John 16:21 (WEB)

Passage

A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.

Nearby Context

John 16:19 Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’

John 16:20 Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

John 16:21 A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world.

John 16:22 Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

John 16:23 “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "woman", "gives", "birth", "sorrow", "time", "come", and "delivered". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "woman", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "Most certainly I tell you that you..." into verse 22's "Therefore you now have sorrow but I...", so "world" and "woman" 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 "world" and "woman" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.