John 16:20

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John 16:18–22 · Berean Standard Bible

18 They kept asking, “Why is He saying, ‘a little while’? We do not understand what He is saying.”

19 Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’?

20 Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

21 A woman has pain in childbirth because her time has come; but when she brings forth her child, she forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

Greek words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

John 16:6

Instead, your hearts are filled with sorrow because I have told you these things.

John 16:33

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!”

John 19:25

Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother and her sister, as well as Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.

John 19:26

When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, here is your son.”

John 19:27

Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

Mark 14:72

And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Mark 16:10

She went and told those who had been with Him, who were mourning and weeping.

Luke 22:45

When Jesus rose from prayer and returned to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

Luke 22:62

And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke 23:47

When the centurion saw what had happened, he gave glory to God, saying, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Luke 23:48

And when all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.

Luke 23:49

But all those who knew Jesus, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching these things.

Luke 24:17

He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stood still, with sadness on their faces.

Luke 24:21

But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.

Job 20:5

the triumph of the wicked has been brief and the joy of the godless momentary?

Matthew 21:38

But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’

Matthew 27:39

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads

Matthew 27:40

and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”

Matthew 27:41

In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying,

Matthew 27:42

“He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

Matthew 27:43

He trusts in God. Let God deliver Him now if He wants Him. For He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

Matthew 27:44

In the same way, even the robbers who were crucified with Him berated Him.

Matthew 27:62

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and Pharisees assembled before Pilate.

Matthew 27:63

“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while He was alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’

Matthew 27:64

So give the order that the tomb be secured until the third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come and steal Him away and tell the people He has risen from the dead. And this last deception would be worse than the first.”

Matthew 27:65

“You have a guard,” Pilate said. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

Matthew 27:66

So they went and secured the tomb by sealing the stone and posting the guard.

Mark 15:29

And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,

Mark 15:30

come down from the cross and save Yourself!”

Mark 15:31

In the same way, the chief priests and scribes mocked Him among themselves, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself!

Mark 15:32

Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” And even those who were crucified with Him berated Him.

Revelation 11:10

And those who dwell on the earth will gloat over them, and will celebrate and send one another gifts, because these two prophets had tormented them.

Revelation 18:7

As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’

Psalms 30:5

For His anger is fleeting, but His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Psalms 30:11

You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

Psalms 40:1

I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalms 40:2

He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

Psalms 40:3

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 97:11

Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.

Psalms 126:5

Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.

Psalms 126:6

He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

Isaiah 12:1

In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me.

Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 25:9

And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

Isaiah 61:3

to console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 66:5

You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”

Jeremiah 31:9

They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Jeremiah 31:10

Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.

Jeremiah 31:11

For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand that had overpowered him.

Jeremiah 31:12

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD— the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.

Jeremiah 31:13

Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.

Jeremiah 31:14

I will fill the souls of the priests abundantly, and will fill My people with My goodness,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:25

for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”

Matthew 5:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Luke 6:21

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Acts 2:46

With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart,

Acts 2:47

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 5:41

The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Romans 5:2

through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:3

Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Romans 5:11

Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 6:10

sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

1 Thessalonians 1:6

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.

2 Thessalonians 2:16

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,

2 Thessalonians 2:17

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,

1 Peter 1:6

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials

1 Peter 1:7

so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:8

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

Jude 1:24

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—

Revelation 7:14

“Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Revelation 7:15

For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.

Revelation 7:16

‘Never again will they hunger, and never will they thirst; nor will the sun beat down upon them, nor any scorching heat.’

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”