Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, November 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 27 / Ordinary 32
the Week of Proper 27 / Ordinary 32
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
John 16:18
This verse is not available in the MSG!
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Dictionaries:
- AmericanParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
They said, “What is this he is saying, ‘A little while’
They said, “What is this he is saying, ‘A little while’
King James Version (1611)
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A litle while? we cannot tell what he saith.
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A litle while? we cannot tell what he saith.
King James Version
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
English Standard Version
So they were saying, "What does he mean by ‘a little while' ? We do not know what he is talking about."
So they were saying, "What does he mean by ‘a little while' ? We do not know what he is talking about."
New American Standard Bible
So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
New Century Version
They also asked, "What does he mean by ‘a little while' ? We don't understand what he is saying."
They also asked, "What does he mean by ‘a little while' ? We don't understand what he is saying."
Amplified Bible
So they were saying, "What does He mean when He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
So they were saying, "What does He mean when He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
So they were saying, "What is this that He says, 'A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
Legacy Standard Bible
So they were saying, "What is this that He says, ‘A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
So they were saying, "What is this that He says, ‘A little while'? We do not know what He is talking about."
Berean Standard Bible
They kept asking, "Why is He saying, 'a little while'? We do not understand what He is saying."
They kept asking, "Why is He saying, 'a little while'? We do not understand what He is saying."
Contemporary English Version
What is this ‘little while' that he is talking about? We don't know what he means."
What is this ‘little while' that he is talking about? We don't know what he means."
Complete Jewish Bible
They went on saying, "What is this ‘little while'? We don't understand what he's talking about."
They went on saying, "What is this ‘little while'? We don't understand what he's talking about."
Darby Translation
They said therefore, What is this which he says [of] the little while? We do not know [of] what he speaks.
They said therefore, What is this which he says [of] the little while? We do not know [of] what he speaks.
Easy-to-Read Version
They also asked, "What does he mean by ‘a short time'? We don't understand what he is saying."
They also asked, "What does he mean by ‘a short time'? We don't understand what he is saying."
Geneva Bible (1587)
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A litle while? we know not what he sayeth.
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A litle while? we know not what he sayeth.
George Lamsa Translation
And they said, What is this that he said, A little while? We cannot understand what he talks about.
And they said, What is this that he said, A little while? We cannot understand what he talks about.
Good News Translation
What does this ‘a little while' mean? We don't know what he is talking about!"
What does this ‘a little while' mean? We don't know what he is talking about!"
Lexham English Bible
So they kept on saying, "What is this that he is saying, ‘A little while'? We do not understand what he is speaking about!"
So they kept on saying, "What is this that he is saying, ‘A little while'? We do not understand what he is speaking about!"
Literal Translation
Then they said, What is this that He says, The little? We do not know what He says.
Then they said, What is this that He says, The little? We do not know what He says.
American Standard Version
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.
Bible in Basic English
So they said again and again, What is this he is saying, A little time? His words are not clear to us.
So they said again and again, What is this he is saying, A little time? His words are not clear to us.
Hebrew Names Version
They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while?' We don't know what he is saying."
They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while?' We don't know what he is saying."
International Standard Version
They kept saying, "What is this 'in a little while' that he keeps talking about? We don't know what he means."
They kept saying, "What is this 'in a little while' that he keeps talking about? We don't know what he means."
Etheridge Translation
And they said, What is this little (time of) which he hath spoken?
And they said, What is this little (time of) which he hath spoken?
Murdock Translation
And they said: What is this little while, of which he speaketh? We know not what he saith.
And they said: What is this little while, of which he speaketh? We know not what he saith.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
They sayde therefore: What is this that he saith, after a whyle? we can not tell what he saith.
They sayde therefore: What is this that he saith, after a whyle? we can not tell what he saith.
English Revised Version
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he saith.
World English Bible
They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while?' We don't know what he is saying."
They said therefore, "What is this that he says, 'A little while?' We don't know what he is saying."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
They said therefore, What is this little while that he speaketh of? We understand not what he saith.
They said therefore, What is this little while that he speaketh of? We understand not what he saith.
Weymouth's New Testament
So they asked one another repeatedly, "What can that `little while' mean which He speaks of? We do not understand His words."
So they asked one another repeatedly, "What can that `little while' mean which He speaks of? We do not understand His words."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor thei seiden, What is this that he seith to vs, A litil? we witen not what he spekith.
Therfor thei seiden, What is this that he seith to vs, A litil? we witen not what he spekith.
Update Bible Version
They said therefore, What is this that he says, A little while? We don't know what he says.
They said therefore, What is this that he says, A little while? We don't know what he says.
Webster's Bible Translation
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
New English Translation
So they kept on repeating, "What is the meaning of what he says, ‘In a little while'? We do not understand what he is talking about."
So they kept on repeating, "What is the meaning of what he says, ‘In a little while'? We do not understand what he is talking about."
New King James Version
They said therefore, "What is this that He says, "A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."
They said therefore, "What is this that He says, "A little while'? We do not know what He is saying."
New Living Translation
And what does he mean by ‘a little while'? We don't understand."
And what does he mean by ‘a little while'? We don't understand."
New Life Bible
So they said, "What is He trying to tell us by saying, ‘A little while' ? We do not know what He is talking about."
So they said, "What is He trying to tell us by saying, ‘A little while' ? We do not know what He is talking about."
New Revised Standard
They said, "What does he mean by this ‘a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about."
They said, "What does he mean by this ‘a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
They were saying, therefore - What is this which he saith: - A little while? We know not what he is saying.
They were saying, therefore - What is this which he saith: - A little while? We know not what he is saying.
Douay-Rheims Bible
They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he speaketh.
They said therefore: What is this that he saith, A little while? We know not what he speaketh.
Revised Standard Version
They said, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he means."
They said, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We do not know what he means."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
They sayd therfore: what is this that he sayth after a whyle? we canot tell what he sayth.
They sayd therfore: what is this that he sayth after a whyle? we canot tell what he sayth.
Young's Literal Translation
they said then, `What is this he saith -- the little while? we have not known what he saith.'
they said then, `What is this he saith -- the little while? we have not known what he saith.'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde they: What is this, that he sayeth: After a litle whyle? We can not tell what he sayeth.
Then sayde they: What is this, that he sayeth: After a litle whyle? We can not tell what he sayeth.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for, said they, we cannot comprehend the meaning of that expression, "within a little while?"
for, said they, we cannot comprehend the meaning of that expression, "within a little while?"
Simplified Cowboy Version
And what is 'a little while'? We don't understand any of this."
And what is 'a little while'? We don't understand any of this."
Contextual Overview
16 "In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me." 17That stirred up a hornet's nest of questions among the disciples: "What's he talking about: ‘In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? And, ‘Because I'm on my way to the Father'? What is this ‘day or so'? We don't know what he's talking about." 19Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, "Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you're not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me'? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness. 21"When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions. "This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks! "I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father." His disciples said, "Finally! You're giving it to us straight, in plain talk—no more figures of speech. Now we know that you know everything—it all comes together in you. You won't have to put up with our questions anymore. We're convinced you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you finally believe? In fact, you're about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I'm not abandoned. The Father is with me. I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
we: Matthew 16:9-11, Luke 24:25, Hebrews 5:12
Reciprocal: Psalms 73:16 - too painful for me Luke 9:45 - General John 7:36 - manner John 14:22 - how
Gill's Notes on the Bible
They said therefore,.... 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.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse John 16:18. What is this that he saith — They knew from what he had said that he was to die, but knew not what he meant by their seeing him again in a little time.
