John 16 22

John 16:22 kjv

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

John 16:22 nkjv

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

John 16:22 niv

So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

John 16:22 esv

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.

John 16:22 nlt

So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.

John 16 verses

John 16 22 Meaning

John 16:22 conveys Jesus' assurance to His disciples that their present and impending sorrow over His departure will be transformed into an enduring, unshakeable joy. This promised joy is contingent upon His promised return and subsequent revelation of Himself, likely referring to His resurrection appearances, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and ultimately, His final return. The verse highlights the temporary nature of their grief contrasted with the permanent nature of the joy they will receive, which no external force or circumstance can ever diminish or remove.

John 16 22 Context

John 16:22 is embedded within Jesus' Farewell Discourse (chapters 13-17), delivered to His disciples in the upper room on the night before His crucifixion. This specific passage (16:16-33) deals with Jesus' imminent departure and the disciples' confusion and sorrow over it. Jesus employs an analogy of childbirth (vv. 20-21) to explain how their profound sorrow at His "leaving" will be replaced by even greater joy upon His "seeing them again." He prepares them for intense grief due to His death but also for the revolutionary joy of His resurrection, His ongoing presence through the Spirit, and ultimately, His return. The verse stands as a promise amidst their coming tribulation, assuring them that their spiritual joy, once given, will be secured against all external forces. Historically, the disciples anticipated a worldly kingdom, and Jesus' talk of departure was confusing and disheartening; this promise reframes their expectation from temporal success to eternal joy rooted in Him.

John 16 22 Word analysis

• So also (οὕτως οὖν / houtōs oun): Connects this specific promise to the preceding illustration of the woman in labor. It emphasizes the parallelism: just as her sorrow turns to joy, so too will theirs. The oun (therefore/accordingly) indicates a conclusion or consequence drawn from the preceding context.
• you (ὑμεῖς / hymeis): Emphatic plural pronoun, distinguishing the disciples from the world, specifically addressed to those who will directly experience this sorrow and subsequent joy.
• have sorrow (λύπην ἔχετε / lypēn eschete): Lypē (sorrow, grief, distress) denotes intense emotional pain. Echete (you have/hold) describes a present, active state. It directly names their current emotional experience and acknowledges its legitimacy.
• now (νῦν / nyn): A temporal marker, signifying the immediate present. It underscores that this period of grief is specific and limited, not perpetual. It stands in direct contrast to the enduring nature of the promised joy.
• but (δὲ / de): Introduces a strong contrast, pivoting from the present reality of sorrow to the future certainty of joy.
• I will see you again (ὄψομαι ὑμᾶς / opsomai hymas): This phrase is pivotal. Opsomai (I will see) is a future tense verb. This seeing is reciprocal; it signifies reunion and mutual recognition. It refers primarily to Jesus' post-resurrection appearances to His disciples (John 20:19-20), but extends to His spiritual presence through the Holy Spirit (John 14:18-19), and ultimately to His final return (Acts 1:11).
• your hearts (ὑμῶν ἡ καρδία / hymōn hē kardia): In Greek thought, kardia (heart) is the center of a person's inner life, encompassing emotions, intellect, will, and conscience. This signifies that the joy will be deep, intrinsic, and pervade their entire being, not merely a superficial happiness.
• will rejoice (χαρήσεται / charēsetai): Future tense of chairō (to rejoice, be glad). It implies a deep-seated, spiritual gladness that is more profound and lasting than temporary worldly happiness. It's a joy that is gifted, not manufactured.
• and no one (καὶ οὐδεὶς / kai oudeis): Emphatic negation. Oudeis means "no one" or "nothing," stressing the absolute impossibility of this joy being disturbed by any external person or power. This promises security and permanence.
• will take your joy from you (τὴν χαρὰν ὑμῶν οὐδεὶς αἴρει ἀφ' ὑμῶν / tēn charan hymōn oudeis airei aph' hymōn): Airei (take away, lift off, remove) in the present tense emphasizes a continual, unyielding state. This means no circumstance, no persecution, no earthly power, and no personal failing can ultimately confiscate the joy given by Christ. This joy is eternally secured by divine power, contrasting sharply with the fleeting nature of worldly joys that can easily be taken away. This divine guarantee elevates Christian joy above all earthly experience.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So also you have sorrow now": Establishes a direct comparison and acknowledges their immediate, legitimate pain. It validates their feelings, creating a point of relatability before delivering the promise.
• "but I will see you again": This is the turning point, the core of the promise. The personal agency of "I will see" emphasizes Jesus' initiative and resurrection. It shifts the focus from their present perception of loss to His future, living presence. This "seeing again" holds layers of meaning, from literal post-resurrection appearances to spiritual fellowship via the Spirit, to eschatological reunion.
• "and your hearts will rejoice": The outcome of seeing Him again. This joy is not merely an emotion but a deep spiritual state, impacting the very core of their being. It signifies fulfillment, peace, and triumph over death and sorrow.
• "and no one will take your joy from you": This guarantees the joy's permanence and security. It highlights the divine nature and source of this joy, making it immune to external threats, loss, or persecution. This joy is not dependent on circumstances but on a relationship with the resurrected Christ, who bestows and protects it.

John 16 22 Bonus section

The promise of "seeing you again" also subtly reinforces Jesus' deity and sovereignty. Only someone with divine foreknowledge and power could make such a guarantee against death and for a permanent state of joy. The Jewish hope often involved earthly, national restoration, but Jesus consistently points His disciples to a spiritual reality and a joy that transcends political or temporal triumphs. This joy is intimately tied to the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to send (John 14:16-17, 15:26, 16:7-15). The Spirit dwelling within believers is the guarantee and the source of this lasting joy, establishing a perpetual, intimate communion that cannot be severed, irrespective of outward circumstances.

John 16 22 Commentary

John 16:22 serves as a profound encapsulation of the Christian experience: a temporary period of present suffering and sorrow that inevitably gives way to an eternal, indomitable joy found in Christ's victory. Jesus here offers His disciples comfort, addressing their immediate distress with a promise of future and lasting delight. The 'seeing again' points fundamentally to His resurrection appearances, which transformed their despair into unbridled celebration. Beyond that, it also looks to His continued spiritual presence through the Holy Spirit and the ultimate reunion at His Second Coming. This promised joy is distinct from worldly happiness; it's a profound, spiritual gift that permeates the deepest parts of one's being (the "heart"). The absolute declaration that "no one will take your joy from you" underlines its divine source and its secure, everlasting nature, making it impervious to persecution, tribulation, or any earthly power. It stands as an anchor for believers in times of trial, reminding them that while sorrow is temporary, the joy rooted in their relationship with the risen Lord is eternally guaranteed. This promise motivates enduring hope and steadfast faith, knowing that their suffering has an expiration date, while their joy is boundless.