John 16:18 (DBY)

Passage

They said therefore, What is this which he says [of] the little while? We do not know [of] what he speaks.

Nearby Context

John 16:16 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].

John 16:17 [Some] of his disciples therefore said to one another, What is this he says to us, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me, and, Because I go away to the Father?

John 16:18 They said therefore, What is this which he says [of] the little while? We do not know [of] what he speaks.

John 16:19 Jesus knew therefore that they desired to demand of him, and said to them, Do ye inquire of this among yourselves that I said, A little while and ye do not behold me; and again a little while and ye shall see me?

John 16:20 Verily, verily, I say to you, that ye shall weep and lament, ye, but the world shall rejoice; and ye will be grieved, but your grief shall be turned to joy.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "said", "therefore", "says", "little", and "speaks". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "said" and "therefore", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 17's "Some of his disciples therefore said to..." into verse 19's "Jesus knew therefore that they desired to...", so "said" and "therefore" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "said" and "therefore" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.