They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”
Parallel translations
- KJV They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
- BSB They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”
- NKJV They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”
- NASB So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”
- NLT And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples admit they do not understand what Jesus means by 'a little while.' Their confusion is openly confessed.
Overview
Repeating their bewilderment, the disciples acknowledge they cannot make sense of Jesus' words. John records this candidly, showing the disciples' limited understanding before the resurrection and the Spirit's illumination. Their unspoken questions are about to be answered by Jesus, who perceives their thoughts.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Luke 24:25He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
- Matt 16:9–11Don’t you yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
- Heb 5:12For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 16:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.