18
Soοὖνthey were saying,ἔλεγον“WhatΤίisἐστινthisτοῦτοthatὃhe says,λέγει‘a little while’?μικρόνWe do notοὐκknowοἴδαμενwhatτίhe is talking about.”λαλεῖ
John 16:18
Study it in the app“So they were saying, “What is this that he says, ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.””
With the Greek beneath
John 16:18, word by word
- they were sayingἔλεγονelegon
say
To express something in words to others.
Where else “elegon” appears- isἐστινestin
be
To be: says who or what something is.
Where else “estin” appears- ‘a little while’μικρόνmikron
little while
A short amount, or a brief time that soon passes.
Where else “mikron” appears- knowοἴδαμενoidamen
know
To hold a fact as certain, to be aware of it.
Where else “oidamen” appears- he is talking aboutλαλεῖlalei
speak
To use voice and words to communicate with others.
Where else “lalei” appears
The context
17So 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 to the Father’?”
18 · This verse (above)
19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see me; and again a little while, and you will see me’?
To study John 16 in a group
1. What it says
Jesus says it is to their advantage that he goes away. What does he say the Spirit of truth will do when he comes? (vv. 7-15)
2. What it means
Jesus uses the picture of a woman giving birth to speak of sorrow and joy (vv. 20-22). What does he want his disciples to understand?
3. How I live it
Jesus says, “In the world you have affliction, but take courage” (v. 33). What difficulty today can you face with that peace?