As the following verses show, Jesus was referring here to His imminent departure in death and His return to the disciples shortly after His resurrection. The first "little while" was only a few hours in duration, and the second "little while" was only a few days. Other returns that Jesus had mentioned in this discourse included His return in the person of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and His bodily return at the Rapture. [source][source][source]
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
1Jesus comforts his disciples by the promise of the Holy Spirit, and his ascension; 23assures their prayers made in his name to be acceptable 33Peace in Jesus, and in the world affliction
Greek Commentary for John 16:16
A little while [μικρον] The brief period now till Christ‘s death as in John 7:33; John 13:33; John 14:19. Again a little while The period between the death and the resurrection of Jesus (from Friday afternoon till Sunday morning). Ye shall see me Future middle of οπτομαι optomai the verb used in John 1:51; John 16:22 as here of spiritual realities (Bernard), though τεωρεω theōreō is so used in John 20:14. [source]
Ye shall not see [οὐ θεωρεῖτε] The present tense: “ye behold me no more.” So Rev. [source]
Ye shall see [ὄψεσθε] A different verb for seeing is used here. For the distinction, see on John 1:18. Θεωρέω emphasizes the act of vision, ὁράω , the result. Θεωρέω denotes deliberate contemplation conjoined with mental or spiritual interest. “The vision of wondering contemplation, in which they observed little by little the outward manifestation of the Lord, was changed and transfigured into sight, in which they seized at once, intuitively, all that Christ was. As long as His earthly presence was the object on which their eyes were fixed, their view was necessarily imperfect. His glorified presence showed Him in His true nature” (Westcott). [source]
Because I go unto the Father [] The best texts omit. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 16:16
John 16:18A 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 13:33Little children [τεκνια] Diminutive of τεκνα tekna and affectionate address as Jesus turns to the effect of his going on these disciples. Only here in this Gospel, but common in 1John (1 John 2:1, etc.), and nowhere else in N.T. Yet a little while Accusative of extent of time. See also John 7:33; John 8:21 (to which Jesus here refers); John 16:16-19. So now I say unto you This juncture point (αρτι arti) of time relatively to the past and the future (John 9:25; John 16:12,John 16:31). [source]
John 13:38Wilt thou lay down? [τησεισ] Jesus picks up Peter‘s very words and challenges his boasted loyalty. See such repetition in John 16:16,John 16:31; John 21:17. Shall not crow Aorist active subjunctive of πωνεω phōneō to use the voice, used of animals and men. Note strong double negative ου μη ou mē Mark adds δις dis (twice). John‘s report is almost identical with that in Luke 22:34. The other disciples joined in Peter‘s boast (Mark 14:31; Matthew 26:35). Till thou hast denied Future middle indicative or aorist middle subjunctive second person singular (form identical) with compound conjunction εως ου heōs hou (until which time), “till thou deny or deniest” (futurum exactum needless). Peter is silenced for the present. They all “sat astounded and perplexed” (Dods). [source]
John 14:19But ye behold me [υμεις δε τεωρειτε με] Emphatic position of υμεις humeis (ye) in contrast to the blind, unseeing world. Cf. John 13:33; John 16:10,John 16:16. Because I live, ye shall live also This is our blessed guarantee of immortal, eternal life, the continued living of Jesus. He is the surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), the Risen Christ Jesus. He had said it before (John 6:57). [source]
John 16:22And 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 4:19Sir [Κυριε] So still. I perceive “I am beginning to perceive” from what you say, your knowledge of my private life (John 4:29). See John 2:23 for τεωρεω theōreō which John‘s Gospel has 23 times, of bodily sight (John 20:6,John 20:14), of mental contemplation (John 12:45; John 14:17). See both τεωρεω theōreō and οπτομαι optomai in John 1:51; John 16:16. That thou art a prophet “That a prophet art thou” (emphasis on “thou”). She felt that this was the explanation of his knowledge of her life and she wanted to change the subject at once to the outstanding theological dispute. [source]
What do the individual words in John 16:16 mean?
A little [while]andno longeryou do beholdMeagainyou will seebecauseI am going awaytotheFather
Greek Commentary for John 16:16
The brief period now till Christ‘s death as in John 7:33; John 13:33; John 14:19. Again a little while The period between the death and the resurrection of Jesus (from Friday afternoon till Sunday morning). Ye shall see me Future middle of οπτομαι optomai the verb used in John 1:51; John 16:22 as here of spiritual realities (Bernard), though τεωρεω theōreō is so used in John 20:14. [source]
The present tense: “ye behold me no more.” So Rev. [source]
A different verb for seeing is used here. For the distinction, see on John 1:18. Θεωρέω emphasizes the act of vision, ὁράω , the result. Θεωρέω denotes deliberate contemplation conjoined with mental or spiritual interest. “The vision of wondering contemplation, in which they observed little by little the outward manifestation of the Lord, was changed and transfigured into sight, in which they seized at once, intuitively, all that Christ was. As long as His earthly presence was the object on which their eyes were fixed, their view was necessarily imperfect. His glorified presence showed Him in His true nature” (Westcott). [source]
The best texts omit. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 16:16
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]
Diminutive of τεκνα tekna and affectionate address as Jesus turns to the effect of his going on these disciples. Only here in this Gospel, but common in 1John (1 John 2:1, etc.), and nowhere else in N.T. Yet a little while Accusative of extent of time. See also John 7:33; John 8:21 (to which Jesus here refers); John 16:16-19. So now I say unto you This juncture point (αρτι arti) of time relatively to the past and the future (John 9:25; John 16:12, John 16:31). [source]
Jesus picks up Peter‘s very words and challenges his boasted loyalty. See such repetition in John 16:16, John 16:31; John 21:17. Shall not crow Aorist active subjunctive of πωνεω phōneō to use the voice, used of animals and men. Note strong double negative ου μη ou mē Mark adds δις dis (twice). John‘s report is almost identical with that in Luke 22:34. The other disciples joined in Peter‘s boast (Mark 14:31; Matthew 26:35). Till thou hast denied Future middle indicative or aorist middle subjunctive second person singular (form identical) with compound conjunction εως ου heōs hou (until which time), “till thou deny or deniest” (futurum exactum needless). Peter is silenced for the present. They all “sat astounded and perplexed” (Dods). [source]
Emphatic position of υμεις humeis (ye) in contrast to the blind, unseeing world. Cf. John 13:33; John 16:10, John 16:16. Because I live, ye shall live also This is our blessed guarantee of immortal, eternal life, the continued living of Jesus. He is the surety of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22), the Risen Christ Jesus. He had said it before (John 6:57). [source]
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]
So still. I perceive “I am beginning to perceive” from what you say, your knowledge of my private life (John 4:29). See John 2:23 for τεωρεω theōreō which John‘s Gospel has 23 times, of bodily sight (John 20:6, John 20:14), of mental contemplation (John 12:45; John 14:17). See both τεωρεω theōreō and οπτομαι optomai in John 1:51; John 16:16. That thou art a prophet “That a prophet art thou” (emphasis on “thou”). She felt that this was the explanation of his knowledge of her life and she wanted to change the subject at once to the outstanding theological dispute. [source]