John 16:4
But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
John 16:4 in other translations
| BSB | But I have told you these things so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. |
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| WEB | But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. |
| ASV | But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you. |
| YLT | ‘But these things I have spoken to you, that when the hour may come, ye may remember them, that I said them to you, and these things to you from the beginning I did not say, because I was with you; |
| DARBY | But I have spoken these things to you, that when their hour shall have come, ye may remember them, that I have said them unto you. But I did not say these things unto you from the beginning, because I was with you. |
| BBE | I have said these things to you so that when the time comes, what I have said may come to your mind. I did not say them to you at the first, because then I was still with you. |
| Webster | But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not to you at the beginning, because I was with you. |
What does John 16:4 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on John 16:1-5
Joh 16:1-33. Discourse at the Supper Table Concluded. 1-5. These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended--both the warnings and the encouragements just given.
Barnes' Notes
Ye may remember, &c. By calling to mind that he had foretold these things they would perceive that he was omniscient, and would remember, also, the consolations which he had afforded them and the instructions which he had given them. Had these calamities come upon them without their having been foretold, their faith might have failed; they might have been tempted to suppose that Jesus was not aware of them, and of course that he was not the Messiah. God does not suffer his people to fall into trials without giving them sufficient warning, and without giving all the grace that is needful to bear them.
At the beginning. In the early part of the ministry of Jesus. The expression these things here refers, probably, to all the topics contained in these chapters. He had, in the early part of his ministry, forewarned them of calamities and persecutions (Mt 10:16, 5:10-12; Mt 9:15), but he had not so fully acquainted them with the nature, and design, and sources of their trials; he had not so fully apprised them of the fact, the circumstances, and the object of his death and of his ascension to heaven; he had not revealed to them so clearly that the Holy Spirit would descend, and sanctify, and guide them; and especially he had not, in one continued discourse, grouped all these things together, and placed their sorrows and consolations so fully before their minds. All these are included, it is supposed, in the expression "these things."
Because I was with you. This is the reason which he gives why he had not at first made known to them clearly the certainty of their calamities and their joys; and it implies,
1st. That it was not needful to do it at once, as he was to be with them for more than three years, and could have abundant opportunity gradually to teach these things, and to prepare them for the more full announcement when he was about to leave them.
2nd. That while he was with them he would go before them, and the weight of calamities would fall on him, and consequently they did not so much then need the presence and aid of the Holy Spirit as they would when he was gone.
3rd. That his presence was to them what the presence of the Holy Spirit would be after his death, Jn 16.7. He could teach them all needful truth. He could console and guide them. Now that he was to leave them, he fully apprised them of what was before them, and of the descent of the Holy Spirit to do for them what he had done when with them.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on John 16:1-6
Our Lord Jesus, by giving his disciples notice of trouble, designed that the terror might not be a surprise to them. It is possible for those who are real enemies to God's service, to pretend zeal for it. This does not lessen the sin of the persecutors; villanies will never be changed by putting the name of God to them. As Jesus in his sufferings, so his followers in theirs, should look to the fulfilling of…
John 16:4 in the original Greek
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Cross references for John 16:4
- John 14:29
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
- Mark 13:23
But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
- John 13:19
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
- John 17:12-13
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
- Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
- Matthew 24:25
Behold, I have told you before.
- Acts 9:16
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
- Isaiah 41:22-23
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come. Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.
- Matthew 10:7
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
- Mark 2:19
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
- 2 Peter 1:14
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
- Luke 21:12-13
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- John 16:3
And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
- John 16:4
But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
- John 16:5
But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
John 16:4 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Mas os he dicho esto, para que cuando aquella hora viniere, os acordéis que yo os lo había dicho. Esto empero no os lo dije al principio, porque yo estaba con vosotros. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Mais je vous ai dit ces choses, afin que, quand l’heure sera venue, il vous souvienne que moi je vous les ai dites; et je ne vous ai pas dit ces choses dès le commencement, parce que j’étais avec vous. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Dieses aber habe ich zu euch geredet, auf daß, wenn die Stunde gekommen ist, ihr daran gedenket, daß ich es euch gesagt habe. Dieses aber habe ich euch von Anfang nicht gesagt, weil ich bei euch war. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Sed hæc locutus sum vobis, ut cum venerit hora eorum, reminiscamini quia ego dixi vobis. |