The Meaning of John 16:19 Explained

John 16:19

KJV: Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire 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?

YLT: 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?

Darby: Jesus knew therefore that they desired to demand of him, and said to them, Do ye inquire of this among yourselves that I said, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me?

ASV: 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?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does John 16:19 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 16:19

Jesus perceived [εγνω Ιησους]
Second aorist active indicative of γινωσκω — ginōskō That they were desirous to ask him Imperfect active tense of τελω — thelō in indirect discourse instead of the retention of the present τελουσιν — thelousin (the usual idiom), just like our English. Their embarrassment was manifest after four inquiries already (Peter, Thomas, Philip, Judas). So Jesus takes the initiative. [source]
Knew [ἔγνω]
Better, Rev., perceived. See on John 2:24. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 16:19

John 16:23 Ye shall ask [ἐρωτήσετε]
Or, as Rev., in margin, ask - question. To question is the primary meaning of the verb, from which it runs into the more general sense of request, beseech. So Mark 7:26; Luke 4:38; John 17:15, etc. Here the meaning is, ye shall ask me no question (compare John 16:19, where the same verb is used). Compare Matthew 16:13; Matthew 21:24; John 1:19. Ask, absolutely, Luke 22:68. Note, moreover, the selection of the word here as marking the asking on familiar terms. See on John 11:22. Another verb for ask occurs in the following sentence: “If ye shall ask ( αἰτήστητε ) anything,” etc. Here the sense is, if ye shall make any request. Compare Matthew 5:42; Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:9, Matthew 7:10, etc. Note, also, that this word for asking the Father marks the asking of an inferior from a superior, and is the word which Christ never uses of His own requests to the Father. Compare 1 John 3:22. [source]
John 10:19 There was a division [σχίσμα ἐγένετο]
Rev., more correctly, there arose. The word σχίσμα , division, from σχίζω , to cleave, describes a fact which continually recurs in John's narrative. See John 6:52, John 6:60, John 6:66; John 7:12, John 7:25sqq.; John 8:22; John 9:16, John 9:17; John 10:19, John 10:24, John 10:41; John 11:37sqq.; John 12:19, John 12:29, John 12:42; John 16:18, John 16:19. [source]
John 16:22 And ye therefore now [και υμεις ουν νυν]
See John 8:38 for like emphasis on ye The “sorrow” The metaphor points, of course, to the resurrection of Jesus which did change the grief of the disciples to gladness, once they are convinced that Jesus has risen from the dead. But I will see you again Future middle of οραω — horaō to see. In John 16:16, John 16:19 Jesus had said “ye shall see me” Shall rejoice Second future passive of χαιρω — chairō Taketh away Present active indicative, futuristic present, but B D have αρει — arei the future active (shall take away). This joy is a permanent possession. [source]
John 16:23 Ye shall ask me nothing [εμε ουκ ερωτησετε]
Either in the sense of question (original meaning of ερωταω — erōtaō) as in John 16:19, John 16:30 since he will be gone or in the sense of request or favours (like αιτεω — aiteō in this verse) as in John 14:16; Acts 3:2. In John 16:26 both αιτεω — aiteō and ερωταω — erōtaō occur in this sense. Either view makes sense here. If ye shall ask Third-class condition, αν — an like εαν — ean with first aorist active subjunctive of αιτεω — aiteō See note on John 14:26 for “in my name.” [source]
John 16:30 Now know we [νυν οιδαμεν]
They had failed to understand the plain words of Jesus about going to the Father heretofore (John 16:5), but Jesus read their very thoughts (John 16:19.) and this fact seemed to open their minds to grasp his idea. Should ask Present active subjunctive with ινα — hina in original sense of asking a question. By this In Christ‘s supernatural insight into their very hearts. From God Compare παρα του πατρος — para tou patros (John 16:27) and εκ του πατρος — ek tou patros (John 16:28), απο εκ παρα — apo class="translit"> ek class="translit"> para all with the ablative of source or origin. [source]

What do the individual words in John 16:19 mean?

Knew - Jesus that they were desiring Him to ask and He said to them Concerning this do you inquire among one another I said A little [while] not you do behold Me again you will see
Ἔγνω [ὁ] Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἤθελον αὐτὸν ἐρωτᾶν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Περὶ τούτου ζητεῖτε μετ’ ἀλλήλων εἶπον Μικρὸν οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με πάλιν ὄψεσθέ

Ἔγνω  Knew 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
[ὁ]  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἤθελον  they  were  desiring 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ἐρωτᾶν  to  ask 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἐρωτάω  
Sense: to question.
εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Περὶ  Concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
τούτου  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
ζητεῖτε  do  you  inquire 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ζητέω  
Sense: to seek in order to find.
ἀλλήλων  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
εἶπον  I  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
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.