John 16:5

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} now {G3568} I go my way {G5217} to {G4314} him that sent {G3992} me {G3165}; and {G2532} none {G3762} of {G1537} you {G5216} asketh {G2065} me {G3165}, Whither {G4226} goest thou {G5217}?

Complete Jewish Bible

But now I am going to the One who sent me.

“Not one of you is asking me, ‘Where are you going?’

Berean Standard Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
John 16:5 captures a profound moment within Jesus' Farewell Discourse, revealing His clear understanding of His imminent return to the Father and the contrasting bewilderment of His disciples. Despite previous hints of His departure, their overwhelming sorrow at the prospect of His physical absence prevents them from inquiring about the divine purpose or destination of His journey, highlighting their present emotional state over a deeper spiritual comprehension of God's redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the extensive Farewell Discourse (John 13-17), delivered by Jesus to His disciples during the Last Supper, just hours before His arrest and crucifixion. Prior to this, Jesus has already spoken of His impending betrayal (John 13:21-30) and Peter's denial (John 13:36-38). He has also begun to prepare them for His physical departure, stating, "Whither I go, ye cannot come" ([John 13:33](/john/13-33 "Jesus' Departure and the Disciples' Inability to Follow")). In the immediate preceding verses of John 16, Jesus warns them explicitly about the persecution they will face after His departure, telling them He has spoken these things so they will not "be offended" ([John 16:1](/john/16-1 "Jesus Warns of Persecution")). He then expresses surprise that, despite these weighty revelations and the profound implications of His mission, none of them inquire about the *purpose* or *destination* of His journey back to the Father, being instead consumed by grief.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Jerusalem during the Passover festival, a time imbued with messianic expectations. Jewish tradition anticipated a conquering Messiah who would establish an earthly kingdom, not one who would suffer and depart. The disciples, deeply rooted in these expectations, struggled to reconcile Jesus' teachings about suffering and departure with their understanding of the Messiah. Their cultural and theological framework did not readily accommodate a spiritual departure followed by the sending of a divine Helper. Their focus on the immediate, tangible presence of Jesus as their leader and teacher made His talk of "going away" deeply unsettling and incomprehensible, leading to a sorrow that overshadowed their ability to ask clarifying questions about His divine trajectory.
* **Key Themes:** John 16:5 contributes significantly to several major themes in the Gospel of John. Firstly, it underscores **Jesus' Divine Commission and Return**, emphasizing that His journey is not an abandonment but a purposeful return to "him that sent me," highlighting His divine origin and the completion of His earthly mission, which culminates in His ascension. Secondly, it vividly portrays the **Disciples' Lack of Understanding and Preoccupation with Sorrow**. Overwhelmed by grief and the immediate prospect of losing Jesus, they fail to grasp the bigger picture of His departure, which is necessary for the next phase of God's redemptive plan, including the coming of the [Holy Spirit, the Comforter](/john/16-7 "The Promise of the Holy Spirit"). This sorrow blinds them to the deeper theological significance and the benefits that would follow His return to the Father. Lastly, the verse highlights **The Purposeful Nature of Jesus' Journey**. His departure is presented not as an end but as a deliberate, divinely ordained step in God's plan, essential for Him to [prepare a place for them](/john/14-2 "Jesus Prepares a Place for His Disciples") and to send the Spirit, thereby continuing His work in a new, more profound way.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **now (Greek, _nŷn'_):** This particle denotes a present time, but in this context, it carries a sense of immediacy and a critical turning point. Jesus is signaling that the time for His departure, previously hinted at, is no longer a distant possibility but an imminent reality. It marks a transition from abstract discussion to a concrete, impending event.
* **go my way (Greek, _hypágō'_):** This verb signifies "to go away" or "to depart," often implying a purposeful, deliberate movement. Unlike a casual stroll, _hypágō_ in this context conveys Jesus' intentional and divinely ordained journey back to the Father. It underscores the active nature of His departure, not a passive or forced removal, but a willed fulfillment of His mission.
* **sent (Greek, _pémpō'_):** This verb means "to dispatch" or "to send," particularly on a temporary errand. When Jesus refers to "him that sent me," He emphasizes His divine commission and the Father's initiative in His earthly ministry. It reinforces the Father-Son relationship and the unity of their purpose, framing Jesus' departure as the completion of the Father's will for Him on earth.
* **asketh (Greek, _erōtáō'_):** While it can mean "to interrogate," in this context, _erōtáō_ implies "to request" or "to inquire." The significance here is not merely the absence of a question, but the absence of a *purposeful inquiry* into the "whither" or "why" of Jesus' departure. It highlights the disciples' lack of curiosity about the *meaning* and *implications* of His journey, revealing their preoccupation with their own sorrow.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But now I go my way to him that sent me;":** This clause serves as Jesus' direct declaration of His imminent and purposeful departure. The "But now" (G1161, G3568) emphasizes the immediate and critical nature of this transition. "I go my way" (G5217) signifies His deliberate, divinely ordained journey. The destination, "to him that sent me" (G4314 G3992 G3165), unequivocally points to God the Father, underscoring Jesus' divine origin, His completed mission on earth, and His return to the glory from which He came. This statement is a profound affirmation of His identity and the fulfillment of His redemptive purpose.
* **"and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?":** This second clause reveals the disciples' spiritual and emotional state. The conjunction "and" (G2532) introduces a stark contrast to Jesus' clear declaration. "None of you" (G3762 G1537 G5216) highlights their collective failure to inquire. The verb "asketh" (G2065) implies a deeper inquiry, not just a casual question. The rhetorical question, "Whither goest thou?" (G4226 G5217), is what Jesus expected them to ask. Their silence indicates their preoccupation with the sorrow of His leaving (as stated in John 16:6) rather than a curiosity about the divine plan or the benefits that would follow His return to the Father, such as the coming of the Holy Spirit. Their grief had blinded them to the greater theological significance of His departure.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Contrast** to highlight the disparity between Jesus' clear understanding of His divine mission and the disciples' confusion and sorrow. Jesus' direct declaration ("I go my way to him that sent me") stands in stark opposition to the disciples' silence and lack of inquiry. The rhetorical nature of the question "Whither goest thou?" functions as a form of **Apostrophe**, as Jesus addresses His disciples directly, lamenting their failure to pose this crucial question. This also serves as a subtle form of **Irony**, as Jesus, who knows all things, expresses surprise at their lack of insight, drawing attention to their spiritual dullness at this critical juncture. Furthermore, the verse contains **Foreshadowing**, as Jesus' "going away" anticipates His future ascension and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit, which He will elaborate on later in the discourse.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
John 16:5 is a pivotal statement that encapsulates the divine necessity of Jesus' departure for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. It underscores the profound relationship between the Father and the Son, where Jesus' entire earthly ministry is presented as a mission from the Father, culminating in His return to Him. This departure is not an abandonment but a strategic move in the divine economy, essential for the next phase of salvation history: the coming of the Holy Spirit, the establishment of the Church, and the ongoing work of redemption. The disciples' inability to grasp this highlights a common human tendency to focus on immediate loss rather than the greater, often unseen, purposes of God. Their sorrow, though understandable, prevented them from seeing the glorious implications of Jesus' return to the Father's side.

* [John 14:2-3](/john/14-2-3 "Jesus Prepares a Place for His Disciples")
* [John 16:7](/john/16-7 "The Necessity of Jesus' Departure for the Spirit's Coming")
* [Acts 1:9-11](/acts/1-9-11 "The Ascension of Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
John 16:5 offers a profound and timeless lesson for believers today. Like the disciples, we often find ourselves so consumed by our immediate concerns, fears, or perceived losses that we fail to grasp the deeper, more expansive purposes of God. When life takes an unexpected turn, or when we face circumstances that feel like a "departure" from our comfort or expectations, our natural inclination might be to focus on the pain of the transition rather than to inquire about God's sovereign hand at work. This verse challenges us to look beyond our present anxieties and cultivate a posture of trust and spiritual curiosity. Jesus' departure, though initially a source of profound grief for His disciples, was ultimately for their greater good, leading to the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit and the continuation of His redemptive work through them. We are called to trust that even in our perceived losses or periods of uncertainty, God is moving purposefully, preparing us for new blessings, and advancing His kingdom in ways we might not yet comprehend.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do our immediate emotions, like sorrow or fear, sometimes prevent us from seeking a deeper understanding of God's greater plans in our lives?**
* **What "departures" or difficult transitions in your life might God be using to bring about a greater good or a new blessing that is not yet apparent?**
* **How can we cultivate a posture of inquiry and trust, actively seeking God's purpose and direction, even when His path seems unclear or involves perceived difficulties?**

### FAQ
**Why didn't the disciples ask "Whither goest thou?" if Jesus had already spoken of His departure?**

Answer: The disciples' failure to ask "Whither goest thou?" despite Jesus' prior hints about His departure (e.g., [John 13:33](/john/13-33 "Jesus' Departure and the Disciples' Inability to Follow")) stems primarily from their overwhelming sorrow and their earthly expectations. In [John 16:6](/john/16-6 "Disciples' Grief Overwhelms Them"), Jesus explicitly states, "But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." Their grief at the prospect of losing His physical presence, combined with their deeply ingrained expectation of an earthly, conquering Messiah, blinded them to the spiritual and theological implications of His departure. They were focused on the *loss* of their teacher and leader, not the *purpose* or *destination* of His divine journey. Their minds were not yet prepared to grasp the concept of His return to the Father's glory or the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit, which would inaugurate a new phase of God's work.

**What is the significance of Jesus going "to him that sent me"?**

Answer: Jesus' declaration that He is going "to him that sent me" is profoundly significant, emphasizing several key theological truths. Firstly, it underscores His **divine origin and mission**. Jesus consistently presented Himself as the one sent by the Father, acting in perfect unity with the Father's will (e.g., [John 5:30](/john/5-30 "Jesus Does the Father's Will"), [John 8:42](/john/8-42 "Jesus Came from God")). His return signifies the **completion of His earthly task**, having perfectly fulfilled the Father's redemptive plan. Secondly, it highlights the **Father-Son relationship**, affirming their eternal communion and shared purpose. His departure is not an end but a return to the glory He shared with the Father before the world began ([John 17:5](/john/17-5 "Jesus Prays for Glorification")). This return is also **necessary for the next phase of salvation history**, as it is a prerequisite for Him to [send the Holy Spirit](/john/16-7 "The Promise of the Holy Spirit"), who will continue His work in and through believers.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
John 16:5, though seemingly a lament over the disciples' lack of understanding, is deeply Christ-centered, revealing the necessary trajectory of Jesus' redemptive work. His "going my way to him that sent me" is not merely a physical departure but the fulfillment of His divine mission, culminating in His ascension to the Father's right hand. This ascent inaugurates His eternal high priesthood, where He continually intercedes for His people ([Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14-16 "Jesus, Our Great High Priest")). Furthermore, His departure was the essential prerequisite for the sending of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would empower His disciples for witness ([Acts 1:8](/acts/1-8 "The Holy Spirit Empowers Witnesses")) and guide them into all truth ([John 16:13](/john/16-13 "The Spirit of Truth Guides Believers")). Thus, Jesus' "going away" was not an abandonment but a strategic move in God's plan to draw all people to Himself through the Spirit-empowered church. It also signifies His role in preparing a place for believers in His Father's house ([John 14:2-3](/john/14-2-3 "Jesus Prepares a Place for His Disciples")), assuring them of a future with Him. Ultimately, this verse points to the glorious reality that Jesus' departure was for the greater good of His disciples and the world, enabling the continued expansion of His kingdom until His promised return ([Acts 1:11](/acts/1-11 "The Promise of Jesus' Return")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 13:36

¶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

John 7:33

Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and [then] I go unto him that sent me.

John 16:28

¶ I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Ephesians 4:7

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

John 17:4

I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 14:4

¶ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.