YHN 16:20 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Ἀμήν
2. amēn
3. Truly
4. -
5. 2810
6. I·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. S
10. Y33
11. 77343
1. ἀμήν
2. amēn
3. truly
4. -
5. 2810
6. I·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77344
1. λέγω
2. legō
3. I am saying
4. -
5. 30040
6. VIPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y33; R77309; Person=Jesus
11. 77345
1. ὑμῖν
2. su
3. to you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77346
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. that
4. -
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77347
1. κλαύσετε
2. klaiō
3. will be weeping
4. weeping
5. 27990
6. VIFA2··P
7. ˓will_be˒ weeping
8. ˓will_be˒ weeping
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77348
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77349
1. θρηνήσετε
2. thrēneō
3. will be lamenting
4. -
5. 23540
6. VIFA2··P
7. ˓will_be˒ lamenting
8. ˓will_be˒ lamenting
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77350
1. ὑμεῖς
2. su
3. you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2N·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77351
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77352
1. δέ
2. de
3. but
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77353
1. κόσμος
2. kosmos
3. world
4. world
5. 28890
6. N····NMS
7. world
8. world
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77354
1. χαρήσεται
2. χairō
3. will be being elated
4. elated
5. 54630
6. VIFP3··S
7. ˓will_be_being˒ elated
8. ˓will_be_being˒ elated
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77355
1. ὑμεῖς
2. su
3. you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2N·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77356
1. δέ
2. de
3. -
4. -
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 77357
1. λυπηθήσεσθε
2. lupeō
3. will be being sorrowed
4. -
5. 30760
6. VIFP2··P
7. ˓will_be_being˒ sorrowed
8. ˓will_be_being˒ sorrowed
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77358
1. ἀλλʼ
2. alla
3. but
4. -
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77359
1. ἡ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77360
1. λύπη
2. lupē
3. sorrow
4. -
5. 30770
6. N····NFS
7. sorrow
8. sorrow
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77361
1. ὑμῶν
2. su
3. of you all
4. your
5. 47710
6. R···2G·P
7. ˱of˲ you_all
8. ˱of˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77362
1. εἰς
2. eis
3. to
4. -
5. 15190
6. P·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77363
1. χαράν
2. χara
3. joy
4. -
5. 54790
6. N····AFS
7. joy
8. joy
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77364
1. γενήσεται
2. ginomai
3. will be becoming
4. -
5. 10960
6. VIFM3··S
7. ˓will_be˒ becoming
8. ˓will_be˒ becoming
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77365

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 16:16–24 The disciples’ sadness would become joy

Jesus told his disciples that soon they would not see him, but then a little later they would see him again. The disciples did not understand, so Jesus explained, comparing what would happen to a woman giving birth. She has much pain while giving birth, but the pain becomes joy after her baby is born. Soon the pain of Jesus’ leaving would become joy. At that time they would be able to ask God the Father their requests in Jesus’ name. God would give their requests and their joy would be complete.

Here are some other possible section headings:

The disciples will be sad for a short while, but then joyful

The disciples would not see Jesus for a while, but then would see him again

Paragraph 16:19–22

Jesus answered his disciples that the sorrow they had would become joy when they saw him again. He compared it to a woman’s pain while she gives birth becoming joy when her baby is born.

16:20a

Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail

I tell you^(plur) the truth, you^(plur) will soon cry and grieve,
Listen^(plur) carefully. You^(plur) will wail and be sad,

Truly, truly, I tell you: This clause introduces a statement that Jesus wants to emphasize but is also surprising. See how you translated this elsewhere, for example in 3:3 and 10:7.

you will weep and wail: The verbs weep and wail have similar meanings. Both describe the wailing and crying that people regularly did for a dead person. The repeated verbs emphasize what Jesus said: Jesus’ disciples would be very sad. Some languages have other ways to emphasize a word. For example:

you will be very sad

you will have intense grief

grief will overcome you and you will wail

Jesus was referring to his death. In some translations it is more natural to indicate this. For example:

you will weep and mourn because of what will happen to me

you: The Greek text emphasizes this pronoun to contrast it with “the world,” which the Greek also emphasizes. The pronoun is plural and refers to Jesus’ disciples.

weep: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as weep means to cry openly, to wail aloud. For example:

cry (CEV)

wail: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as wail means to express grief over someone’s death. It implies a mourning ritual. Here are other ways to translate this verb:

mourn (NRSV)

have grief

be sad (CEV)

16:20b

while the world rejoices.

but/and the unbelievers of the world will celebrate.
while the people of the world will be very happy about what has happened to me.

while the world rejoices: In contrast to the grief of Jesus’ disciples, unbelievers would experience joy at what would happen.

the world: The Greek text emphasizes this phrase to contrast it with “you” in 16:20a. The word world here, as often in John, refers to the people in the world who do not believe in Christ. For example:

unbelievers

my enemies

rejoices: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as rejoices means “to celebrate” or “to be very happy.” Here are other ways to translate this verb:

will be happy (CEV)

will be glad (REB)

16:20c

You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

You will feel pain, but then your^(plur) pain will stop and become joy.
You will suffer, but then your^(plur) suffering will become rejoicing.
You will be distressed. But your grief will change and instead you will have joy.

Verses 21–22 will compare the distress of Jesus’ disciples after his death seen in 16:20c to the distress of a woman in labor. The situations are different in some ways, but it is important to find an expression that can describe both situations. You will want to use that expression here in 16:20c to make the comparison easier to understand.

You will grieve: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as You will grieve is literally “you will be sad/sorrowful/distressed.” Here it refers to the emotional pain of losing a loved one who dies. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

you will feel distress

you will suffer

you will know/experience suffering

You: The Greek text again emphasizes this pronoun, which is plural and refers to Jesus’ disciples.

but: In the Greek, the word that the BSB has translated as but indicates a strong contrast. Here the contrast is between the disciples’ pain and that pain turning to joy. The word but also indicates something unexpected. First they would have pain, but then something unexpected would happen: their pain would become joy, the opposite of pain.

your grief will turn to joy: This clause indicates that Jesus’ disciples would first suffer and then their suffering would become joy. (The verb phrase will turn to means “will become.”) The Greek text emphasizes the phrase your grief, which refers to the sorrow Jesus’ disciples would feel when he died. The word joy refers to what they would feel when he rose from the dead. For example:

your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy (NLT)

your sadness will become joy (NCV)

your grief…joy: The Greek expression that the BSB translates as your grief refers to the disciples’ grief when Jesus would die. The word joy refers to the happiness and delight the disciples would feel when he rose from the dead. In some languages it may be natural to translate these emotions as adjectives. For example:

You will be sad, but later you will be happy. (CEV)

General Comment on 16:20c

Some languages may not have one word that they can use for both emotional pain and physical pain. In those languages it may be helpful to use different words for “pain” in 16:20c. This may help connect the disciples’ emotional pain and a woman’s physical pain when giving birth. Jesus compares the two kinds of pain in the next verse. Here is one way to do that:

You will be intensely distressed, but that emotional pain will turn into joy.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἀμὴν, ἀμὴν, λέγω ὑμῖν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι κλαύσετε καί θρηνήσετε ὑμεῖς ὁ δέ κόσμος χαρήσεται ὑμεῖς λυπηθήσεσθε ἀλλʼ ἡ λύπη ὑμῶν εἰς χαράν γενήσεται)

Jesus uses this phrase to emphasize the truth of the statement that follows. See how you translated this phrase in [1:51](../01/51.md).

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

ὁ δὲ κόσμος χαρήσεται

the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι κλαύσετε καί θρηνήσετε ὑμεῖς ὁ δέ κόσμος χαρήσεται ὑμεῖς λυπηθήσεσθε ἀλλʼ ἡ λύπη ὑμῶν εἰς χαράν γενήσεται)

Jesus uses world to refer to the people in the world who oppose God. See how you translated world [14:17](../14/17.md).

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὑμεῖς λυπηθήσεσθε

you_all you_all ˓will_be_being˒_sorrowed

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [You will have grief] or [What happens will grieve you]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἡ λύπη ὑμῶν εἰς χαρὰν γενήσεται

the sorrow ˱of˲_you_all to (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀμήν ἀμήν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι κλαύσετε καί θρηνήσετε ὑμεῖς ὁ δέ κόσμος χαρήσεται ὑμεῖς λυπηθήσεσθε ἀλλʼ ἡ λύπη ὑμῶν εἰς χαράν γενήσεται)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of sorrow and joy, you could express the same ideas in other ways. Alternate translation: [you will change from being sorrowful to being joyful]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Truly
2. -
3. 2810
4. S
5. amēn
6. I-·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. S
10. Y33
11. 77343
1. truly
2. -
3. 2810
5. amēn
6. I-·······
7. truly
8. truly
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77344
1. I am saying
2. -
3. 30040
5. legō
6. V-IPA1··S
7. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
8. ˱I˲ ˓am˒ saying
9. -
10. Y33; R77309; Person=Jesus
11. 77345
1. to you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2D·P
7. ˱to˲ you_all
8. ˱to˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77346
1. that
2. -
3. 37540
5. hoti
6. C-·······
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77347
1. you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2N·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77351
1. will be weeping
2. weeping
3. 27990
5. klaiō
6. V-IFA2··P
7. ˓will_be˒ weeping
8. ˓will_be˒ weeping
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77348
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77349
1. will be lamenting
2. -
3. 23540
5. thrēneō
6. V-IFA2··P
7. ˓will_be˒ lamenting
8. ˓will_be˒ lamenting
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77350
1. but
2. -
3. 11610
5. de
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77353
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77352
1. world
2. world
3. 28890
5. kosmos
6. N-····NMS
7. world
8. world
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77354
1. will be being elated
2. elated
3. 54630
5. χairō
6. V-IFP3··S
7. ˓will_be_being˒ elated
8. ˓will_be_being˒ elated
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77355
1. you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2N·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77356
1. will be being sorrowed
2. -
3. 30760
5. lupeō
6. V-IFP2··P
7. ˓will_be_being˒ sorrowed
8. ˓will_be_being˒ sorrowed
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77358
1. but
2. -
3. 2350
5. alla
6. C-·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77359
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77360
1. sorrow
2. -
3. 30770
5. lupē
6. N-····NFS
7. sorrow
8. sorrow
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77361
1. of you all
2. your
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2G·P
7. ˱of˲ you_all
8. ˱of˲ you_all
9. -
10. Y33; R77258
11. 77362
1. will be becoming
2. -
3. 10960
5. ginomai
6. V-IFM3··S
7. ˓will_be˒ becoming
8. ˓will_be˒ becoming
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77365
1. to
2. -
3. 15190
5. eis
6. P-·······
7. to
8. to
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77363
1. joy
2. -
3. 54790
5. χara
6. N-····AFS
7. joy
8. joy
9. -
10. Y33
11. 77364

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear YHN (JHN) 16:20