John 16:29
New International Version
Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.

New Living Translation
Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively.

English Standard Version
His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech!

Berean Standard Bible
His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.

Berean Literal Bible
His disciples say, "Behold, now You speak in openness, and You do not speak allegory.

King James Bible
His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

New King James Version
His disciples said to Him, “See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech!

New American Standard Bible
His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and are not using any figure of speech.

NASB 1995
His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech.

NASB 1977
His disciples said, “Lo, now You are speaking plainly, and are not using a figure of speech.

Legacy Standard Bible
His disciples said, “Behold, now You are speaking openly and are not using a figure of speech.

Amplified Bible
His disciples said, “Ah, now You are speaking plainly to us and not in figures of speech!

Christian Standard Bible
His disciples said, “Look, now you’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ah!” His disciples said. “Now You’re speaking plainly and not using any figurative language.

American Standard Version
His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark saying.

Contemporary English Version
The disciples said, "Now you are speaking plainly to us! You are not using examples.

English Revised Version
His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
His disciples said, "Now you're talking in plain words and not using examples.

Good News Translation
Then his disciples said to him, "Now you are speaking plainly, without using figures of speech.

International Standard Version
Jesus' disciples said, "Well, now you're speaking plainly and not using figurative language.

Majority Standard Bible
His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.

NET Bible
His disciples said, "Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech!

New Heart English Bible
His disciples said to him, "Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in any figure of speech.

Webster's Bible Translation
His disciples said to him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

Weymouth New Testament
"Ah, now you are using plain language," said His disciples, "and are uttering no figure of speech!

World English Bible
His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
His disciples say to Him, “Behold, now You speak freely, and You do not speak allegory;

Berean Literal Bible
His disciples say, "Behold, now You speak in openness, and You do not speak allegory.

Young's Literal Translation
His disciples say to him, 'Lo, now freely thou dost speak, and no similitude speakest thou;

Smith's Literal Translation
His disciples say to him, See, now thou speakest with freedom of speech, and sayest no proverb.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
His disciples say to him: Behold, now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb.

Catholic Public Domain Version
His disciples said to him: “Behold, now you are speaking plainly and not reciting a proverb.

New American Bible
His disciples said, “Now you are talking plainly, and not in any figure of speech.

New Revised Standard Version
His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
His disciples said to him, Behold, now you speak plainly, and do not utter a single figure.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
His disciples were saying to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly and you are not speaking any parable.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
His disciples said to him: Lo, now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no parable.

Godbey New Testament
His disciples say; Behold, now you are talking openly, and speaking no parable.

Haweis New Testament
His disciples said unto him, Lo! now thou speakest plainly, and speakest in no-wise proverbial.

Mace New Testament
His disciples said to him, what you say now is plain, and not enigmatical.

Weymouth New Testament
"Ah, now you are using plain language," said His disciples, "and are uttering no figure of speech!

Worrell New Testament
His disciples say, "Lo, now Thou talkest plainly, and speakest no proverb:

Worsley New Testament
His disciples said unto Him, Now indeed Thou speakest plainly, and usest no parable.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ask and You will Receive
28I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.” 29His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech. 30Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”…

Cross References
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 14:25-26
All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. / But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 10:6
Jesus spoke to them using this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them.

John 8:27
They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father.

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 13:7
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

Matthew 13:10-11
Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?” / He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Mark 4:33-34
With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand. / He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.

Luke 8:10
He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

2 Corinthians 3:12-13
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. / We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.

Hebrews 5:11-14
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. / Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! / For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. ...

Proverbs 1:6
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Jeremiah 23:20
The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this clearly.


Treasury of Scripture

His disciples said to him, See, now speak you plainly, and speak no proverb.

proverb.

John 16:25
These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

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Ah Allegory Clearly Dark Disciples Figure Figures Jesus Language Openly Plain Plainly Proverb Similitude Speak Speakest Speaking Speech Talking Using Uttering Veiled
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Ah Allegory Clearly Dark Disciples Figure Figures Jesus Language Openly Plain Plainly Proverb Similitude Speak Speakest Speaking Speech Talking Using Uttering Veiled
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.














His disciples said
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the dialogue between Jesus and His disciples. The Greek word for "disciples" is μαθηταί (mathētai), which means learners or followers. This term emphasizes the close relationship and the role of the disciples as students of Jesus, who is their Rabbi and teacher. Historically, discipleship in Jewish culture involved a deep commitment to learning and living out the teachings of one's master. Here, the disciples are responding to Jesus, indicating their engagement and the importance of the conversation.

See, now You are speaking plainly
The word "plainly" is translated from the Greek παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia), which means openly or clearly. This suggests a shift from the use of parables or figurative language to straightforward communication. The disciples express relief and understanding, as Jesus' previous teachings often involved complex metaphors. This moment reflects a deeper revelation and clarity in Jesus' message, aligning with the fulfillment of His mission and the preparation of the disciples for the coming events.

and without figures of speech
The phrase "figures of speech" comes from the Greek παροιμία (paroimia), which refers to proverbs or allegorical sayings. Jesus often used parables to convey spiritual truths, which required discernment and reflection. The disciples' recognition of Jesus speaking without such figures indicates a moment of enlightenment and direct communication. This transition is significant as it prepares the disciples for the imminent events of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, where understanding His words becomes crucial.

(29) Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.--Better, . . . parable, as in John 16:25. (Comp. Note there.) The emphasis is upon the word "now." He had told them (John 16:25) that the hour would come when He would speak to them no more in parables, but tell them plainly of the Father. His last words have explained what they before could not understand, and it seems to them that the illumination promised in the future has already come.

Verse 29. - His disciples say to him, Behold, even now thou speakest (λαλεῖς); thy utterance is with plainness and clearness, and speakest (λέγεις) no proverb. The promise made so recently (Ver. 25) seems to them already fulfilled. Some beam of the heavenly light has begun to irradiate the whole of this sublime but partially realized revelation of God in Christ. The doubts vanish in this sunshine.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

disciples
μαθηταὶ (mathētai)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

said,
Λέγουσιν (Legousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

“See,
Ἴδε (Ide)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

now
νῦν (nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

You are speaking
λαλεῖς (laleis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

plainly
παρρησίᾳ (parrēsia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3954: From pas and a derivative of rheo; all out-spokenness, i.e. Frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication, assurance.

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

without
οὐδεμίαν (oudemian)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3762: No one, none, nothing.

figures of speech.
παροιμίαν (paroimian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3942: A cryptic saying, an allegory; a proverb, figurative discourse.


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NT Gospels: John 16:29 His disciples said to him Behold now (Jhn Jo Jn)
John 16:28
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