’ (καὶ ὄψεσθέ με, kai opsesthe me): Opsomai, a future tense of horao, generally means to see with the eyes, but also to perceive or experience. This encompasses His post-resurrection appearances and, in a broader sense, their future spiritual perception of Him through faith and the Holy Spirit.

• Words-group analysis: "Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him": This phrase accentuates Jesus' profound understanding, extending beyond mere observation to knowing the heart's inclinations. It underscores His divine character and His empathetic pastoral care for His perplexed disciples.

• Words-group analysis: "Are you inquiring among yourselves about this": By confirming their internal deliberations, Jesus subtly encourages open communication. It demonstrates His desire for them to voice their questions, even when hesitating, so He can provide explicit teaching and comfort.

• Words-group analysis: "‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’": This repetition by Jesus not only identifies the exact source of their confusion but also establishes the enigmatic statements as the central topic for His forthcoming profound explanation concerning His Passion and Resurrection.

John 16 19 Bonus section

The specific confusion among the disciples in John 16:19 echoes a recurrent theme in the Gospels: the disciples' difficulty in grasping the spiritual implications of Jesus' teachings, often interpreting them through a literal or earthly lens (e.g., concerning His death or the nature of His kingdom). Jesus' omniscience here serves a vital purpose beyond just proving His divinity; it creates an environment of trust where disciples feel truly known and understood, facilitating their learning even when they are hesitant to voice their spiritual immaturity. This exchange prepares them not only for His physical absence but also for the coming Comforter, who would help them remember and understand all He had taught (Jn 14:26).

John 16 19 Commentary

John 16:19 encapsulates Jesus' divine omniscience and His profound pedagogical approach. Despite the disciples' reluctance or inability to articulate their deep-seated confusion regarding His departure and return, Jesus already understood their internal debate. His preemptive question served not as an interrogation but as a compassionate invitation to dialogue, gently affirming their hidden thoughts and preparing them for further revelation. By repeating His own enigmatic words, He precisely pinpointed the source of their bewilderment, indicating His readiness to bridge their current human understanding with the spiritual realities of His imminent death, glorious resurrection, and subsequent return through the Holy Spirit. This moment highlights Jesus' role as a shepherd who not only leads but also perceives the unspoken needs of His flock, patiently guiding them towards faith and comprehension of God's sovereign plan.