Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’
- KJV Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?
- BSB 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’?
- NKJV Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
- NASB Jesus knew that they wanted to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you are not going to see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?
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
Jesus, knowing they wished to ask Him, restates their question about the 'little while.' He perceives and addresses their unspoken thoughts.
Overview
Aware of the disciples' desire to question Him, Jesus graciously voices their puzzlement Himself. His insight into their hearts reflects His divine knowledge, seen throughout John's Gospel. Rather than rebuking their confusion, He meets it with patient explanation, preparing to turn their sorrow into joy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- John 16:16A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”
- John 14:19Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.
- John 16:30Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”
- John 2:24–25But Jesus didn’t trust himself to them, because he knew everyone,
- John 13:33Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you.
- John 7:33Then Jesus said, “I will be with you a little while longer, then I go to him who sent me.
- Ps 139:1–4For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.
- Matt 9:4Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
- Heb 4:13There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
- Matt 6:8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
- Mark 9:33–34He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”
- John 21:17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
- Rev 2:23I will kill her children with Death, and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
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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 16:19 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.