The Meaning of John 16:17 Explained

John 16:17

KJV: Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

YLT: Therefore said some of his disciples one to another, 'What is this that he saith to us, A little while, and ye do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away unto the Father?'

Darby: Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, What is this he says to us, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away to the Father?

ASV: Some of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  said  [some] of  his  disciples  among  themselves,  What  is  this  that  he saith  unto us,  A little while,  and  ye shall  not  see  me:  and  again,  a little while,  and  ye shall see  me:  and,  Because  I  go  to  the Father? 

What does John 16:17 Mean?

Context Summary

John 16:12-24 - Looking Beyond Present Sorrow
The disciples were terribly overwrought by the events of the last few days, the reversal of their cherished hopes, and the growing darkness and sorrow of the approaching cross. Their physical nature and their minds and affections could bear no more. Sorrow had filled their heart, and the Master forbore to describe in further detail the valley of shadow through which they were still to pass. A comparison of the Gospels and Epistles will indicate how much our Lord left unsaid. All this remained for the Spirit's teaching, to be communicated to the Church through the Apostles. It is thus that Christ deals with us still, apportioning our trials to our strength, our discipline to our spiritual capacity. We long to know God's secret plans for ourselves, and for those whom we love. Where does the path lead which we are treading, and which dips so swiftly and abruptly? How much longer will the fight be maintained between Truth on the scaffold and Wrong on the throne? What is the explanation of the mystery of evil, of the sorrow and agony of the world? And Jesus says: "My child, you cannot bear to know now. Trust me, I will tell you as soon as you are able to understand." The blindness and limitation of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall follow in God's own time. See Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17. [source]

Chapter Summary: John 16

1  Jesus comforts his disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit, and his ascension;
23  assures their prayers made in his name to be acceptable
33  Peace in Jesus, and in the world affliction

Greek Commentary for John 16:17

Some of the disciples [εκ των ματητων αυτου]
Ellipsis of time (some) before εκ — ek as in John 7:40. Jesus seemed to contradict himself, for the disciples took both verbs in the same sense and were still puzzled over the going to the Father of John 14:3. But they talk to one another, not to Jesus. [source]
Then [οὗν]
Rev., correctly, therefore. It is a particle of logical connection, not of time. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 16:17

John 16:18 A little while [τὸ μικρόν]
In John 16:16, John 16:17, without the article. Here the article the or this little while defines the special point of their difficulty; this “little while” of which He speaks. [source]
John 7:33 Yet a little while [ετι χρονον μικρον]
Accusative of extent of time. It was only six months to the last passover of Christ‘s ministry and he knew that the end was near. I go unto him that sent me See the same words in John 16:5. υπαγω — Hupagō old compound See John 16:7-10 for three words for going common in John (απερχομαι — poreuomai go for a purpose, υπαγω — aperchomai to go away, υπαγω — hupagō to withdraw personally). Hupagō often in John of going to the Father or God (John 8:14, John 8:21; John 13:3, John 13:33, John 13:36; John 14:4, John 14:5, John 14:28; John 15:16; John 16:4, John 16:7, John 16:10, John 16:17). See John 6:21. It was enigmatic language to the hearers. [source]
John 7:33 I go unto him that sent me [υπαγω προς τον πεμπσαντα με]
See the same words in John 16:5. υπαγω — Hupagō old compound See John 16:7-10 for three words for going common in John (απερχομαι — poreuomai go for a purpose, υπαγω — aperchomai to go away, υπαγω — hupagō to withdraw personally). Hupagō often in John of going to the Father or God (John 8:14, John 8:21; John 13:3, John 13:33, John 13:36; John 14:4, John 14:5, John 14:28; John 15:16; John 16:4, John 16:7, John 16:10, John 16:17). See John 6:21. It was enigmatic language to the hearers. [source]
2 John 1:4 Of thy children [ἐκ τῶν τέκνων]
The rendering is obscure. Rev., rightly, supplies certain. Compare John 16:17. [source]
2 John 1:4 Greatly [λιαν]
Only here and 3 John 1:3 in John‘s writings.I have found (ευρηκα — heurēka). Perfect active indicative of ευρισκω — heuriskō as in John 1:41, our “eureka,” here with its usual force, a continued discovery. “He sits down at once and writes to Kyria. How glad she would be that her lads, far away in the great city, were true to their early faith” (David Smith).Certain of thy children No τινας — tinas as one would expect before εκ — ek a not infrequent idiom in the N.T. (John 16:17).Walking (περιπατουντας — peripatountas). Present active accusative supplementary participle agreeing with τινας — tinas understood. Probably members of the church off here in Ephesus.In truth As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν — elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω — lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω — entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]
2 John 1:4 Certain of thy children [εκ των τεκνων]
No τινας — tinas as one would expect before εκ — ek a not infrequent idiom in the N.T. (John 16:17).Walking (περιπατουντας — peripatountas). Present active accusative supplementary participle agreeing with τινας — tinas understood. Probably members of the church off here in Ephesus.In truth As in 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:4.We received (ελαβομεν — elabomen). Second aorist active (possibly, though not certainly, literary plural) of λαμβανω — lambanō This very idiom (εντολην λαμβανω — entolēn lambanō) in John 10:18; Acts 17:15; Colossians 4:10. Perhaps the reference here is to 1 John 2:7.; 1 John 3:23. [source]

What do the individual words in John 16:17 mean?

Said therefore [some] of the disciples of Him to one another What is this that He says to us A little [while] and not you do behold Me again you will see and Because I am going the Father
Εἶπαν οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο λέγει ἡμῖν Μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με πάλιν ὄψεσθέ καί Ὅτι ὑπάγω τὸν Πατέρα

Εἶπαν  Said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
ἐκ  [some]  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
μαθητῶν  disciples 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: μαθητής  
Sense: a learner, pupil, disciple.
αὐτοῦ  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
  that 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
λέγει  He  says 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ἡμῖν  to  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
Μικρὸν  A  little  [while] 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: μικρός  
Sense: small, little.
θεωρεῖτέ  you  do  behold 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: θεωρέω  
Sense: to be a spectator, look at, behold.
με  Me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
πάλιν  again 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πάλιν  
Sense: anew, again.
ὄψεσθέ  you  will  see 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
Ὅτι  Because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ὑπάγω  I  am  going 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ὑπάγω  
Sense: to lead under, bring under.
Πατέρα  Father 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προπάτωρ 
Sense: generator or male ancestor.