John 16 6

John 16:6 kjv

But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.

John 16:6 nkjv

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

John 16:6 niv

Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.

John 16:6 esv

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.

John 16:6 nlt

Instead, you grieve because of what I've told you.

John 16 verses

John 16 6 Meaning

John 16:6 reveals Jesus' profound empathy and direct observation of His disciples' emotional state. He acknowledges that the preceding declarations regarding His impending departure, the world's hatred, and the severe persecution they would face—even to the point of martyrdom—have profoundly impacted them. Their initial confusion and uncertainty had transformed into deep-seated sorrow, which permeated the very core of their being. This grief stemmed from the immediate prospect of losing their physical relationship with Jesus, combined with the alarming predictions of tribulation that lay ahead for them.

John 16 6 Context

John 16:6 is situated within Jesus' extensive Farewell Discourse, spanning chapters 13-17 of John's Gospel. This intimate instruction took place in the Upper Room on the eve of His crucifixion, delivered directly to His closest disciples. Prior to verse 6, Jesus had begun to speak more explicitly about His imminent departure (John 13:33, 14:2-4, 14:28, 16:5). Critically, He had just warned them of the severe tribulation and persecution they would endure from the world, including being expelled from synagogues and even martyred, all while their persecutors would believe they were serving God (John 15:18-16:5). It is this confluence of the physical separation from their Master and the grim outlook for their future ministry that directly precipitates the profound sorrow Jesus observes in their hearts. The immediate context of verse 6 prepares the way for Jesus to explain the greater advantage of His departure – the coming of the Helper, the Holy Spirit – which is then articulated in John 16:7.

John 16 6 Word analysis

• But (Ἀλλὰ - Alla): This strong adversative conjunction marks a shift in emphasis. It pivots from Jesus' solemn pronouncements of future tribulation and His departure (16:1-5) to the disciples' internal, emotional response to those statements. It establishes a causal connection: because of what I have just told you, this is your state.
• because (ὅτι - hoti): This causal conjunction directly states the reason for their emotional condition. It leaves no doubt that their sorrow is a direct consequence of Jesus' previous words, indicating His awareness of the profound impact of His revelation.
• I have said (εἴρηκα - eirēka): This is the perfect active indicative of legō (to speak). The perfect tense signifies an action completed in the past with ongoing effects in the present. Jesus' words have been spoken, and they stand as established truths, resulting in the disciples' present state of sorrow. The permanence of these truths contributes to the depth of their distress.
• these things (ταῦτα - tauta): This refers collectively and emphatically to the preceding, weighty pronouncements Jesus just made in John 16:1-5. Specifically, these included the world's hatred, the certainty of persecution, being cast out of synagogues, and even death at the hands of those who mistakenly believe they are serving God.
• to you (ὑμῖν - hymin): This dative pronoun emphasizes the personal, direct nature of Jesus' address and the resulting impact. The warnings and the reality of His departure were not theoretical but personally applicable to the specific individuals listening.
• sorrow (λύπη - lypē): This Greek term denotes a deep, profound grief, anguish, or distress. It is more than just sadness; it suggests a pervasive, soul-level pain often associated with loss or severe hardship. It describes a deep spiritual and emotional affliction.
• has filled (πεπλήρωκεν - peplērōken): This is the perfect active indicative of plēroō (to fill, complete, fulfill). Similar to "I have said," the perfect tense here signifies an action completed in the past (the filling) with a continuing, abiding result in the present (the heart remains filled). Their sorrow was not fleeting but had thoroughly permeated their inner being.
• your heart (τὴν καρδίαν ὑμῶν - tēn kardian hymōn): In biblical anthropology, the "heart" (Greek kardia, Hebrew lev) is the central core of a person—the seat of intellect, emotions, will, conscience, and moral character. For sorrow to have "filled" their heart means it had taken complete possession of their innermost thoughts, feelings, and resolve, impacting their entire inner life rather than just superficial emotions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But because I have said these things to you": This phrase precisely highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship. Jesus’ profound and unsettling disclosures about His departure and their future suffering were the direct catalysts for the disciples’ internal anguish. It underscores Jesus' compassionate understanding of the human condition and the gravity of His pronouncements.
• "sorrow has filled your heart": This strong declaration speaks to the comprehensive and overwhelming nature of their grief. It illustrates a complete saturation of their inner being—intellect, emotions, and will—by sadness, leaving little room for comfort or alternative perspectives at that moment. The perfect tense emphasizes that this state of profound sorrow was firmly established and deeply felt by them.

John 16 6 Bonus section

The "sorrow" mentioned here by Jesus is distinct from worldly sorrow, which often leads to despair or regret without hope (as seen in 2 Cor 7:10 for "worldly grief that produces death"). The disciples' sorrow, while profound, was part of a divinely orchestrated journey intended to prepare them for the Holy Spirit's coming, a "godly grief" that ultimately led to repentance, clearer understanding, and enduring joy. This sorrow highlights a crucial point in their spiritual development where their human dependency on Jesus' physical presence was challenged, forcing them to anticipate a deeper, spiritual indwelling and empowerment. Furthermore, Jesus' observation of their "filled hearts" echoes His own moment of intense sorrow and troubled soul in Gethsemane (Matt 26:38; Mark 14:34), demonstrating His perfect solidarity and empathy with the human experience of profound grief, making His comfort all the more real.

John 16 6 Commentary

John 16:6 serves as a poignant snapshot of the disciples' raw humanity and Jesus' acute awareness of their inner turmoil. Having just detailed a future rife with the world's hatred, excommunication, and even martyrdom (16:1-5), and reiterated His departure, Jesus pauses to observe their reaction. Their "heart," the very core of their being, was not just touched by sadness but "filled" with it, indicating a deep, pervasive grief. This sorrow was understandable; they faced the loss of their tangible, guiding Master and the prospect of extreme hardship. It wasn't superficial disappointment but an anguish rooted in their initial lack of understanding of the grander divine plan. Yet, Jesus, in His omniscience and empathy, fully acknowledges their pain, paving the way for the profound revelations that follow about the Holy Spirit and the ultimate transformation of their sorrow into unshakeable joy. This verse reminds us that genuine faith does not exempt us from sorrow, particularly in the face of suffering or loss, but Christ meets us in that grief and offers a pathway beyond it.