John 16 7

John 16:7 kjv

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

John 16:7 nkjv

Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

John 16:7 niv

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:7 esv

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:7 nlt

But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.

John 16 verses

John 16 7 Meaning

John 16:7 reveals a profound truth about Jesus' departure from His disciples: it was not a loss but a necessary, strategic advantage for them. His physical absence was the prerequisite for the advent of the Holy Spirit, the Divine Helper, who would provide a far more pervasive, intimate, and powerful presence within each believer. This promise highlighted the transition from a localized, external Christ to a universal, indwelling Spirit, enabling greater access to divine truth, comfort, and empowerment.

John 16 7 Context

John chapter 16 is part of Jesus' farewell discourse, delivered to His disciples shortly before His crucifixion. The immediate context finds the disciples in a state of profound sorrow and confusion (Jhn 16:6), grappling with Jesus' repeated announcements of His impending departure. They had formed a deep attachment to His physical presence and earthly teachings, envisioning a continuing earthly kingdom. Jesus' words here are a comfort and a reorientation. He clarifies that His departure is not an abandonment but a necessary step for their ultimate good. The preceding verses warned of future persecution, and Jesus introduces the "Helper" as the divine resource to sustain them through such trials and empower their future ministry, transforming their grief into an understanding of a greater divine plan.

John 16 7 Word analysis

• Nevertheless (ἀλλὰ - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, signifying "but," "yet," or "on the contrary." It indicates a sharp contrast or transition, shifting from the disciples' natural sorrow over His departure to the divine truth that this very departure is beneficial. It underscores the surprising nature of this truth from a human perspective.
• I tell you the truth (ἀληθῶς ὑμῖν λέγω - alēthōs hymin legō): This phrase, frequently used by Jesus in John's Gospel, acts as a solemn, emphatic declaration, emphasizing the absolute certainty and reliability of what He is about to say. It demands unwavering attention and belief, removing any doubt about the counterintuitive assertion that follows.
• it is to your advantage (συμφέρει ὑμῖν - sympherei hymin): The verb sympherei means "it carries together," implying "it is profitable," "it is expedient," or "it is beneficial." Jesus directly states that His going away is genuinely for their profit, not a loss. This advantage extends beyond immediate comfort to long-term spiritual growth, understanding, and empowerment for their mission.
• that I go away (ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω - hina egō apelthō): Apelthō denotes going away or departing. This refers to Jesus' entire journey from the Last Supper, through His death on the cross, His resurrection, and ultimately His ascension to the Father. All these stages are critical for the Spirit's advent. His departure implies the completion of His redemptive work.
• for if I do not go away (ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἀπέλθω - ean gar mē apelthō): Ean introduces a conditional clause. This establishes a strict causal link: His departure is a necessary condition precedent for the Holy Spirit's coming. The full work of redemption and glorification had to be accomplished by Christ before the Spirit could be fully unleashed upon humanity.
• the Helper (ὁ Παράκλητος - ho Paraklētos): A pivotal term, uniquely used by John in the New Testament to describe the Holy Spirit. It can mean "one called alongside," an advocate, counselor, comforter, intercessor, or assistant. The term suggests active support, defense, and instruction, highlighting the Spirit's role as an empowering divine presence in believers' lives.
• will not come to you (οὐκ ἐλεύσεται πρὸς ὑμᾶς - ouk eleusetai pros hymas): Emphasizes the absolute conditionality. Without Jesus' going away, the Helper simply would not, and could not, arrive in the specific manner He was intended to come—as an indwelling, universally available divine presence for the new covenant era.
• But if I go, I will send him to you (ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ, πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς ὑμᾶς - ean de poreuthō, pempso auton pros hymas): Poreuthō also means "to go" or "to journey," reiterating the necessity of His departure, specifically his return to the Father (ascension). Pempso means "I will send," clearly asserting Jesus' active role and authority in sending the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not sent independently of Jesus, but by Jesus from the Father (as seen in Jhn 15:26), solidifying the Trinitarian nature of this divine sending.

John 16 7 Bonus section

The specific language "I will send him to you" highlights Jesus' active role and divine authority in the sending of the Holy Spirit. While the Spirit proceeds from the Father, He is sent by the Son. This underlines the profound unity within the Trinity and the ordered roles within the Godhead, with the Son serving as the orchestrator of the Spirit's coming, a clear indication of His divine status and authority after His glorification. This promise shifted the disciples' focus from yearning for a tangible leader to anticipating an internal divine Guide, moving them from external reliance to an internal empowerment, ultimately making every believer a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19).

John 16 7 Commentary

John 16:7 encapsulates a central theological truth about the transition from Jesus' physical presence to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, forming a crucial hinge in salvation history. Jesus’ assertion that His departure is to their "advantage" challenges the disciples’ natural human longing for His physical presence, demonstrating God's ways are often counter-intuitive to human understanding.

The advantage stems from several interconnected realities. First, Jesus' physical presence was geographically limited. He could only be with His disciples in one place at a time. The Holy Spirit, by contrast, could indwell every believer, everywhere, at all times, establishing a more intimate, internal, and universal communion with God. This divine ubiquity enables personal guidance, conviction, and empowerment beyond what a physical, external Jesus could provide after His earthly ministry completion.

Second, Jesus' going away signifies the completion of His redemptive work through His death, resurrection, and ascension. His work on the cross accomplished atonement for sin, His resurrection confirmed victory over death, and His ascension to the Father seated Him at the right hand of power. This full redemptive work was the foundation upon which the Spirit could be fully poured out, ushering in the New Covenant as prophesied in the Old Testament (e.g., Ezek 36, Jer 31, Joel 2). Without Christ's glorification, the Spirit's advent in the New Covenant sense was impossible (Jhn 7:39).

Third, the Holy Spirit comes as the "Helper" (Paraklētos). This divine Helper carries on and extends Jesus' ministry by:

1. Teaching and Reminding: Bringing to memory all Jesus had taught (Jhn 14:26).
2. Guiding into All Truth: Revealing deeper spiritual truths and leading believers (Jhn 16:13).
3. Convicting the World: Proving the world wrong about sin, righteousness, and judgment (Jhn 16:8-11).
4. Empowering for Witness: Providing power to be Christ's witnesses (Acts 1:8).
5. Sanctifying and Transforming: Producing fruit of righteousness (Gal 5:22-23) and regenerating hearts (Titus 3:5).
6. Interceding: Aiding believers in prayer (Rom 8:26).

Thus, Jesus' departure paved the way for a more profound, widespread, and transformative divine presence. The Helper allows believers not just to hear about Jesus, but to experience His active, indwelling life, guidance, and power continuously, which is indeed a far greater advantage than a limited, physical presence.