John 14 · Verse 18

John 14:18

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
John 14:18, King James Version

John 14:18 in other translations

BSBI will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
WEBI will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.
ASVI will not leave you desolate: I come unto you.
YLT‘I will not leave you bereaved, I come unto you;
DARBYI will not leave you orphans, I am coming to you.
BBEI will not let you be without a friend: I am coming to you.
WebsterI will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.

What does John 14:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 14:18-20
18-20. I will not leave you comfortless--in a bereaved and desolate condition; or (as in Margin) "orphans." I will come to you--"I come" or "am coming" to you; that is, plainly by the Spirit, since it was to make His departure to be no bereavement.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18. Comfortless. Greek, orphans. Jesus here addresses them as children, Jn 13:33. He says that he would show them the kindness of a parent, and, though he was going away, he would provide for their future welfare. And even while he was absent, yet they would sustain to him still the relation of children. Though he was to die, yet he would live again; though absent in body, yet he would be present with them by his Spirit; though he was to go away to heaven, yet he would return again to them. See Jn 14:3.

(1) "comfortless" or, "orphans" (r) "I will come to you" Jn 14:3,28.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 I will not leave you comfortless - Literally, orphans. The original word ορφανος, is by some derived from ορφνος, obscure, dark, because, says Mintert, an orphan (one deprived of father and mother) is little esteemed, neglected, and is obliged to wander about in obscurity and darkness. Others derive it from the Hebrew חרף charaph, to strip or make bare, despoil, because such a child is destitute of comfort, direction, and support, and is a prey to misery and disease, to sin and to death. The disciples of a particular teacher among the Hebrews called him father; his scholars were called his children, and, on his death, were considered as orphans. Christ calls his disciples children, beloved children, Joh 13:33; and, now that he is about to be removed from them by death, he assures them that they shall not be left fatherless, or without a teacher; for in a little time he should come again, (rise from the dead), and, after his ascension, they should be made partakers of that Spirit which would be their comforter, advocate, teacher, and guide for ever.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 14:18-24
Christ promises that he would continue his care of his disciples. I will not leave you orphans, or fatherless, for though I leave you, yet I leave you this comfort, I will come to you. I will come speedily to you at my resurrection. I will come daily to you in my Spirit; in the tokens of his love, and visits of his grace. I will come certainly at the end of time. Those only that see Christ with an eye of faith, shall see him for ever: the world sees him no more till his second coming; but his disciples have communion with him in his absence. These mysteries will be fully known in heaven. It is a further act of grace, that they should know it, and have the comfort of it. Having Christ's commands, we must keep them. And having them in our heads, we must keep them in our hearts and lives. The surest evidence of our love to Christ is, obedience to the laws of Christ. There are spiritual tokens of Christ and his love given to all believers. Where sincere love to Christ is in the heart, there will be obedience. Love will be a commanding, constraining principle; and where love is, duty follows from a principle of gratitude. God will not only love obedient believers, but he will take pleasure in loving them, will rest in love to them. He will be with them as his home. These privileges are confined to those whose faith worketh by love, and whose love to Jesus leads them to keep his commandments. Such are partakers of the Holy Spirit's new-creating grace.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

John 14:18 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οὐκoukNotG3756
ἀφήσωaphēsōI will leaveG863
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ὀρφανούς,orphanousas orphans,G3737
ἔρχομαιerchomaiI am comingG2064
πρὸςprostoG4314
ὑμᾶς.¶humasyou.G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for John 14:18

  • John 14:3

    And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

  • Psalms 23:4

    Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

  • John 14:27-28

    Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.

  • John 14:16

    And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

  • Matthew 18:20

    For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

  • Matthew 28:20

    Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

  • John 16:33

    These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

  • Hebrews 2:18

    For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

  • Psalms 101:2

    I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

  • Hosea 6:3

    Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

  • Isaiah 51:12

    I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;

  • Isaiah 43:1

    But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
will not.
16,27; 16:33; Ps 23:4; Isa 43:1; 51:12; 66:11-13; 2Co 1:2-6; 2Th 2:16
Heb 2:18
comfortless. or, orphans.
La 5:3; Ho 14:3
will come.
3,28; Ps 101:2; Ho 6:3; Mt 18:20; 28:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • John 14:17

    Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

  • John 14:18

    I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

  • John 14:19

    Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

Read all of John 14

John 14:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No os dejaré huérfanos: vendré á vosotros.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je ne vous laisserai pas orphelins; je viens à vous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich werde euch nicht als Waisen lassen, ich komme zu euch.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non relinquam vos orphanos: veniam ad vos.