5'But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, Where are you going? [16:6] But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. [16:7] Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. [16:8] And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: [16:9] concerning sin, because they do not trust in me; [16:10] concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer contemplate me; [16:11] concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. [16:12] I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [16:13] When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are coming. [16:14] He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [16:15] All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. [16:16] A little while, and you will no longer contemplate me, and again a little while, and you will see me.'
JHN 16:5-16
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, the term (paraklētos) carried legal and social connotations, often referring to an advocate or intercessor who would stand beside someone in a court of law or in a dispute. This role was crucial in a society where patronage and advocacy were central to navigating legal and social systems. When Jesus speaks of sending the , His listeners would have understood this as a promise of divine advocacy and support in their ongoing struggles. The term (elenchō), translated as 'convict,' also had legal undertones, implying a process of exposing wrongdoing or bringing truth to light, which would resonate in a culture familiar with public trials and moral accountability. The promise of the Spirit’s guidance into 'all truth' would have been particularly significant in a context where philosophical and religious truth claims were hotly debated, offering assurance of divine clarity amidst competing voices.
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How other translations render this
JHN 16:5
- KJV
- But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?
- BSB
- Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
- Koinōnos
- But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, Where are you going?
JHN 16:6
- KJV
- But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
- BSB
- Instead, your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have told you these things.
- Koinōnos
- But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
JHN 16:7
- KJV
- Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
- BSB
- But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
- Koinōnos
- Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
JHN 16:8
- KJV
- And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
- BSB
- And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:
- Koinōnos
- And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment:
JHN 16:9
- KJV
- Of sin, because they believe not on me;
- BSB
- in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me;
- Koinōnos
- concerning sin, because they do not trust in me;
JHN 16:10
- KJV
- Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
- BSB
- in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me;
- Koinōnos
- concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer contemplate me;
JHN 16:11
- KJV
- Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
- BSB
- and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.
- Koinōnos
- concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
JHN 16:12
- KJV
- I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
- BSB
- I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.
- Koinōnos
- I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
JHN 16:13
- KJV
- Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
- BSB
- However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
- Koinōnos
- When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are coming.
JHN 16:14
- KJV
- He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
- BSB
- He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.
- Koinōnos
- He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
JHN 16:15
- KJV
- All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
- BSB
- Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.
- Koinōnos
- All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
JHN 16:16
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”
- Koinōnos
- A little while, and you will no longer contemplate me, and again a little while, and you will see me.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
JHN 16:7
- the:The word translated 'counselor' here carried the sense of someone called alongside to help, advise, or advocate, much like a legal assistant or intercessor in a court of law.
JHN 16:8
- will convict:The word translated 'will convict' implies not just proving someone wrong, but also bringing them to a state of conviction or exposure, often with the aim of correction or repentance.
JHN 16:10
- no longer:The word translated 'see' here suggests a deep, contemplative observation or experience, not merely a casual glance. It implies a sustained and understanding perception.
JHN 16:13
- all.:The word translated 'all' emphasizes totality and completeness, meaning every single part or aspect without exception, rather than just a large quantity.