John 16:16
New International Version
Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

New Living Translation
“In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

English Standard Version
“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”

Berean Standard Bible
In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”

Berean Literal Bible
A little while and you behold Me no longer; and again a little while and you will see Me."

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
“A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

New American Standard Bible
“A little while, and you no longer are going to see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

NASB 1995
“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

NASB 1977
“A little while, and you will no longer behold Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

Legacy Standard Bible
“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

Amplified Bible
“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.”

Christian Standard Bible
“In a little while, you will no longer see me; again in a little while, you will see me.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“A little while and you will no longer see Me; again a little while and you will see Me.”

American Standard Version
A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus told his disciples, "For a little while you won't see me, but after a while you will see me."

English Revised Version
A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"In a little while you won't see me anymore. Then in a little while you will see me again."

Good News Translation
"In a little while you will not see me any more, and then a little while later you will see me."

International Standard Version
In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again."

Majority Standard Bible
In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me, because I am going away to the Father.?

NET Bible
In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me."

New Heart English Bible
A little while, and you will no longer see me. Again a little while, and you will see me."

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

Weymouth New Testament
"A little while and you see me no more, and again a little while and you shall see me."

World English Bible
“A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
a little while, and you do not behold Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go away to the Father.”

Berean Literal Bible
A little while and you behold Me no longer; and again a little while and you will see Me."

Young's Literal Translation
a little while, and ye do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go away unto the Father.'

Smith's Literal Translation
A little while, and ye see me not: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, and because I retire to the Father.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A little while, and now you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A little while, and then you will not see me. And again a little while, and you will see me. For I am going to the Father.”

New American Bible
“A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.”

New Revised Standard Version
“A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A little while, and you will not see me; and again a little while, and you will see me, because I am going to the Father.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“A little while and you will not see me; again a little while and you will see me because I am going to the presence of The Father.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
A little while, and you will not see me; and again, a little while, and you will see me, be cause I go to the Father.

Godbey New Testament
A little while, and ye see me no more; again a little while, and ye shall see me.

Haweis New Testament
A little while longer, and ye shall not see me: and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I am going to the Father.

Mace New Testament
Within a little while ye shall not see me: but within a little while ye shall see me again, because I am going to the father.

Weymouth New Testament
"A little while and you see me no more, and again a little while and you shall see me."

Worrell New Testament
A little while, and ye no longer behold Me; and again a little while, and ye will see Me."

Worsley New Testament
A little while and ye shall not see me: and again a little while and ye shall see me, because I am going to the Father.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
15Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you. 16In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.” 17Then 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’?”…

Cross References
John 14:19
In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.

John 7:33
So Jesus said, “I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me.

John 12:35
Then Jesus told them, “For a little while longer, the Light will be among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

John 13:33
Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

John 14:3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.

John 16:22
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

John 20:19-20
It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. / After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

John 20:26
Eight days later, His disciples were once again inside with the doors locked, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Acts 1:3
After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Acts 10:40-41
God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen— / not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

Hebrews 9:28
so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.

1 Peter 1:8
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Matthew 28:7-10
Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ See, I have told you.” / So they hurried away from the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples. / Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. ...

Matthew 28:16-17
Meanwhile, the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had designated. / When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.

Mark 16:7
But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’”


Treasury of Scripture

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

A.

John 16:5,10,17-19
But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? …

John 7:33
Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.

John 12:35
Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

a little while.

John 20:19-29
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you…

John 21:1-23
After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself

Acts 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

because.

John 16:28
I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

John 13:3
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;

John 17:5,13
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was…

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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.














In a little while
This phrase, "In a little while," is a translation of the Greek word "mikron," which denotes a short period of time. In the context of John 16:16, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about His impending departure through His death and resurrection. Historically, this phrase reflects the urgency and immediacy of the events that are about to unfold. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the transition from His physical presence to His spiritual presence through the Holy Spirit. Theologically, this phrase reassures believers of the temporary nature of trials and the promise of Christ's return.

you will see Me no more
The phrase "you will see Me no more" refers to Jesus' crucifixion and burial. The Greek word "theoreite" is used here, which means to behold or to look upon. This indicates a physical absence that the disciples will experience. Historically, this was a time of great confusion and sorrow for the disciples, as they did not fully understand the necessity of Jesus' death. Scripturally, this absence is a pivotal moment in the salvation narrative, as it leads to the fulfillment of prophecy and the ultimate victory over sin and death.

and then after a little while
This repetition of "a little while" emphasizes the brief nature of the separation. The Greek word "palin" is used here, meaning "again" or "anew," suggesting a renewal or restoration. This phrase is a promise of hope and continuity, indicating that the separation is not permanent. In the broader biblical context, it points to the resurrection, where Jesus will appear to His disciples again, affirming His victory over death and His divine nature.

you will see Me
The phrase "you will see Me" is a promise of Jesus' resurrection and His appearances to the disciples thereafter. The Greek word "opsesthe" is used, which means to see or perceive. This seeing is not just physical but also spiritual, as the disciples will come to understand the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. Historically, this was fulfilled when Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, providing them with undeniable proof of His triumph over the grave. Theologically, this seeing is a foretaste of the eternal vision of Christ that believers will experience in the fullness of time.

(16) A little while, and ye shall not see me.--The better reading is, A little while, and ye no longer behold Me. For the sense, comp. Notes on John 14:18-19. The time here referred to is that between the moment of His speaking to them and His death.

And again, a little while, and ye shall see me.--The time here referred to is the interval between His death and the Day of Pentecost. That the vision is to be understood of our Lord's presence in the person of the Paraclete (John 14:18-19), is confirmed by John 16:23. Note that in this clause the verb ("see") is different from that in the preceding clause ("behold"). The latter refers rather to the physical, and the former to the spiritual, vision. (Comp. John 20:6-8.)

Because I go to the Father.--The majority of the better MSS. omit these words at this place. They have probably been inserted here from the end of the next verse. (Comp. Note there.)

Verses 16-24. - (c) The sorrow turned into joy. In these verses he approaches the final farewell, in which the whole body of the disciples are introduced as inwardly or among themselves perturbed by the special difficulty of the words. Before the Spirit can do all this, a separation must be experienced. Verse 16. - A little while. A phrase repeated seven times in this brief passage, emphatically encouraging his own disciples to rise above the limitations of time, and enjoy the habits of eternity. Ye behold me no more. The first puzzle of this utterance lies in this - that (John 14:19) he had told them that, though the world would see him no more, they would behold him in the power of the Spirit, and that they would moreover have adequate preparation for such spiritual beholding in the resurrection; yet now he says, "Ye behold me no more." True, he has associated this phrase already, in Ver. 10, with the conviction of the world touching true righteousness and his "going to the Father," so that henceforth he would be hidden in God; but now he increases the perplexity by adding, And again, a little while, and ye shall see me. The commentators differ greatly as to the reference, but (with Hengstenberg, Weiss, Stier, Westcott, Ebrard, Ewald) the most obvious explanation is that he is referring to the resurrection, which in itself would be in part a glorification of Christ, and which, from its entire method of manifestation to them, would prove a preparation for the spiritual sense of his continual presence. This was perfected at Pentecost, and will be completed when he shall come again in his glory.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
In a little [while]
Μικρὸν (Mikron)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3398: Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).

you will see
θεωρεῖτέ (theōreite)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2334: From a derivative of theaomai; to be a spectator of, i.e. Discern, (experience) or intensively (acknowledge).

Me
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

no more,
οὐκέτι (ouketi)
Adverb
Strong's 3765: No longer, no more. Also ouk eti from ou and eti; not yet, no longer.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

then
πάλιν (palin)
Adverb
Strong's 3825: Probably from the same as pale; anew, i.e. back, once more, or furthermore or on the other hand.

after a little [while]
μικρὸν (mikron)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3398: Little, small. Including the comparative mikroteros apparently a primary word; small (figuratively) dignity).

you will see
ὄψεσθέ (opsesthe)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

Me.”
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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NT Gospels: John 16:16 A little while and you will not (Jhn Jo Jn)
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