John 16:17

15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

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?

18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

19 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?

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
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?
WEB
Some 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’?”
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?
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?
BLB
Therefore some of His disciples said to one another, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while and you⁺ do not see Me; and again a little while and you⁺ will look on Me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
ÅB
Noen av hans disipler sa da til hverandre: Hva er dette han sier til oss: Om en liten stund ser dere meg ikke, og om en liten stund skal dere se meg igjen; og: Jeg går til Faren?
OTB
Da sa noen av disiplene hans til hverandre: "Hva mener han med å si: 'Om en liten stund ser dere meg ikke lenger; og igjen, om en liten stund skal dere se meg,' og 'fordi jeg går til Faderen'?"
B1930
Nogen av hans disipler sa da til hverandre: Hvad er dette han sier til oss: Om en liten stund ser I mig ikke, og atter om en liten stund skal I se mig; og: Jeg går til Faderen?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • John 16:16

    A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father.

    Read in context
  • Mark 9:32

    But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

    Read in context
  • John 16:5

    But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

    Read in context
  • John 14:5

    Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

    Read in context
  • John 16:19

    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?

    Read in context
  • Mark 9:10

    And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

    Read in context
  • Luke 18:34

    And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.

    Read in context
  • John 12:16

    These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

    Read in context