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John 16:18

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does John 16:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.
John 16:18 — American Standard Version

Context — John 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare [it] unto you.
16A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.
17[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?
18They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.
19Jesus perceived that they were desirous to ask him, and he said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, A little while, and ye behold me not, and again a little while, and ye shall see me?
20Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
21A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“They said therefore, etc.] One, and all of them; the inquiry became universal; what is this that he saith, a little while? it seems as if this phrase was the most intricate and perplexing to them; for whatever conceptions they might have of not seeing, and seeing him again, as expressive of his going from them, and returning to them, yet had no notion at all what he should mean by “a little while”: and therefore add, we cannot tell what he saith: they knew his words, but not his meaning.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“we: Mat 16:9-11; Luk 24:25; Heb 5:12 John 16:19”
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Related study paths

Read John 16 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification