Devine Scripture

John 16:28

What does John 16:28 mean?

A plain-English look at John 16:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 16:28 means

Jesus gives a concise creed of His mission: He came from the Father, entered the world, and now leaves the world to go to the Father. This states His preexistence, incarnation, and impending ascension. It frames His death not as defeat but as the passage by which He returns to the glory He shared with the Father. For the disciples, this clarifies everything He has said about going away and about access to the Father in His name. His movement defines the path of salvation: from the Father, to us, back to the Father, carrying us with Him in representation. Knowing this stabilizes their faith amid the coming storm.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

I came out from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go unto the Father.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

I came out from the Father and have come into the world: again, I go away from the world and go to the Father.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

I came forth from the Father, and have come to the world; again I leave the world, and go on unto the Father.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

I came forth from the Father and am come into the world: again I leave the world and I go to the Father.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

I came out from the Father and have come into the world; again, I leave the world and go to the Father.

Context

This compact summary follows the assurance of the Father’s love and pulls together major themes of the discourse—origin, sending, return. It prompts the disciples’ declaration that Jesus is now speaking plainly. Their apparent confidence, however, will be tested immediately, as Jesus questions the depth of their belief and foretells their scattering, before concluding with the promise of peace and victory.

v.27for the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

v.28This passage

v.29His disciples say, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no dark saying.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 16:5

    But now I go unto him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou?

  • John 8:14

    Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go.

  • Luke 24:51

    And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.

  • John 17:5

    And now, Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

  • John 17:11

    And I am no more in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are.

  • John 14:28

    Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I.

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