John 16 · Verse 25

John 16:25

These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
John 16:25, King James Version

John 16:25 in other translations

BSBI have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
WEB“I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
ASVThese things have I spoken unto you in dark sayings: the hour cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in dark sayings, but shall tell you plainly of the Father.
YLT‘These things in similitudes I have spoken to you, but there cometh an hour when no more in similitudes will I speak to you, but freely of the Father, will tell you.
DARBYThese things I have spoken to you in allegories; the hour is coming that I will no longer speak to you in allegories, but will declare to you openly concerning the Father.
BBEAll this I have said to you in veiled language: but the time is coming when I will no longer say things in veiled language but will give you knowledge of the Father clearly.
WebsterThese things have I spoken to you in proverbs: but the time cometh when I shall no more speak to you in proverbs, but I shall show you plainly concerning the Father.

What does John 16:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 16:23-28

23-28. In that day--of the dispensation of the Spirit (as in Joh 14:20). ye shall ask--inquire of me nothing--by reason of the fulness of the Spirit's teaching (Joh 14:26; 16:13; and compare 1Jo 2:27).

Read the full comment on John 16:23-28 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. In proverbs. In a manner that appears obscure, enigmatical, and difficult to be understood. It is worthy of remark, that though his declarations in these chapters about his death and resurrection appear to us to be plain, yet to the apostles, filled with Jewish prejudices, and unwilling to believe that he was about to die, they would appear exceedingly obscure and perplexed. The plainest declarations to them on the subject would appear to be involved in mystery.

The time cometh. This refers, doubtless, to the time after his ascension to heaven, when he would send the Holy Spirit to teach them the great truths of religion. It does not appear that he himself, after his resurrection, gave them any more clear or full instruction than he had done before.

I shall show you plainly. As Jesus said that he would send the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:7) and as he came to carry forward the work of Christ, so it may be said that the teachings of the Holy Spirit were the teachings of Christ himself.

Of the Father. Concerning the will and plan of the Father; particularly his plan in the establishment and spread of the Christian religion, and in organizing the church. See Acts 10:26.

(2) "proverbs" or, parables

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 In Proverbs - That is, words which, besides their plain, literal meaning, have another, viz. a spiritual or figurative one. I have represented heavenly things to you through the medium of earthly. The time cometh - viz. the interval from his resurrection to his ascension, which consisted of forty days, during which he instructed his disciples in the most sublime mysteries and truths of his kingdom. Act 1:3.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 16:23-27

Asking of the Father shows a sense of spiritual wants, and a desire of spiritual blessings, with conviction that they are to be had from God only. Asking in Christ's name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favours from God, and shows full dependence upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness. Our Lord had hitherto spoken in short and weighty sentences, or in parables, the import of which the disciples…

Read the full comment on John 16:23-27 →

John 16:25 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.

ΤαῦταTautaThese thingsG3778
ἐνeninG1722
παροιμίαιςparoimiaisallegoriesG3942
λελάληκαlelalēkaI have spokenG2980
ὑμῖν·huminto you;G4771
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἔρχεταιerchetaiis comingG2064
ὥραhōraan hourG5610
ὅτεhotewhenG3753
οὐκέτιouketino longerG3756
ἐνeninG1722
παροιμίαιςparoimiaisallegoriesG3942
λαλήσωlalēsōI will speakG2980
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
ἀλλὰallabutG235
παρρησίᾳparrēsiaplainlyG3954
περὶpericoncerningG4012
τοῦtoutheG3588
πατρὸςpatrosFatherG3962
ἀπαγγελῶapangelōI will announceG518
ὑμῖν.¶huminto you.G4771

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

Cross references for John 16:25

  • John 16:12

    I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

  • Mark 4:13

    And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

  • John 10:6

    This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

  • John 16:28-29

    I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

  • Matthew 13:34-35

    All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

  • Matthew 13:10-11

    And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

  • Psalms 49:4

    I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

  • Psalms 78:2

    I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

  • 2 Corinthians 3:12-18

    Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. …

  • Acts 2:33-36

    Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:2

    But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

  • Proverbs 1:6

    To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
proverbs. or, parables.
12,16,17; Ps 49:4; 78:2; Pr 1:6; Mt 13:10,11,34,35; Mr 4:13
but.
28,29; Ac 2:33-36; 2Co 3:12-18; 4:2

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

Context

  • John 16:24

    Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

  • John 16:25

    These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

  • John 16:26

    At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

Read all of John 16

John 16:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Estas cosas os he hablado en proverbios: la hora viene cuando ya no os hablaré por proverbios, pero claramente os anunciaré del Padre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je vous ai dit ces choses par des similitudes: l’heure vient que je ne vous parlerai plus par similitudes, mais je vous parlerai ouvertement du Père.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dies habe ich in Gleichnissen zu euch geredet; es kommt die Stunde, da ich nicht mehr in Gleichnissen zu euch reden, sondern euch offen von dem Vater verkündigen werde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc in proverbiis locutus sum vobis. Venit hora cum jam non in proverbiis loquar vobis, sed palam de Patre annuntiabo vobis: