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 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 16:20 | Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. | Fulfilled prophecy of post-resurrection joy. |
| 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 your joy from you. | The nature of permanent spiritual joy. |
| John 20:19-20 | On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. | Direct fulfillment: disciples' joy upon seeing the resurrected Lord. |
| Acts 2:46 | And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts. | Corporate joy in early church. |
| Romans 15:13 | May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. | Source of lasting joy. |
| Galatians 5:22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. | Joy as a fruit of the Spirit. |
| 1 Peter 1:8 | Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. | Inexpressible joy in faith. |
| Psalm 16:11 | You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. | Eternal joy in God's presence. |
| Isaiah 66:14 | You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; you shall dry your bones like a green herb; and the Lord’s hand shall be known to his servants, and he shallIndignation to his enemies. | Prophecy of future rejoicing. |
| Luke 24:41 | And while they still disbelieved for joy and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” | Disciples' initial disbelief due to overwhelming joy. |
| Matthew 28:8 | So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to give intelligence to his disciples. | Early morning resurrection joy. |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:13 | We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. | Distinguishing Christian grief from non-believer's grief. |
| John 14:28 | You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. | Jesus previously spoke of his departure leading to their rejoicing. |
| John 16:13-14 | 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. He will glorify me, as he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. | The Spirit's role in understanding and experiencing this joy. |
| Acts 1:3 | He presented himself alive to them after his passion by many proofs, appearing over forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. | The period of appearances, confirming his resurrection and the source of joy. |
| 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 | Then, when this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is victory! O death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of death is sin. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. | The ultimate victory over sorrow through Christ. |
| Psalm 30:5 | For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. | Old Testament parallel for temporary sorrow and incoming joy. |
| 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 | For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. | Comparing temporary suffering to eternal joy. |
| John 16:33 | I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. | The peace and joy available in Christ despite worldly tribulation. |
| Philippians 4:4 | Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. | A constant state of rejoicing in Christ. |
John 16 verses
John 16 19 Meaning
Jesus addresses his disciples, foreseeing their future distress and questioning upon his departure. He explains that their grief will be temporary, like a woman in labor. However, their sorrow will soon turn to joy when they see him again after his resurrection, and their hearts will rejoice in a way that no one can take away.
John 16 19 Context
This discourse occurs during Jesus' final hours with his disciples before his crucifixion. He is preparing them for his impending physical departure, which will cause them grief. He contrasts their sorrow with the world's rejoicing over his apparent defeat. Jesus reassures them that this period of distress is temporary, and a greater, more lasting joy will follow his resurrection and ascension. The imminent coming of the Holy Spirit is also mentioned as a key factor in their future understanding and experience of this joy.
John 16 19 Word Analysis
- Little while: (Greek: mikron) Signifies a short, brief period. Jesus is downplaying the duration of their impending sorrow.
- again: (Greek: palin) Indicates a return or repetition. Jesus will be seen again, and the disciples will experience joy again.
- will see you: (Greek: opsomai hymas) Refers to a visual perception, but in a spiritual sense, it means to encounter or behold. Jesus will manifest himself to them.
- your heart: (Greek: kardia) The inner being, encompassing emotions, will, and understanding. The source of their joy will be internal.
- rejoice: (Greek: chairei) To be glad, exult, or feel joy. A deep, profound gladness.
- no one will take your joy from you: (Greek: oudeis airei ek tou hymōn tēn charan) Emphasizes the permanent, unassailable nature of this divine joy. It is an inward possession that external circumstances cannot remove.
Word Groups Analysis:
- "Little while... again... will see you": This grouping highlights the cyclical nature of their experience: present distress will be followed by a future encounter, leading to a reversal of fortune.
- "your heart will rejoice": This signifies the internal and profound nature of the coming joy, originating from a transformed inner state.
- "no one will take your joy from you": This asserts the intrinsic and secure quality of this joy, gifted by God and unshakable by any earthly power.
John 16 19 Bonus Section
The imagery of childbirth is a powerful metaphor, reflecting creation and new life. This connects to Jesus' own "birth" into resurrection glory and the spiritual rebirth experienced by believers. The concept of joy being "taken away" speaks to the deep psychological impact of loss and the potential for worldly circumstances to diminish happiness. Jesus is offering a spiritual security that transcends these worldly fluctuations. This joy is rooted in the person and work of Christ, and subsequently empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is what makes it permanent and unassailable. The promise anticipates the joy of the Christian faith, a joy that is not dependent on favorable external conditions but is an abiding reality in Christ.
John 16 19 Commentary
Jesus provides a divine perspective on sorrow and joy. Their current grief, caused by his departure, is compared to the labor pains of a woman. These pains are intense but temporary, with the ultimate purpose of bringing forth new life and a subsequent rejoicing. The world will rejoice at Jesus' crucifixion, misunderstanding it as his defeat. However, Jesus assures his disciples that their sorrow will be transformed into a profound and lasting joy. This joy is directly linked to his reappearance after his resurrection. This joy is not merely an outward emotion but an internal transformation, a gift from God that no external force can snatch away. It is a foreshadowing of the joy found in fellowship with the resurrected Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which solidifies this joy within believers. This promise is a testament to the power of Christ’s victory over death and sin, which ultimately defeats sorrow and brings enduring gladness.