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Gospels · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

John 16

Signs and extended conversations reveal Jesus' identity and invite life-giving trust.

New Testament

John 16

1“I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.

2They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God.

3They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me.

4But 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.

5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

6But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart.

7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

8When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;

9about sin, because they don’t believe in me;

10about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more;

11about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged.

12“I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.

13However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.

14He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine and will declare it to you.

15All things that the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine and will declare it to you.

16“A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”

17Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?”

18They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”

19Therefore 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’?

20Most certainly I tell you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

21A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.

22Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

23“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

24Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

25“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.

26In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you that I will pray to the Father for you,

27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God.

28I came from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

29His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.

30Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.”

31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe?

32Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Signs and extended conversations reveal Jesus' identity and invite life-giving trust. Read John 16 within the complete John overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in John 16

John 16 contains 33 verses and about 743 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: ““I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 33 closes: “I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, things, father, world, little, tell. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About John 16

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, John 16:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer