John 16:17

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 {G3767} said {G2036} some of {G1537} his {G846} disciples {G3101} among {G4314} themselves {G240}, What {G5101} is {G2076} this {G5124} that {G3739} he saith {G3004} unto us {G2254}, A little while {G3397}, and {G2532} ye shall {G2334} not {G3756} see {G2334} me {G3165}: and {G2532} again {G3825}, a little while {G3397}, and {G2532} ye shall see {G3700} me {G3165}: and {G2532}, Because {G3754} I {G1473} go {G5217} to {G4314} the Father {G3962}?

At this, some of the talmidim said to one another, “What is this that he’s telling us, ‘In a little while, you won’t see me; then, a little while later, you will see me’? and, ‘I am going to the Father’?”

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’?”

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?

Commentary on John 16:17 (KJV)

John 16:17 captures a moment of deep perplexity among Jesus' disciples during His final, intimate discourse with them before His crucifixion. This verse immediately follows Jesus' cryptic statement in John 16:16, where He says, "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." The disciples, still very much thinking in earthly terms, struggle to grasp the spiritual and temporal realities Jesus is describing.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' extensive Farewell Discourse (John 13-17), delivered in the Upper Room on the night of His betrayal. During this discourse, Jesus prepares His disciples for His imminent departure, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the future of their ministry. Despite His detailed explanations, the disciples' understanding is limited, as evidenced by their private questioning in this verse. They are grappling with the impending separation and the seemingly contradictory statements about seeing and not seeing Him.

Key Themes

  • Disciples' Confusion: The primary theme is the disciples' profound bewilderment. They cannot reconcile Jesus' words about His departure ("ye shall not see me") with His promise of return ("ye shall see me"), especially when linked to His going "to the Father." This highlights the human struggle to comprehend divine plans that transcend immediate experience.
  • The "Little While": This phrase, repeated twice, signifies two distinct but brief periods. The first "little while" refers to the short time until Jesus' death and burial, during which the disciples would not see Him. The second "little while" refers to the even shorter time until His resurrection appearances, when they would indeed see Him again.
  • Jesus' Departure to the Father: This phrase points to Jesus' ultimate ascension and glorification. His return to the Father is the culmination of His earthly mission and the necessary precursor for the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. This truth is central to understanding the new phase of God's relationship with humanity.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a little while" translates the Greek word mikron (μικρόν), which literally means "a small thing" or "a short time." Its repetition emphasizes the brevity of the periods Jesus is describing. It underscores that His physical absence would be temporary, leading quickly to a new form of presence and understanding. The disciples' inability to grasp this brevity, even with the direct statement, shows their focus on the immediate, tangible loss rather than the spiritual victory to come.

Related Scriptures

The disciples' confusion stems from not yet understanding the full scope of Jesus' plan. The "little while, and ye shall not see me" refers to His crucifixion and burial (John 19:30). The "little while, and ye shall see me" points directly to His resurrection appearances (John 20:19). His statement "Because I go to the Father" highlights the purpose of His departure: His ascension into heaven (Acts 1:9) and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter (John 14:26, John 16:7).

Practical Application

This verse offers comfort and insight for believers today. Just as the disciples faced a period of confusion and perceived absence before a new understanding and presence, so too do we sometimes experience moments of spiritual clarity followed by periods of doubt or difficulty in discerning God's will. The "little while" reminds us that even the most challenging seasons of life are temporary in light of God's eternal purposes. It encourages us to trust in God's timing and promises, knowing that He always has a greater plan, even when we don't fully comprehend it. Our ultimate hope rests in Christ's return and our eternal union with Him, fulfilling the promise of seeing Him again.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • John 16:16

    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.

  • John 16:5

    But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

  • Mark 9:32

    But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

  • John 16:19

    Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

  • John 14:5

    Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

  • John 12:16

    These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and [that] they had done these things unto him.

  • Mark 9:10

    And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

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