The Meaning of John 16:20 Explained

John 16:20

KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

YLT: verily, verily, I say to you, that ye shall weep and lament, and the world will rejoice; and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow joy will become.

Darby: Verily, verily, I say to you, that ye shall weep and lament, ye, but the world shall rejoice; and ye will be grieved, but your grief shall be turned to joy.

ASV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Verily,  verily,  I say  unto you,  That  ye  shall weep  and  lament,  but  the world  shall rejoice:  and  ye  shall be sorrowful,  but  your  sorrow  shall be turned  into  joy. 

What does John 16:20 Mean?

Study Notes

world
kosmos = mankind.
The Greek word kosmos means "order," "arrangement," and so, with the Greeks, "beauty"; for order and arrangement in the sense of system are at the bottom of the Greek conception of beauty.
When used in the N.T. of humanity, the "world" of men, it is organized humanity-- humanity in families, tribes, nations--which is meant. The word for chaotic, unorganized humanity--the mere mass of man is thalassa, the "sea" of men (e.g.) Revelation 13:1 (See Scofield " Revelation 13:8 ") . For "world" (kosmos) in the bad ethical sense, "world system" John 7:7 .

Verse Meaning

Again Jesus did not answer the disciples" question directly because they would not have been able to understand Him if He had ( John 16:12). What He did say was very important, however, as His introductory asseveration indicated.
Jesus" departure would mean great sorrow for His disciples but great joy for the world. This was the condition when Jesus died on the cross. Later the disciples" sorrow would turn to joy. This was the result of Jesus" resurrection ( John 20:20). Some commentators viewed the second part of this verse as referring to the Lord"s return at the end of the age. However what Jesus said about the disciples being essentially joyful during the inter-advent period argues against this view ( John 15:11).

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 16:20

Ye shall weep and lament [κλαυσετε και τρηνησετε]
Future active of κλαιω — klaiō and τρηνεω — thrēneō both old words (for κλαιω — klaiō see John 11:31, for τρηνεω — thrēneō see Matthew 11:17), both words used of the loud lamentations so common in the east. Shall rejoice Second future passive of χαιρω — chairō in violent contrast. Picture the women on the way to the Cross (Luke 23:27, εκοπτοντο και ετρηνουν — ekoptonto kai ethrēnoun two descriptive imperfects) and Mary Magdalene by the tomb (John 20:11, κλαιουσα — klaiousa). Ye shall be sorrowful First future passive of λυπεω — lupeō word for inward grief. See the change from sorrow to joy in John 20:14-16 when “they disbelieved for joy” (Luke 24:41). So violent was the reaction on the sudden appearance of Jesus. [source]
Weep - lament - be sorrowful [κλαύσετε - θρηνήσετε - λυπηθήσεσθε]
Of these three words, the last is the most general in meaning, expressing every species of pain, of body or of soul, and not necessarily the outward manifestation of sorrow. Both the other words denote audible expressions of grief. Θρηνέω marks the more formal expression. It means to utter a dirge over the dead. Thus Homer, of the mourning over Hector in Troy:“On a fair couch they laid the corse, and placedSingers beside it leaders of the dirge ( θρηνων ), Who sang ( ἐθρήνεον ) a sorrowful, lamenting strain,-DIVIDER-
And all the women answered it with sobs.”“Iliad,” xxiv. 720-722. The verb occurs Matthew 11:17; Luke 7:32; Luke 23:27. Κλαίω means audible weeping, the crying of children, as distinguished from δακρύω , to shed tears, to weep silently, which occurs but once in the New Testament, of Jesus' weeping (John 11:35). See on Luke 7:32. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for John 16:20

John 5:39 Ye search [εραυνατε]
Proper spelling as the papyri show rather than ερευνατε — ereunāte the old form (from ερευνα — ereuna search) as in John 7:52. The form here can be either present active indicative second person plural or the present active imperative second person plural. Only the context can decide. Either makes sense here, but the reason given “because ye think” The plural with the article refers to the well-known collection in the Old Testament (Matthew 21:42; Luke 24:27). Elsewhere in John the singular refers to a particular passage (John 2:22; John 7:38; John 10:35). In them ye have eternal life Indirect assertion after δοκειτε — dokeite without “ye” expressed either as nominative Bernard holds that in John δοκεω — dokeō always indicates a mistaken opinion (John 5:45; John 11:13, John 11:31; John 13:29; John 16:20; John 20:15). Certainly the rabbis did make a mechanical use of the letter of Scripture as a means of salvation. These are they The true value of the Scriptures is in their witness to Christ (of me, περι εμου — peri emou). Luke (Luke 24:27, Luke 24:45) gives this same claim of Jesus, and yet some critics fail to find the Messiah in the Old Testament. But Jesus did. [source]
Revelation 18:9 Shall weep [κλαυσουσιν]
Future active of κλαιω — klaiō middle κλαυσονται — klausontai in Attic, as in John 16:20. [source]
Revelation 8:11 Became wormwood [εγενετο εις απσιντον]
This use of εις — eis in the predicate with γινομαι — ginomai is common in the lxx and the N.T. (Revelation 16:19; John 16:20; Acts 5:36).Of the waters (εκ των υδατων — ek tōn hudatōn). As a result of (εκ — ek) the use of the poisoned waters.Were made bitter First aorist passive indicative of πικραινω — pikrainō Old verb (from πικρος — pikros bitter), as in Revelation 10:9. In a metaphorical sense to embitter in Colossians 3:19. [source]

What do the individual words in John 16:20 mean?

Truly I say to you that will weep and will lament you - but the world will rejoice will be grieved but the grief of you to joy will turn
ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι κλαύσετε καὶ θρηνήσετε ὑμεῖς δὲ κόσμος χαρήσεται λυπηθήσεσθε ἀλλ’ λύπη ὑμῶν εἰς χαρὰν γενήσεται

ἀμὴν  Truly 
Parse: Hebrew Word
Root: ἀμήν  
Sense: firm.
λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
κλαύσετε  will  weep 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: κλαίω  
Sense: to mourn, weep, lament.
θρηνήσετε  will  lament 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: θρηνέω  
Sense: to mourn, to lament.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κόσμος  the  world 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κόσμος  
Sense: an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.
χαρήσεται  will  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: χαίρω  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
λυπηθήσεσθε  will  be  grieved 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: λυπέω  
Sense: to make sorrowful.
λύπη  grief 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: λύπη  
Sense: sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction.
ὑμῶν  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
χαρὰν  joy 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: χαρά  
Sense: joy, gladness.
γενήσεται  will  turn 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.