John 16 20

John 16:20 kjv

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

John 16:20 nkjv

Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

John 16:20 niv

Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

John 16:20 esv

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.

John 16:20 nlt

I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy.

John 16 verses

John 16 20 Meaning

This verse speaks of a future time when believers, who are currently sorrowful due to Jesus' impending departure and suffering, will experience joy. This joy will be an unceasing and complete gladness that cannot be taken away. The sorrow will pass, but the joy will remain.

John 16 20 Context

In John chapter 16, Jesus is speaking to His disciples in the Upper Room the night before His crucifixion. He is preparing them for His impending departure, explaining that His absence will initially bring sorrow but will ultimately lead to a greater, permanent joy. He reassures them that the Holy Spirit will come to be their comforter and guide, and that their future reunion with Him will be a source of unshakeable joy. The disciples are experiencing the present reality of Jesus' impending suffering and death, which naturally causes them grief and anxiety.

John 16 20 Word Analysis

• "And you now therefore have sorrow:"

  • "And" (καὶ - kai): A conjunction indicating connection or addition, linking this statement to the preceding ones.
  • "you" (ὑμεῖς - humeis): Plural pronoun, referring directly to the disciples.
  • "now" (νῦν - nun): Adverb of time, pointing to their present experience.
  • "therefore" (μὲν οὖν - men oun): A conjunction marking a logical consequence or conclusion based on what Jesus has just explained about His departure. It means "on the one hand" or "but now," signaling a shift from the disciples' current state to what will follow.
  • "have" (ἔχετε - echete): From ἔχω (echō), meaning to hold, possess, or experience.
  • "sorrow" (λύπην - lupēn): Accusative case of λύπη (lupē), meaning grief, pain, sadness, affliction. It signifies a deep emotional suffering.

• "but" (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, contrasting the sorrow with the future joy.

• "I will see you again,"

  • "I" (ἐγὼ - ego): Emphasizes Jesus' personal action.
  • "will see" (ὄψομαι - opsomai): Future passive indicative of ὄραω (horaō), meaning to see, behold. In this context, it carries the meaning of encountering or meeting, with a sense of divine perception.
  • "you" (ὑμᾶς - humas): Plural pronoun, referring to the disciples.

• "and your heart will rejoice;"

  • "and" (καὶ - kai): Connects the seeing with the rejoicing.
  • "your" (ὑμῶν - humōn): Plural possessive pronoun.
  • "heart" (καρδία - kardia): The seat of emotions, understanding, and will.
  • "will rejoice" (χαρήσεται - charēsetai): Future middle/passive indicative of χαίρω (chairō), meaning to rejoice, be glad, exult. It implies an active, internal experience of joy.

• "and no one will take your joy from you."

  • "and" (καὶ - kai): Adds this final, crucial element of permanence.
  • "no one" (οὐδεὶς - oudeis): The strongest possible negation, "not even one."
  • "will take" (αἴρει - airei): From αἴρω (airō), meaning to lift up, take up, carry away, remove. It implies a forceful or complete removal.
  • "your" (ὑμῶν - humōn): Plural possessive pronoun.
  • "joy" (χαρὰν - charan): Accusative case of χαρά (chara), meaning joy, gladness, delight. This is the same root as "rejoice."

• Group of Words - "but your heart will rejoice" (καὶ ἡ καρδία ὑμῶν χαρήσεται - kai hē kardia humōn charēsetai): This phrase highlights the internal, personal nature of the joy. It is not merely an outward expression but a deep-seated emotional and spiritual experience that originates within.

• Group of Words - "no one will take your joy from you" (καὶ οὐδεὶς αἴρει τὴν χαρὰν ὑμῶν - kai oudeis airei tēn charan humōn): This signifies the unassailable and enduring quality of the joy that Christ imparts. It is not contingent on external circumstances and cannot be stripped away by any external force or opposition. This points to the divine source and preservation of the joy.

John 16 20 Bonus Section

The contrast between sorrow and joy, with sorrow being temporary and joy permanent, is a recurring theme in Christian theology and the teachings of Jesus. This passage speaks to the believer's present experience in a fallen world, marked by tribulation, yet it anchors their hope in a future where all suffering is overcome, and a perfect, eternal joy will be fully realized in God's presence. The concept of "taking joy" suggests an active theft, but Jesus’ promise emphasizes that His provision of joy is beyond such removal because it is founded on His victorious presence and the work of the Spirit. The use of the Greek word for joy (charā) suggests a divine source of happiness, distinct from mere worldly pleasure.

John 16 20 Commentary

Jesus acknowledges the disciples' present sorrow, which stems from His impending death. However, He contrasts this temporary grief with a future certainty: His resurrection and their subsequent reunion. This reunion will bring profound joy to their hearts, a joy so substantial and divinely imparted that no force in the world can ultimately steal it. This future joy is guaranteed by the coming of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling presence of Christ Himself. The key here is the distinction between transient earthly suffering and the permanent, unshakeable joy that is rooted in Christ.