John 16 · Verse 19

John 16:19

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?
John 16:19, King James Version

John 16:19 in other translations

BSBAware 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’?
WEBTherefore 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’?
ASVJesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me?
YLTJesus, therefore, knew that they were wishing to ask him, and he said to them, ‘Concerning this do ye seek one with another, because I said, A little while, and you do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me?
DARBYJesus knew therefore that they desired to demand of him, and said to them, Do ye inquire of this among yourselves that I said, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me?
BBEJesus saw that they had a desire to put the question to him, so he said to them, Is this what you are questioning one with another, why I said, After a little time, you will see me no longer; and then again, after a little time, you will see me?
WebsterNow Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said to them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that which I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

What does John 16:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 16:16-22

16-22. A little while, and ye shall not see me; and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father--The joy of the world at their not seeing Him seems to show that His removal from them by death was what He meant; and in that case, their joy at again seeing Him points to their transport at His reappearance amongst them on His Resurrection, when they could no longer doubt His identity. At the…

Read the full comment on John 16:16-22 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 19.

(m) "Now Jesus" Jn 2:24,25 (n) "A little while" Jn 16:16, 7:33, 13:33, 14:19

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 16:16-22

It is good to consider how near our seasons of grace are to an end, that we may be quickened to improve them. But the sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those of a mother, at the sight of her infant. The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter, and neither men nor devils, neither sufferings in life nor in death, would ever deprive them of their joy. Believers have joy or sorrow, according to…

Read the full comment on John 16:16-22 →

John 16:19 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.

ἜγνωEgnōKnewG1097
οὖνounthereforeG3767
ὁho<the>G3588
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἤθελονēthelonthey were desiringG2309
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ἐρωτᾶν,erōtanto ask,G2065
καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπενeipenHe saidG2036
αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846
περὶperiConcerningG4012
τούτουtoutouthisG3778
ζητεῖτεzēteitedo you inquireG2212
μετ᾽met᾽amongG3326
ἀλλήλωνallēlōnone anotherG240
ὅτιhotithatG3754
εἶπον·eiponI said;G2036
μικρὸνmikronA little [while]G3398
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐounotG3756
θεωρεῖτέtheōreiteyou do beholdG2334
με,meMe,G3165
καὶkaiandG2532
πάλινpalinagainG3825
μικρὸνmikrona little [while]G3398
καὶkaiandG2532
ὄψεσθέopsestheyou will beholdG3700
με;¶meMe’?G3165

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

Cross references for John 16:19

  • 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.

  • John 16:16

    A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

  • John 16:30

    Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

  • John 13:33

    Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

  • Hebrews 4:13

    Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • John 7:33

    Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.

  • John 2:24-25

    But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

  • Matthew 9:4

    And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

  • Mark 9:33-34

    And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

  • Psalms 139:1-4

    To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

  • Matthew 6:8

    Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

  • John 21:17

    He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jesus.
30; 2:24,25; 21:17; Ps 139:1-4; Mt 6:8; 9:4; Mr 9:33,34; Heb 4:13
Re 2:23
A little.
16; 7:33; 13:33; 14:19

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

Context

  • John 16:18

    They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

  • John 16:19

    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?

  • John 16:20

    Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Read all of John 16

John 16:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y conoció Jesús que le querían preguntar, y díjoles: ¿Preguntáis entre vosotros de esto que dije: Un poquito, y no me veréis, y otra vez un poquito, y me veréis?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Jésus donc savait qu’ils voulaient l’interroger, et il leur dit: Vous vous enquérez entre vous touchant ceci, que j’ai dit: Un peu de temps et vous ne me verrez pas, et encore un peu de temps et vous me verrez.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da erkannte Jesus, daß sie ihn fragen wollten, und sprach zu ihnen: Forschet ihr darüber untereinander, daß ich sagte: Über ein Kleines, und ihr schauet mich nicht, und wiederum über ein Kleines, und ihr werdet mich sehen?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cognovit autem Jesus, quia volebant eum interrogare, et dixit eis: De hoc quæritis inter vos quia dixi: Modicum, et non videbitis me; et iterum modicum, et videbitis me.