John 16:18
New International Version
They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”

New Living Translation
And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

English Standard Version
So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”

Berean Standard Bible
They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'a little while'? We do not know what He is saying."

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

New King James Version
They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

New American Standard Bible
So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.

NASB 1995
So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while ‘? We do not know what He is talking about.”

NASB 1977
And so they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”

Amplified Bible
So they were saying, “What does He mean when He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.”

Christian Standard Bible
They said, “What is this he is saying, ‘In a little while’? We don’t know what he’s talking about.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They said, “What is this He is saying, ‘A little while? We don’t know what He’s talking about!”

American Standard Version
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.

Contemporary English Version
What is this 'little while' that he is talking about? We don't know what he means."

English Revised Version
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they were asking each other, "What does he mean when he says, 'In a little while'? We don't understand what he's talking about."

Good News Translation
What does this 'a little while' mean? We don't know what he is talking about!"

International Standard Version
They kept saying, "What is this 'in a little while' that he keeps talking about? We don't know what he means."

Majority Standard Bible
They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

NET Bible
So they kept on repeating, "What is the meaning of what he says, 'In a little while'? We do not understand what he is talking about."

New Heart English Bible
They kept asking, "What is this that he says, 'A little while?' We do not know what he is saying."

Webster's Bible Translation
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.

Weymouth New Testament
So they asked one another repeatedly, "What can that 'little while' mean which He speaks of? We do not understand His words."

World English Bible
They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
They said then, “What is this He says—the little while? We have not known what He says.”

Berean Literal Bible
Therefore they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'a little while'? We do not know what He is saying."

Young's Literal Translation
they said then, 'What is this he saith -- the little while? we have not known what he saith.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Then said they, What is this which he says, A little we know not what he says.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? we know not what he speaketh.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they said: “What is this, that he is saying, ‘A little while?’ We do not understand what he is saying.”

New American Bible
So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ [of which he speaks]? We do not know what he means.”

New Revised Standard Version
They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they said, What is this that he said, A little while? We cannot understand what he talks about.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were saying, “What is this, 'A little while', that he says? We do know not what he is uttering.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Therefore they said: "What is this that he says, The little while? We know not what he says.

Godbey New Testament
Then they were speaking, What is this, Little while, of which He speaks? and we know not what He is talking about.

Haweis New Testament
They said therefore, What is this which he saith, This little while? we know not what he means.

Mace New Testament
for, said they, we cannot comprehend the meaning of that expression, "within a little while?"

Weymouth New Testament
So they asked one another repeatedly, "What can that 'little while' mean which He speaks of? We do not understand His words."

Worrell New Testament
They said, therefore, "What is this that He saith, 'A little while?'?we know not what He saith!"

Worsley New Testament
they said therefore, What is this little while that He speaks of? we do not understand what He means.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Grief to Joy
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’?” 18 They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.” 19Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?…

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 7:33-34
So Jesus said, “I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me. / You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

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 12:16
At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.

John 8:21
Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”

John 14:5
“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”

John 16:5
Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’

John 16:10
in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;

John 16:16
In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”

John 16:25
I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.

John 16:29
His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.

Matthew 16:21
From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Mark 9:32
But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Luke 9:45
But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Luke 18:34
But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.


Treasury of Scripture

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

we.

Matthew 16:9-11
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? …

Luke 24:25
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

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Clear Kept Little Mean Means Repeatedly Speaks Talking Time Understand Words
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.














They kept asking
This phrase indicates a continuous action, suggesting that the disciples were persistently questioning among themselves. The Greek verb used here, "ἔλεγον" (elegon), is in the imperfect tense, which conveys an ongoing action in the past. This reflects the disciples' confusion and their earnest desire to understand Jesus' teachings. Historically, this moment captures the disciples' struggle to grasp the full meaning of Jesus' words, a common theme throughout the Gospels as they grapple with the spiritual truths He presents.

What does He mean
The disciples are seeking clarity on Jesus' statement. This phrase underscores their lack of understanding and the mystery surrounding Jesus' teachings. The Greek word "τί" (ti) translates to "what," indicating their quest for comprehension. This reflects a broader theme in the Gospel of John, where Jesus often speaks in ways that challenge conventional understanding, inviting deeper reflection and spiritual insight.

by 'a little while'?
The phrase "a little while" is pivotal in this passage. In Greek, "μικρὸν" (mikron) suggests a short, indefinite period. This term is used by Jesus to describe both His impending departure and His return, which confuses the disciples. Theologically, this phrase points to the imminent events of Jesus' death, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. It invites believers to trust in God's timing, even when it is not fully understood.

We do not understand
This admission of the disciples highlights their human limitations and the complexity of Jesus' message. The Greek word "οἴδαμεν" (oidamen) means "we know," but here it is used in the negative, emphasizing their lack of knowledge. This moment of vulnerability is significant, as it shows that even those closest to Jesus struggled with doubt and confusion. It serves as an encouragement to modern believers that faith often involves wrestling with uncertainty.

what He is saying
The disciples' struggle to comprehend Jesus' words is a recurring theme in the Gospels. The Greek verb "λαλεῖ" (lalei) means "he is saying" or "he speaks," indicating the active and ongoing nature of Jesus' communication. This highlights the dynamic and living nature of God's Word, which continually speaks to believers across time. The disciples' confusion invites readers to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for understanding, as Jesus promised that the Spirit would lead them into all truth (John 16:13).

Verse 18. - They said, What is this little while whereof he speaketh? (λέγει; Vulgate, dicit). (The R.T. and Westcott and Hort invert the τοῦτο and τί, and thus greatly increase the simplicity of the passage.) What are these two short periods of which he speaks, so full of mysterious significance? We know not what he saith (λαλεῖ; Vulgate, loquitur). We do not apprehend the wonderful interchange of vision and blank darkness - of presence and absence and presence again!

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
They kept asking,
ἔλεγον (elegon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Why
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

is
ἐστιν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

He saying,
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

‘a
Τὸ (To)
Article - Nominative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

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

We do not understand
οἴδαμεν (oidamen)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

He is saying.”
λαλεῖ (lalei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.


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NT Gospels: John 16:18 They said therefore What is this that (Jhn Jo Jn)
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