John 16:16

King James Version

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.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“A little while

King James Version (1611)
A litle while, and ye shall not see me: and againe a litle while, & ye shall see me: because I goe to the Father.

English Standard Version
"A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me."

New American Standard Bible
"A little while, and you no longer are going to see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."

New Century Version
"After a little while you will not see me, and then after a little while you will see me again."

Amplified Bible
"A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."

Legacy Standard Bible
"A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me."

Berean Standard Bible
In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me."

Contemporary English Version
Jesus told his disciples, "For a little while you won't see me, but after a while you will see me. "

Complete Jewish Bible
"In a little while, you will see me no more; then, a little while later, you will see me."

Darby Translation
A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, [because I go away to the Father].

Easy-to-Read Version
"After a short time you won't see me. Then after another short time you will see me again."

Geneva Bible (1587)
A litle while, and ye shall not see me: and againe a litle while, and ye shall see me: for I goe to the Father.

George Lamsa Translation
A little while, and you will not see me; and again a little while, and you will see me, because I am going to the Father.

Good News Translation
"In a little while you will not see me any more, and then a little while later you will see me."

Lexham English Bible
"A little while and you will see me no more, and again a little while and you will see me.

Literal Translation
A little while and you do not see Me. And again a little while , and you will see Me, because I go away to the Father.

American Standard Version
A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.

Bible in Basic English
After a little time you will see me no longer; and then again, after a little time, you will see me.

Hebrew Names Version
A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me."

International Standard Version
In a little while you will no longer see me, then in a little while you will see me again."John 7:33; 16:10;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
A LITTLE (time), and you will not see me; and again a little, and you shall see me, because I go to the Father.

Murdock Translation
A little while, and ye will not see me; and again a little while, and ye will see me; because I go to the Father.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
After a whyle, and ye shall not see me, and agayne after a whyle ye shall see me: for I go to the father.

English Revised Version
A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.

World English Bible
A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me."

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
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.

Weymouth's New Testament
"A little while and you see me no more, and again a little while and you shall see me."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A litil, and thanne ye schulen not se me; and eftsoone a litil, and ye schulen se me, for Y go to the fadir.

Update Bible Version
A little while, and you see me no more; and again a little while, and you shall see me.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

New English Translation
In a little while you will see me no longer; again after a little while, you will see me."

New King James Version
"A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father."

New Living Translation
"In a little while you won't see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again."

New Life Bible
"In a little while you will not see Me. Then in a little while you will see Me again."

New Revised Standard
"A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
A little while, and, no longer, ye behold me; and, again a little while, and ye shall see me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A little while, and now you shall not see me: and again a little while, and you shall see me: because I go to the Father.

Revised Standard Version
"A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me."

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
After a whyle ye shall not se me and agayne after a whyle ye shall se me: For I goo to the father.

Young's Literal Translation
a little while, and ye do not behold me, and again a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go away unto the Father.'

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
After a litle whyle, and ye shal not se me: and agayne after a litle whyle, and ye shal se me: for I go to the father.

Mace New Testament (1729)
Within a little while ye shall not see me: but within a little while ye shall see me again, because I am going to the father.

THE MESSAGE
"In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me."

Simplified Cowboy Version
"In a little while, I'll be gone. But I'm going to come riding back very soon."

Contextual Overview

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. 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? ¹⁸ They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 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? ²⁰ Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. ²¹ A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. ²² And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

A: John 16:5, John 16:10, John 16:17-19, John 7:33, John 12:35, John 13:33, John 14:19

a little while: John 20:19-29, John 21:1-23, Acts 1:3, Acts 10:40, Acts 10:41, 1 Corinthians 15:5-9

because: John 16:28, John 13:3, John 17:5, John 17:13, Mark 16:19, Hebrews 12:2

Reciprocal: Luke 5:35 - when Luke 17:22 - when Luke 24:44 - while John 14:28 - heard John 16:19 - A little John 16:25 - proverbs

Gill's Notes on the Bible

A little while and ye shall not see me,.... Meaning, that he should be quickly taken from them by death. And in a very little time after this, having put up a prayer for them, recorded in the next chapter, he went into the garden, where he was met by Judas with his band of men, who laid hold on him, bound him, and led him first to Annas, then to Caiaphas, and from him to Pilate, when all the disciples forsook him and fled, and saw him no more in this mortal state, except Peter and John. He took his trial, was soon condemned, and crucified, and laid in the dark tomb, and silent grave, where, for a while, he was out of sight.

And again, a little while and ye shall see me; referring either to his rising again the third day from his death, as was prophesied of, Hosea 6:2; and was typified by Jonah's lying three days and three nights in the whale's belly, when he appeared to, and was seen by his disciples, to their great joy; or else to the short time in which he was to be, and was seen by them; namely, forty days between his resurrection and ascension; a longer stay it was not necessary he should make, for he had other work to do, for himself and them:

because I go to the Father; to give an account of the work he had finished on earth; to carry in his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; to present himself to his Father on behalf of his people; to appear in the presence of God for them; to be their advocate, plead their cause, and make intercession for them, and take possession of heaven in their name; to take his place at the right hand of God in their nature; to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A little while - His death would occur in a short time. It took place the next day. See John 14:19.

Ye shall not see me - That is, he would be concealed from their view in the tomb.

And again a little while - After three days he would rise again and appear to their view.

Because I go ... - Because it is a part of the plan that I should ascend to God, it is necessary that I should rise from the grave, and then you will see me, and have evidence that I am still your Friend. Compare John 7:33. Here are three important events foretold for the consolation of the disciples; yet they were stated in such a manner that, in their circumstances and with their prejudices, it appeared difficult to understand him.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 16:16. A little while — He had but a few hours to live.

And ye shall not see me — I shall be hidden from your view in the grave.

Again a little while — In three days after my death:

Ye shall see me — I will rise again, and show myself to you. Or, As I am going by my ascension to the Father, in a short time, ye shall see me personally no more; but in a little while I shall pour out my Spirit upon you, and others through your ministry; and ye shall see me virtually in the great and wonderful work which shall then take place in the hearts and lives of men.

This may also refer to his coming again to destroy the Jewish state, and also to judge the world; but how can this latter be said to be in a little while? Because a thousand years are but as a day in the sight of God: Psalms 90:4.