John 16:30 kjv
Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
John 16:30 nkjv
Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God."
John 16:30 niv
Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
John 16:30 esv
Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God."
John 16:30 nlt
Now we understand that you know everything, and there's no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God."
John 16 30 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 16:29 | His disciples said, "Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not in a figure!" | Disciples believe Jesus is now speaking clearly, preceding v.30. |
| Jn 16:32 | Indeed, the hour is coming... that you will be scattered... | Immediately contrasts their "now we know" with their coming desertion. |
| Jn 13:7 | Jesus answered, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward... | Jesus' earlier prophecy that disciples wouldn't understand fully until later. |
| Jn 13:37-38 | Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now?... You will not... | Disciples' overconfidence and lack of self-knowledge often preceded failure. |
| Mt 16:16-17 | Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ... Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you..." | Similar confession of Jesus' divine identity, but attributed to divine revelation. |
| Jn 2:25 | He himself knew what was in man. | Jesus' divine insight into human hearts and thoughts. |
| Jn 6:64 | Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe... | Jesus possesses inherent knowledge of individuals' faith and destiny. |
| Mk 8:17 | Do you not yet perceive or understand? Have you your hearts hardened? | Jesus often rebuked disciples for their slowness to understand. |
| Lk 24:25 | O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! | Jesus reproaches disciples for their spiritual dullness post-resurrection. |
| Jn 14:26 | The Helper, the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things... | Future Spirit will bring true understanding, implying present limitations. |
| 1 Cor 2:10-11 | These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit... | The Spirit is the source of divine revelation and deep understanding. |
| Rom 11:33-36 | Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments... | Affirmation of God's incomprehensible omniscience and wisdom. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. | Highlights the vast chasm between human and divine understanding. |
| Jn 17:8 | For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them... | Jesus affirms He faithfully transmitted the Father's words to them. |
| Jn 1:49 | Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" | Another early, perhaps superficial, confession of faith in Jesus' identity. |
| Jn 4:29 | Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ? | The Samaritan woman's belief sparked by Jesus' supernatural knowledge of her life. |
| Acts 1:6-7 | So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom...? He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons..." | Disciples' persistent misconception about Jesus' mission even post-resurrection. |
| Col 2:3 | in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Christ is the ultimate fount of all true wisdom and knowledge. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ... | Paul's pursuit of the "surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus." |
| Jn 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. | Jesus as the ultimate revealer of God and His truth. |
| Deut 29:29 | The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us... | Divine knowledge often has a mysterious element known only to God. |
| 1 Cor 13:9-10 | For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. | Human knowledge, even spiritual, is partial and incomplete in this life. |
| Jn 8:23 | You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. | Emphasizes Jesus' divine origin, setting Him apart from humanity. |
| Mt 9:4 | Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?" | Example of Jesus' ability to discern the unexpressed thoughts of others. |
| Ps 139:2 | You know my sitting down and my rising up; you discern my thoughts from afar. | Attribute of God's omniscience, ascribed by disciples to Jesus. |
John 16 verses
John 16 30 Meaning
John 16:30 conveys the disciples' conviction that they have finally grasped Jesus' teachings, particularly His origin and comprehensive knowledge. They express a belief that Jesus' ability to answer their unspoken thoughts demonstrates His divine omniscience and confirms His unique divine origin. Their statement reflects a moment of perceived clarity and strengthened faith, yet it subtly underscores their incomplete understanding of the trials immediately ahead, which Jesus Himself will soon reveal they are not yet prepared for.
John 16 30 Context
John chapter 16 is part of Jesus' farewell discourse to His disciples in the Upper Room, spanning chapters 13-17. Prior to verse 30, Jesus has been preparing them for His imminent departure, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the world's hatred, and their future tribulations. He speaks in cryptic language, using "proverbs" or "figures of speech" (παροιμίαι, paroimiai - Jn 16:25). Just before this verse, the disciples specifically state, "Now you are speaking plainly and not in a figure!" (Jn 16:29), reflecting their belief that His prior elusive statements (e.g., about going away, not seeing Him, then seeing Him again) are now clear, especially regarding His omniscience and divine origin. This apparent clarity, however, is a precursor to Jesus immediately informing them that they will scatter and abandon Him, highlighting the stark contrast between their perception of understanding and the reality of their unpreparedness. Historically, this setting is during the Passover week, just before Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
John 16 30 Word analysis
- Now (νῦν, nyn): Emphatic adverb of time, suggesting a sudden realization or breakthrough in their understanding. It points to the present moment as a turning point from previous confusion.
- we know (οἴδαμεν, oidamen): From the verb oida (οἶδα), indicating intuitive, absolute, and certain knowledge. It signifies "to be aware of" or "to understand fully." Unlike ginōskō (to come to know by experience or learning), oida often refers to a deep, inherent grasp of truth. The disciples express a conviction of full comprehension.
- that you know all things (ὅτι οἶδας πάντα, hoti oidas panta): This is a declaration of Jesus' omniscience. "All things" (panta) signifies comprehensive knowledge without limitation. Their recognition stems from Jesus addressing their unspoken thoughts and anticipating their questions (Jn 16:19). This divine attribute attributed to Jesus points to His deity.
- and have no need (καὶ οὐ χρείαν ἔχεις, kai ou chreian echeis): Literally, "and you have no need." It means Jesus has no deficiency or lack that requires information or questioning from others. His knowledge is complete and self-sufficient.
- that anyone should question you (ἵνα τίς σε ἐρωτᾷ, hina tis se erōtā): Erōtā (ἐρωτᾷ) means to ask a question, to inquire. The disciples perceive Jesus' divine knowledge to be so comprehensive that He inherently knows their questions before they are uttered, eliminating any need for them to verbally pose an inquiry.
- By this (ἐν τούτῳ, en toutō): A demonstrative phrase, referring directly to Jesus' manifest omniscience—His knowledge of their thoughts and absence of a need for questioning—as the clear evidence or basis.
- we believe (πιστεύομεν, pisteuomen): From the verb pisteuō (πιστεύω), meaning "to have faith," "to trust," "to be convinced of." This signifies their intellectual and spiritual assent, their commitment of faith based on the evidence presented. It's a confession of faith.
- that you came from God (ὅτι ἀπὸ Θεοῦ ἐξῆλθες, hoti apo Theou exēltes): A foundational theological statement about Jesus' divine origin and pre-existence. "From God" (apo Theou) signifies His source and authority. "Came out" (exēltes) speaks to His procession or mission from the Father into the world, aligning with frequent claims Jesus made about His unique relationship with the Father (e.g., Jn 8:42, 13:3).
- "Now we know... you know all things": This pairing reveals the disciples' strong, yet somewhat misplaced, confidence in their newfound clarity. They equate Jesus' apparent mind-reading with complete revelation, a sign of His divine nature. It’s a moment of intellectual conviction, yet distinct from true spiritual maturity.
- "you know all things and have no need that anyone should question you": This phrase succinctly captures their reason for belief: Jesus' supernatural insight negates the need for traditional inquiry, confirming His unique access to all knowledge. It is a genuine acknowledgment of His divine wisdom.
- "By this we believe that you came from God": The direct linkage between Jesus' omniscience (evidenced by knowing their unasked questions) and their faith in His divine origin. His divine insight serves as the empirical basis for their confession that He is indeed "from God."
John 16 30 Bonus section
The disciples' assertion "Now we know" highlights the human tendency to overvalue moments of perceived understanding, especially in spiritual matters, mistaking intellectual comprehension for mature faith. This brief confession functions as a dramatic setup, providing a stark contrast to their immediate future. It is not that their statement is untrue; Jesus does know all things and did come from God. Rather, their confidence in their own understanding is premature. This scene illustrates the progression of revelation: Jesus speaks plainly, not because the disciples are now fully enlightened, but to prompt this confession that reveals both their present state of faith and its inherent limitations. True "knowing" and enduring faith for them would only come fully after the crucifixion, resurrection, and the Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus repeatedly promised. This passage serves as a reminder that understanding spiritual truths often deepens through experience and the illuminating work of the Spirit, not just through initial intellectual apprehension.
John 16 30 Commentary
John 16:30 is a pivotal moment in the Upper Room discourse where the disciples express what they perceive to be a breakthrough in their understanding of Jesus. Their confession, "Now we know that you know all things... By this we believe that you came from God," is both sincere and tragically ironic. On one hand, it's a profound declaration, affirming Jesus' divine attributes (omniscience) and His divine origin (from God). This aligns with true Christian theology. On the other hand, their "now we know" immediately precedes Jesus' sobering prophecy in verse 32 that they will soon abandon Him. Their current "knowing" is superficial, born of intellectual clarity concerning His ability to answer unasked questions, rather than a deep, transformative faith that can endure the impending crisis of His crucifixion. This highlights the gap between intellectual assent to divine truth and the deeper, resilient faith that comes through trial and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Their belief is genuine but still immature, yet it sets the stage for the true understanding the Holy Spirit will bring.