John 16 · Verse 29

John 16:29

His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

John 16:29, King James Version

John 16:29 in other translations

BSB	His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.
WEB	His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.
ASV	His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark saying.
YLT	His disciples say to him, ‘Lo, now freely thou dost speak, and no similitude speakest thou;
DARBY	His disciples say to him, Lo, now thou speakest openly and utterest no allegory.
BBE	His disciples said, Now you are talking clearly and not in veiled language.
Webster	His disciples said to him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

What does John 16:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 16:29-30

29-30. His disciples said, ... now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb--hardly more so than before; the time for perfect plainness was yet to come; but having caught a glimpse of His meaning (it was nothing more), they eagerly express their satisfaction, as if glad to make anything of His words. How touchingly does this show both the simplicity of their hearts and the infantile character of their faith!

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 29. Now speakest thou plainly. What he had said that perplexed them was that which is contained in Jn 16:16. Comp. Jn 16:17-19: "A little while and ye shall not see me," &c. This he had now explained by saying (Jn 16:28), "Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father." In this there was no ambiguity, and they expressed themselves satisfied with this explanation.

(3) "proverb" or, parable

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 29 Lo, now speakest thou plainly - The disciples received more light now, on the nature of Christ's person and office, than they had ever done before.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 16:28-33

Here is a plain declaration of Christ's coming from the Father, and his return to him. The Redeemer, in his entrance, was God manifest in the flesh, and in his departure was received up into glory. By this saying the disciples improved in knowledge. Also in faith; "Now are we sure." Alas! they knew not their own weakness. The Divine nature did not desert the human nature, but supported it, and put comfort and value…

Read the full comment on John 16:28-33 →

John 16:29 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.

ΛέγουσινLegousinSayG3004

οἱhoitheG3588

μαθηταὶmathētaidisciplesG3101

αὐτοῦ·autouof Him;G846

ἴδεideBeholdG2396

νῦνnunnowG3568

παρρησίᾳparrēsiaopennessG3954

λαλεῖςlaleisYou speakG2980

καὶkaiandG2532

παροιμίανparoimianallegoryG3942

οὐδεμίανoudemianno [thing]G3762

λέγεις.legeisspeak.G3004

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

Cross references for John 16:29

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.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

proverb. or, parable.
25

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

Context

John 16:28
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
John 16:29
His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
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.

Read all of John 16

John 16:29 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Dícenle sus discípulos: He aquí, ahora hablas claramente, y ningún proverbio dices.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Ses disciples lui disent: Voici, maintenant tu parles ouvertement, et tu ne dis aucune similitude.
German Elberfelder 1871	Seine Jünger sprechen zu ihm: Siehe, jetzt redest du offen und sprichst kein Gleichnis;
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Dicunt ei discipuli ejus: Ecce nunc palam loqueris, et proverbium nullum dicis: