Devine Scripture

John 16:3

What does John 16:3 mean?

A plain-English look at John 16:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 16:3 means

The root of persecution, Jesus says, is ignorance of God. Those who harm the disciples reveal that they do not know the Father or Jesus. This is not mere lack of information; it is a relational and moral blindness that misreads God’s character and work. True knowledge of the Father leads people to receive the Son. Rejection of Jesus exposes a heart estranged from the Father. This clarifies the tragedy of religious hostility: zeal without true knowledge of God can be violent. For the disciples, this diagnosis reassures them that suffering is not due to their unfaithfulness but to others’ spiritual darkness regarding the Father and His Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And these things will they do, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

They will do these things to you because they have not had knowledge of the Father or of me.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and these things they will do to you, because they did not know the Father, nor me.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And these things will they do to you; because they have not known the Father nor me.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and these things they will do because they have not known the Father nor me.

Context

Following the prediction of exclusion and death, Jesus explains why such things will happen: ignorance of the Father and Himself. This moves the focus from outward events to inner spiritual conditions and prepares the way for His promise of the Spirit, who will reveal truth. Next, Jesus returns to the comfort of His forewarning, reminding them that He tells them these things in advance and explaining why He had not emphasized these matters earlier.

v.2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth service unto God.

v.3This passage

v.4But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you.

Cross references

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

  • 1 John 4:8

    He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

  • Luke 10:22

    All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.

  • John 15:21

    But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

  • John 8:19

    They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:3

    And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10

    and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

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