John 16:19

Verse

Aware 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’?

American Standard Version (1901)

Jesus 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?

Bible in Basic English

Jesus 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?

Free Bible Version

Jesus realized that they wanted to ask him about this. So he asked them, “Are you wondering about my comment, ‘In a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me’?

Geneva Bible 1599

Now Iesus knew that they would aske him, and said vnto them, Doe ye enquire among your selues, of that I said, A litle while, and ye shall not see me: and againe, a litle while, and yee shall see me?

King James (Authorized) Version

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?

One Unity Resource Bible

Therefore Yeshua [Salvation] 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?’

Plain English Version

Jesus knew they wanted to ask him what he was talking about, so he said to them, “Are you asking each other what I mean by saying, ‘Soon, you will not see me. But then after a little while, you will see me again’?

Translation for Translators

Jesus realized that we wanted to ask him about that. So he said to us, “You are asking [RHQ] each other what I meant when I said, ‘After a short time you will not see me, and then a short time after that you will see me again.’

Unlocked Literal Bible

Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while and you will see me'?

Noah Webster Bible

Now 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?

World English Bible

Therefore 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’?

Young's Literal Translation

Jesus, 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?

Context

Grief Will Turn to Joy

¹⁸They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”¹⁹Aware 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’?²⁰Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Sermons

The Appearing of Resurrection and the Giving of Power

Newman Sze

820

Don't Fear When Heaven Seems Silent

David Wilkerson

Summary

In this verse, Jesus perceives the confusion among His disciples regarding His statement about a little while before they see Him again. He acknowledges their uncertainty and uses their question as an opportunity to teach them about the joy that will come after His resurrection. Jesus assures them that their grief will turn into joy, symbolizing the transformation from sorrow to rejoicing that will occur when they witness His victory over death. This verse reflects Jesus' compassion and understanding towards His followers, preparing them for the trials they will face and the ultimate triumph that awaits them.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow,.... As was said she should have, Gen 3:16; This is God's ordination and appointment for sin: because her hour is come; is at hand; the fixed time in nature is up, and there is no avoiding it: but as soon as she is delivered of the child; for though the sorrow is great, yet there is a deliverance, and she is saved in child bearing: when she remembereth no more the anguish; the sharp pains she has endured in her travail; for joy that a man is born into the world. Much such a way of speaking is used by the Jews (z), who observe, "if a woman brings forth a male child, all is forgot, and she repents (i.e. of her impatience, or any unbecoming expression in the time of labour), , "for the joy of a man child".'' And our Lord seems to have respect to a prevailing notion among them, as well as many others, of the felicity of male children: it is a common saying with them (a), "blessed is he whose children are males, and woe to him whose children are females:'' for they say (b), "when , "that a man child comes into the world", peace comes into the world.'' Now our Lord, by this instance, illustrates the sorrow his disciples should have by his departure, and the joy that they should be possessed of upon his return to them; that as the pains of a woman in travail are very sharp and severe, and the distress of her mind, about the issue of things respecting herself and offspring, is very great, so would be the grief and trouble of the disciples on account of the death of their Lord and master: but as when a woman is safely delivered of a man child, she is so filled with joy, that her sorrow is remembered no more so should it be with them, when Christ should appear to them; all their trouble, concern, anxiety of mind, and fears, that attended them, would all vanish away, and they be distressed with them no more. (z) Tzeror Hammor, fol. 98. 2. (a) T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 65. 1. Kiddushin, fol. 82. 2. Bava Bathra, fol. 16. 2. Sanhedrin, fol. 100. 2. (b) T. Bab. Nidda, fol. 31. 2.