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Yhn Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21
Yhn 16 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31 V32 V33
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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) This got his followers asking each other, “What’s all this about seeing him for not much longer, and then seeing him again after a while? And why does he say he’s going to the father?”![]()
OET-LV Therefore the apprentices/followers of of_him said to one_another:
What is this that he_is_saying to_us:
A_little time and you_all_are_ not _observing me, and again a_little time and you_all_will_be_seeing me, and Because I_am_going to the father?
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SR-GNT Εἶπαν οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, “Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν, ‘Μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με· καί Ὅτι ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα’;” ‡
(Eipan oun ek tōn mathaʸtōn autou pros allaʸlous, “Ti estin touto ho legei haʸmin, ‘Mikron kai ou theōreite me, kai palin mikron kai opsesthe me; kai Hoti hupagō pros ton Patera’;”)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while and you do not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?”
UST Some of his disciples then asked one another, “What does Jesus mean when he says to us, ‘After a short time you will not see me, and after a short time, you will see me again’? And what does he mean when he says, ‘Because I am going back to my Father’?”
BSB Then [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’?”
MSB Then [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’?”
BLB Therefore some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that He says to us, 'A little while and you do not behold Me; and again a little while and you will see Me' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?"
AICNT So some of the disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’; and, ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
OEB At this some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying to us “In a little while you will not see me, and then in a little while you will see me indeed”; and by saying “Because I am going to the Father”?
WEBBE Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?”
WMBB (Same as above)
NET Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What is the meaning of what he is saying, ‘In a little while you will not see me; again after a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?”
LSV Therefore [some] of His disciples said to one another, “What is this that He says to us, A little while, and you do not behold Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me, and, Because I go away to the Father?”
FBV Some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean, ‘In a little while you won't see me, but a little while after that you will see me’? and ‘For I'm going to the Father’?”
TCNT Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘In a little while you will not see me; and again after a little while, you will see me,’ and, ‘for I am going to the Father’?”
T4T So some of us said to each other, “What does he mean by saying ‘After a short time you will not see me,’ and ‘A short time after that you will see me again’? And what does he mean by ‘Because I am going back to my Father’?”
LEB So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going away to the Father’?”
BBE So some of the disciples said one to another, What is this he is saying, After a little time, you will see me no longer; and then again, after a little time, you will see me? and, I am going to the Father?
Moff So some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by telling us, 'In a little while, you will behold me no longer; then, after a little, you shall see me'? and, 'I go to the Father'?"
Wymth Some of His disciples therefore said to one another, "What does this mean which He is telling us, `A little while and you do not see me, and again a little while and you shall see me,' and `Because I am going to the Father'?"
ASV Some of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
DRA Then some of the disciples said one to another: What is this that he saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see me; and again a little while, and you shall see me, and, because I go to the Father?
YLT Therefore said [some] of his disciples one to another, 'What is this that he saith to us, A little while, and ye do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away unto the Father?'
Drby [Some] of his disciples therefore said to one another, What is this he says to us, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away to the Father?
RV Some of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye behold me not; and again a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
(Some of his disciples therefore said one to another, What is this that he saith/says unto us, A little while, and ye/you_all behold me not; and again a little while, and ye/you_all shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? )
SLT Then said of his disciples to one another, What is this which he says to you, A little, and ye see me not: and again, a little, and ye shall see me: and, Because I retire to my Father?
Wbstr Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith to us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
KJB-1769 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
(Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith/says unto us, A little while, and ye/you_all shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye/you_all shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? )
KJB-1611 Then saide some of his disciples among themselues, What is this that he saith vnto vs, A litle while, and ye shal not see me: and againe, a litle while, and ye shall see me: and, because I goe to the Father?
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)
Bshps Then sayde some of his disciples betwene them selues: What is this that he saith vnto vs, after a whyle, & ye shal not see me, and againe, after a whyle ye shal see me: and, that I go to the father?
(Then said some of his disciples between themselves: What is this that he saith/says unto us, after a while, and ye/you_all shall not see me, and again, after a while ye/you_all shall see me: and, that I go to the father?)
Gnva Then said some of his disciples among them selues, What is this that he saieth vnto vs, A litle while, and ye shall not see me, and againe, a litle while, and ye shall see me, and, For I goe to the Father.
(Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith/says unto us, A little while, and ye/you_all shall not see me, and again, a little while, and ye/you_all shall see me, and, For I go to the Father. )
Cvdl The saide some of his disciples amonge themselues: What is this that he sayeth vnto vs, After a litle whyle, and ye shal not se me: & agayne after a litle whyle, & ye shal se me: for I go to the father?
(The said some of his disciples among themselves: What is this that he saith/says unto us, After a little while, and ye/you_all shall not see me: and again after a little while, and ye/you_all shall see me: for I go to the father?)
TNT Then sayd some of his disciples bitwene them selves: what is this that he sayth vnto vs after a whyle ye shall not se me and agayne after a whyle ye shall se me: and that I go to the father.
(Then said some of his disciples bitwene themselves: what is this that he saith/says unto us after a while ye/you_all shall not see me and again after a while ye/you_all shall see me: and that I go to the father. )
Wycl Therfor summe of hise disciplis seiden togidere, What is this thing that he seith to vs, A litil, and ye schulen not se me; and eftsoone a litil, and ye schulen se me, for Y go to the fadir?
(Therefore some of his disciples said together, What is this thing that he saith/says to us, A little, and ye/you_all should not see me; and soon_afterward a little, and ye/you_all should see me, for I go to the father?)
Luth Da sprachen etliche unter seinen Jüngern untereinander: Was ist das, was er saget zu uns: Über ein so werdet ihr mich nicht sehen, und aber über ein kleines, so werdet ihr mich sehen, und daß ich zum Vater gehe?
(So said several under his disciples each_other: What is this/that, what/which he says to/for us/to_us/ourselves: Over a so become you(pl)/their/her me not see, and but above a smalls, so become you(pl)/their/her me see, and that I for_the father go?)
ClVg Dixerunt ergo ex discipulis ejus ad invicem: Quid est hoc quod dicit nobis: Modicum, et non videbitis me; et iterum modicum, et videbitis me, et quia vado ad Patrem?
(They_said therefore from students his to each_other: What it_is this that he_says us: Modicum, and not/no you(pl)_will_see me; and again modicum, and you(pl)_will_see me, and because I_go to Father? )
UGNT εἶπαν οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν, μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με; καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; καί ὅτι ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα?
(eipan oun ek tōn mathaʸtōn autou pros allaʸlous, ti estin touto ho legei haʸmin, mikron kai ou theōreite me; kai palin mikron kai opsesthe me; kai hoti hupagō pros ton Patera?)
SBL-GNT εἶπαν οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους· Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν· Μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; καί· ⸀Ὅτι ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα;
(eipan oun ek tōn mathaʸtōn autou pros allaʸlous; Ti estin touto ho legei haʸmin; Mikron kai ou theōreite me, kai palin mikron kai opsesthe me; kai; ⸀Hoti hupagō pros ton patera;)
RP-GNT Εἶπον οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν, Μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; Καὶ ὅτι Ἐγὼ ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα;
(Eipon oun ek tōn mathaʸtōn autou pros allaʸlous, Ti estin touto ho legei haʸmin, Mikron kai ou theōreite me, kai palin mikron kai opsesthe me; Kai hoti Egō hupagō pros ton patera;)
TC-GNT [fn]Εἶπον οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους, Τί ἐστι τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν, Μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; καί, Ὅτι [fn]ἐγὼ ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα;
(Eipon oun ek tōn mathaʸtōn autou pros allaʸlous, Ti esti touto ho legei haʸmin, Mikron kai ou theōreite me, kai palin mikron kai opsesthe me; kai, Hoti egō hupagō pros ton patera; )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
16:16-33 a little while: This refrain reassured the disciples that their separation from Jesus would be short-lived.
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
In this paragraph, Jesus warned his disciples that in a little while they would no longer see him. After that, they would see him again. The disciples asked one another what he meant.
Then 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’?”: The disciples still did not understand that Jesus would be killed the next day and then rise from the dead. They talked among themselves and wondered what he meant. This verse contains a direct quotation (what Jesus just said) inside a direct quotation (what the disciples said). In some languages it is more natural to use an indirect quotation or quotations. See the General Comment at the end of 16:17a–e.
Then some of His disciples asked one another,
Therefore his disciples discussed among themselves, saying,
So his disciples asked each other
Then some of His disciples asked one another: Jesus’ disciples discussed what Jesus had just said. They asked one another what they thought Jesus meant. Because they used questions that asked for an answer, in some languages it is natural to use the word “ask.” For example:
Some of his disciples asked among themselves (GNT)
Some of the disciples asked each other (NLT)
“Why is He telling us,
“What did he mean when he said,
what Jesus meant by saying
Why is He telling us: The disciples wondered about the meaning of Jesus’ words in 16:16a–b and 16:10a. Introduce the quotation of these words in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
What does he mean when he says (NLT)
What does he mean by this (REB)
What is the meaning of what he is saying (NET)
‘In a little while you will not see Me,
‘After a little while you(plur) will not be able to see me,’
that soon he would not be with them
In a little while you will not see Me: Translate this as you did 16:16a.
and then after a little while you will see Me’
and ‘Then after a little while longer and you(plur) will see me again’?
and then soon after that, he would be back again with,them.
and then after a little while you will see Me: Translate this as you did 16:16b.
and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”
And what did he mean by saying ‘I am going to God the Father’?”
And they asked what he meant by his saying that he was going to God his Father.
Because I am going to the Father: The disciples also did not understand what Christ said to them in 16:10, that he would go back to God. Translate this clause so that the reference to 16:10 is clear.
In some languages it may be natural to translate at least one direct quotation of Jesus’ words as an indirect quotation. For example:
Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by telling us that in a little while we will no longer see him, and then in another little while we will see him? What does he mean by saying that he is going to the Father?”
Some of his disciples said to each other, “What does he mean? He tells us that in a little while we won’t see him. Then he tells us that in a little while we will see him again and that he’s going to the Father.” (GW)
Some of his disciples asked among themselves, “What does this mean? He tells us that in a little while we will not see him, and then a little while later we will see him; and he also says, ‘It is because I am going to the Father.’ ” (GNT)
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / quotesinquotes
τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν, μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με; καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; καί ὅτι ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπαν Οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρός ἀλλήλους Τί ἐστίν τοῦτο ὅ λέγει ἡμῖν Μικρόν καί οὒ θεωρεῖτε μέ καί πάλιν μικρόν καί ὄψεσθε μέ καί Ὅτι ὑπάγω πρός τόν Πατέρα)
If the direct quotation inside a direct quotation would be confusing in your language, you could translate the second direct quotation as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: [What is this that he says to us when he says that in a little while we will not see him, and again a little while and we will see him, and also says that it is because he goes to the Father]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπαν Οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρός ἀλλήλους Τί ἐστίν τοῦτο ὅ λέγει ἡμῖν Μικρόν καί οὒ θεωρεῖτε μέ καί πάλιν μικρόν καί ὄψεσθε μέ καί Ὅτι ὑπάγω πρός τόν Πατέρα)
The disciples use this clause to indicate that they do not understand what Jesus has just said about his death that will happen soon. Use the most natural way in your language to express this confusion. Alternate translation: [What is he talking about when he says to us]
μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με; καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπαν Οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρός ἀλλήλους Τί ἐστίν τοῦτο ὅ λέγει ἡμῖν Μικρόν καί οὒ θεωρεῖτε μέ καί πάλιν μικρόν καί ὄψεσθε μέ καί Ὅτι ὑπάγω πρός τόν Πατέρα)
See how you translated the similar statement in the previous verse.
ὅτι ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν Πατέρα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπαν Οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρός ἀλλήλους Τί ἐστίν τοῦτο ὅ λέγει ἡμῖν Μικρόν καί οὒ θεωρεῖτε μέ καί πάλιν μικρόν καί ὄψεσθε μέ καί Ὅτι ὑπάγω πρός τόν Πατέρα)
See how you translated this statement in [16:10](../16/10.md).
Note 3 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples
τὸν Πατέρα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εἶπαν Οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρός ἀλλήλους Τί ἐστίν τοῦτο ὅ λέγει ἡμῖν Μικρόν καί οὒ θεωρεῖτε μέ καί πάλιν μικρόν καί ὄψεσθε μέ καί Ὅτι ὑπάγω πρός τόν Πατέρα)
Father is an important title for God.

Matthew 26-27; Mark 14-15; Luke 22-23; John 13-19
On the Thursday before he was crucified, Jesus had arranged to share the Passover meal with his disciples in an upper room, traditionally thought to be located in the Essene Quarter of Jerusalem. After they finished the meal, they went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus often met with his disciples. There Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ own disciples, betrayed him to soldiers sent from the High Priest, and they took Jesus to the High Priest’s residence. In the morning the leading priests and teachers of the law put Jesus on trial and found him guilty of blasphemy. The council sent Jesus to stand trial for treason before the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who resided at the Praetorium while in Jerusalem. The Praetorium was likely located at the former residence of Herod the Great, who had died over 30 years earlier. When Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent him to Herod Antipas, who had jurisdiction over Galilee. But when Jesus gave no answer to Herod’s many questions, Herod and his soldiers sent him back to Pilate, who conceded to the people’s demands that Jesus be crucified. Jesus was forced to carry his cross out of the city gate to Golgotha, meaning Skull Hill, referring to what may have been a small unquarried hill in the middle of an old quarry just outside the gate. After Jesus was unable to carry his cross any further, a man named Simon from Cyrene was forced to carry it for him. There at Golgotha they crucified Jesus. After Jesus died, his body was hurriedly taken down before nightfall and placed in a newly cut, rock tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Jewish high council. This tomb was likely located at the perimeter of the old quarry.