John 16 21

John 16:21 kjv

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

John 16:21 nkjv

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

John 16:21 niv

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.

John 16:21 esv

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

John 16:21 nlt

It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world.

John 16 verses

John 16 21 Meaning

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish because of her joy that a person has been born into the world.

John 16 21 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' farewell discourse to his disciples in the Upper Room, as recorded in the Gospel of John. Jesus is preparing them for his imminent departure through death and resurrection, and for the challenges they will face. He assures them that his going away is temporary and will ultimately lead to a greater blessing for them. He uses the analogy of childbirth to illustrate the transition from sorrow to joy. The immediate context is Jesus explaining that his physical absence will be for "a little while" and then they will see him again, leading to a joy that no one can take away. Historically, the disciples were indeed going to experience immense sorrow with Jesus' crucifixion, but this would be followed by profound joy and assurance at his resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

John 16 21 Word Analysis

• "When": Indicates a temporal relationship, marking the point in time when the situation occurs.
• "a woman": Refers to any woman, making the analogy universal and relatable.
• "has": Present tense, denoting an ongoing state or condition.
• "pain" (Greek: $\lambda \hat{v}\pi \eta$ - lyPē): This word signifies sorrow, grief, pain, distress, or trouble. It’s a deep-seated emotional suffering.
• "because": Indicates causality, linking the pain to the reason that follows.
• "her hour" (Greek: $\dot{\omega}\rho \alpha$ - hōra): This signifies a destined or appointed time, often associated with significant events. In John's Gospel, "hour" frequently refers to the appointed time of Jesus' suffering and glorification. Here, it metaphorically refers to the culmination of the birthing process.
• "has": Present tense, indicating the immediate arrival or presence of this appointed time.
• "come": Denotes arrival or being present.
• "And": A conjunction connecting the two parts of the analogy.
• "when": Marks the subsequent point in time.
• "she": Referring back to the woman.
• "has delivered" (Greek: $\tau \epsilon \kappa\omega$ - tekō): This verb refers to giving birth, bringing forth children. It implies the successful completion of the birth process.
• "the baby" (Greek: $\tau \partial\ \beta \rho\acute{\epsilon}\phi \omicron\varsigma$ - to brephos): Literally "infant" or "newborn child." This represents the new life brought into existence.
• "she no longer remembers": Highlights the erasure or overshadowing of the past suffering by the present joy.
• "the anguish" (Greek: $\tau\dot{\eta}\nu \theta\lambda\acute{\imath}\psi \iota\nu$ - tēn thlipsin): This word refers to affliction, tribulation, oppression, distress, or suffering. It's a more intense suffering than lypē, often involving pressure or being squeezed.
• "because": Again, indicating causality.
• "of the joy" (Greek: (\chi \alpha\rho\hat{\alpha}\varsigma$ - charas)): Refers to gladness, delight, or joy. This is the resultant positive emotion.
• "that": Introduces the reason for the joy.
• "a person" (Greek: (\alpha\nu\theta\rho\omega\pi\circ\varsigma$ - anthrōpos)): Refers to a human being, a person. In this context, it represents the new life.
• "has been born" (Greek: (\gamma\epsilon\nu\nu\eta\theta\hat{\eta}\nu\alpha\iota$ - gennēthēnai): The passive infinitive of "to give birth." It emphasizes that the new life has come into the world.
• "into the world": Denotes the place or sphere into which the new person is born.

Grouped analysis:

• "When a woman has pain... her hour has come": This segment establishes the immediate, difficult experience. The pain of childbirth is profound and directly linked to the "hour" – the moment of birth.
• "when she has delivered the baby": This marks the transition point, the completion of the intense process.
• "she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a person has been born into the world": This part explains the transformation of emotional experience. The overwhelming joy associated with the new life effectively supersedes and eclipses the memory of the past suffering.

John 16 21 Bonus Section

The Greek word for "pain" ($lypē$) is used elsewhere by Jesus to describe the sorrow the disciples would feel at His departure (John 16:6, 20). The word for "anguish" ($thlipsin$) denotes tribulation and affliction, which the disciples would indeed face from the world for their faith. The concept of an "hour" for suffering and glorification is a recurring theme in John's Gospel, referring ultimately to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. This analogy speaks to the nature of spiritual transformation: the present difficulties are temporary and serve a redemptive purpose, leading to a greater, eternal reality of joy through union with Christ. The phrase "a person has been born into the world" is particularly resonant, pointing towards the new birth spoken of elsewhere (John 3:3-8) and the new life Christians experience through Christ.

John 16 21 Commentary

Jesus uses a powerful and universally understood analogy of childbirth to explain the disciples' upcoming experience. They will face sorrow and tribulation (his crucifixion and departure) akin to the pain of labor, which is intense and focused on the "hour" of birth. However, this suffering is not the end. Just as the pain of childbirth is forgotten in the immense joy of seeing a new life brought into the world, their sorrow will be transformed into profound and lasting joy upon His resurrection and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit. This joy, associated with the new spiritual life they receive, will overshadow the temporary distress. It highlights God's redemptive pattern: a period of suffering often precedes a greater fulfillment and joy. The analogy also emphasizes the ultimate significance of new spiritual birth and eternal life, which far outweighs temporal suffering.

Practical examples:

• A student might experience intense pressure and late nights studying for a crucial exam (anguish). Upon receiving a high score and passing, the memory of the stress fades compared to the joy of achievement and future opportunities (joy of being born into a new academic stage).
• Someone enduring a difficult recovery from surgery (pain). The eventual healing and return to health (new life) brings a joy that makes the memory of the intense discomfort less significant.