Focused Passage

John 16:16-24

The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World

Jesus warns his disciples about coming persecution, explains the necessity of his departure for the Spirit’s coming, describes the Spirit’s convicting and truth-guiding ministry, promises sorrow turned to joy, teaches prayer in his name, exposes the disciples’ coming scattering, and closes with peace in his victory over the world.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16 In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”

17 Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”

18 They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

19 Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?

20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

21 A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

24 Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

In a little [while] Μικρὸν G3398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will see θεωρεῖτέ G2334 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular no more οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb and καὶ G2532 Conjunction then πάλιν G3825 Adverb after a little [while] μικρὸν G3398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will see ὄψεσθέ G3708 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular

BSB notes

  • BYZ and TR include because I go away to the Father.
Verse 17

Original words

Then οὖν G3767 Conjunction [some] of ἐκ G1537 Preposition His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural disciples μαθητῶν G3101 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural asked Εἶπαν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural . . . πρὸς G4314 Preposition one another ἀλλήλους G240 Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural Why Τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular - G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He telling λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular us ἡμῖν G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural In a little [while] Μικρὸν G3398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you will not see θεωρεῖτέ G2334 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction then πάλιν G3825 Adverb after a little [while] μικρὸν G3398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will see ὄψεσθέ G3708 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular and καί G2532 Conjunction Because Ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I am going ὑπάγω G5217 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to πρὸς G4314 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Father Πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 18

Original words

- οὖν G3767 Conjunction They kept asking ἔλεγον G2036 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Why «τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular is ἐστιν» G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - Τοῦτο G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular - G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He saying λέγει G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular a Τὸ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Singular little [while] μικρόν G3398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb We do not understand οἴδαμεν G1492 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural what τί G5101 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular He is saying λαλεῖ G2980 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Verse 19

Original words

- Ἰησοῦς G2424 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular Aware Ἔγνω G1097 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction they wanted ἤθελον G2309 Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural to question ἐρωτᾶν G2065 Verb - Present Infinitive Active Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - καὶ G2532 Conjunction [Jesus] said εἶπεν G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular to them αὐτοῖς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Are you asking ζητεῖτε G2212 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural vvv μετ’ G3326 Preposition one another ἀλλήλων G240 Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Plural why Περὶ G4012 Preposition . . . τούτου G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Neuter Singular - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I said εἶπον G2036 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular In a little [while] Μικρὸν G3398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction vvv οὐ G3756 Adverb you will not see θεωρεῖτέ G2334 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction then πάλιν G3825 Adverb after a little [while] μικρὸν G3398 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular . . . καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will see ὄψεσθέ G3708 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural Me με G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Verse 20

Original words

Truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural - ὅτι G3754 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural will weep κλαύσετε G2799 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction wail θρηνήσετε G2354 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural [while] δὲ G1161 Conjunction the G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular world κόσμος G2889 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular rejoices χαρήσεται G5463 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular You ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural will grieve λυπηθήσεσθε G3076 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 2nd Person Plural but ἀλλ’ G235 Conjunction your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular grief λύπη G3077 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular will turn γενήσεται G1096 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular to εἰς G1519 Preposition joy χαρὰν G5479 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 21

Original words

- G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular A woman γυνὴ G1135 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular has ἔχει G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular pain λύπην G3077 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular vvv ὅταν G3752 Conjunction in childbirth τίκτῃ G5088 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular because ὅτι G3754 Conjunction her αὐτῆς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Feminine 3rd Person Singular - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular time ὥρα G5610 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular has come ἦλθεν G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular but δὲ G1161 Conjunction when ὅταν G3752 Conjunction she brings forth γεννήσῃ G1080 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular [her] τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular child παιδίον G3813 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular she forgets μνημονεύει G3421 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . οὐκέτι G3765 Adverb [her] τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular anguish θλίψεως G2347 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular because of διὰ G1223 Preposition [her] τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular joy χαρὰν G5479 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction a child ἄνθρωπος G444 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular has been born ἐγεννήθη G1080 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular into εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular world κόσμον G2889 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Verse 22

Original words

So οὖν G3767 Conjunction also καὶ G2532 Conjunction - μὲν G3303 Conjunction you ὑμεῖς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural have ἔχετε G2192 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural sorrow λύπην G3077 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular now νῦν G3568 Adverb but δὲ G1161 Conjunction I will see ὄψομαι G3708 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 1st Person Singular you ὑμᾶς G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 2nd Person Plural again πάλιν G3825 Adverb and καὶ G2532 Conjunction your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular hearts καρδία G2588 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular will rejoice χαρήσεται G5463 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction no one οὐδεὶς G3762 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular will take αἴρει G142 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular away ἀφ’ G575 Preposition - ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular joy χαρὰν G5479 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Verse 23

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction In ἐν G1722 Preposition that ἐκείνῃ G1565 Demonstrative Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular - τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular day ἡμέρᾳ G2250 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular you will {no longer} ask ἐρωτήσετε G2065 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Me ἐμὲ G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb [anything] οὐδέν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular Truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural vvv ἄν G302 Particle whatever τι G5100 Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular you ask αἰτήσητε G154 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Father Πατέρα G3962 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular in «ἐν G1722 Preposition My μου» G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular name ὀνόματί G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular He will give «δώσει G1325 Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular you ὑμῖν» G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Verse 24

Original words

Until ἕως G2193 Preposition now ἄρτι G737 Adverb you have not asked ᾐτήσατε G154 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural vvv οὐκ G3756 Adverb [for anything] οὐδὲν G3762 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition My μου G1473 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular - τῷ G3588 Article - Dative Neuter Singular name ὀνόματί G3686 Noun - Dative Neuter Singular Ask αἰτεῖτε G154 Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction you will receive λήμψεσθε G2983 Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular joy χαρὰ G5479 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular may be G1510 Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular complete πεπληρωμένη G4137 Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Feminine Singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.