JHN 16:23-33

Ask in My Name

23'In that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. [16:24] Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. [16:25] I have said these things to you in veiled speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in veiled speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. [16:26] In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; [16:27] for the Father himself has a deep affection for you, because you have had a deep affection for me and have trusted that I came from God. [16:28] I came from the Father and have come into the world, and again I am leaving the world and going to the Father.' [16:29] His disciples said, 'Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not in veiled speech! [16:30] Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we trust that you came from God.' [16:31] Jesus answered them, 'Do you now trust? [16:32] Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. [16:33] I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have crushing pressure. But take courage; I have conquered the world.'

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, the concept of asking 'in the name of' someone carried significant weight in both Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts. In Jewish tradition, invoking a name implied authority and representation, often tied to covenantal promises. In Greco-Roman society, requests made 'in the name of' a patron or benefactor were expected to be honored due to the honor-shame dynamics of patronage. Jesus' instruction to ask the Father 'in my name' would have been understood as a transfer of authority and access, akin to a trusted emissary speaking on behalf of a ruler. The shift from speaking in (proverbs or riddles) to (plainly) reflects a common rhetorical progression in philosophical teaching, where clarity replaces veiled language as disciples mature. The call to (take courage) amidst tribulation echoes Stoic ideals of steadfastness, but here it is rooted in Jesus' victory over the world, a claim that would have challenged both Jewish and Roman notions of power and triumph.

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How other translations render this

JHN 16:23

KJV: And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
BSB: In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
Koinōnos: In that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

JHN 16:24

KJV: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
BSB: Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Koinōnos: Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.

JHN 16:25

KJV: These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
BSB: I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.
Koinōnos: I have said these things to you in veiled speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in veiled speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.

JHN 16:26

KJV: At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
BSB: In that day you will ask in My name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
Koinōnos: In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;

JHN 16:27

KJV: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
BSB: For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came from God.
Koinōnos: for the Father himself has a deep affection for you, because you have had a deep affection for me and have trusted that I came from God.

JHN 16:28

KJV: I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.
BSB: I came from the Father and entered the world. In turn, I will leave the world and go to the Father.”
Koinōnos: I came from the Father and have come into the world, and again I am leaving the world and going to the Father.

JHN 16:29

KJV: His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.
BSB: His disciples said, “See, now You are speaking plainly and without figures of speech.
Koinōnos: His disciples said, 'Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not in veiled speech!

JHN 16:30

KJV: Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.
BSB: Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God.”
Koinōnos: Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we trust that you came from God.

JHN 16:31

KJV: Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?
BSB: “Do you finally believe?” Jesus replied.
Koinōnos: Jesus answered them, 'Do you now trust?

JHN 16:32

KJV: Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
BSB: “Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
Koinōnos: Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.

JHN 16:33

KJV: These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
BSB: I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
Koinōnos: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have crushing pressure. But take courage; I have conquered the world.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 16:25

allegories:The word translated 'allegories' here refers to veiled or indirect speech, like a proverb or riddle, rather than a straightforward statement. It implies a meaning that isn't immediately obvious.
but:The word translated 'but' in this context carries the meaning of 'boldness' or 'frankness.' It suggests speaking openly and without hesitation, a privilege highly valued in ancient Greek society.

JHN 16:27

loves:The word translated 'loves' here describes a strong affection or fondness, often associated with friendship or family bonds. It's a deep, personal attachment.

JHN 16:33

take courage!:The command translated 'take courage!' is an exhortation to be confident and brave, to have inner strength and resolve in the face of difficulty or fear.