John 16:18 bbe — So they said again and again, What is this he is saying, A little time? His words are not clear to us.

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."

— John 16:18, Bible in Basic English

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John 16:18 in Other Translations

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John 16 — Context

15

Everything which the Father has is mine: that is why I say, He will take of what is mine and will make it clear to you.

16

After a little time you will see me no longer; and then again, after a little time, you will see me.

17

So some of the disciples said one to another, What is this he is saying, After a little time, you will see me no longer; and then again, after a little time, you will see me? and, I am going to the Father?

18

So they said again and again, What is this he is saying, A little time? His words are not clear to us.

19

Jesus saw that they had a desire to put the question to him, so he said to them, Is this what you are questioning one with another, why I said, After a little time, you will see me no longer; and then again, after a little time, you will see me?

20

Truly I say to you, You will be weeping and sorrowing, but the world will be glad: you will be sad, but your sorrow will be turned into joy.

21

When a woman is about to give birth she has sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she has given birth to the child, the pain is put out of her mind by the joy that a man has come into the world.

John 16:18 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 16:18 say?
John 16:18 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “So they said again and again, What is this he is saying, A little time? His words are not clear to us.”
Where is John 16:18 in the Bible?
John 16:18 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 16, verse 18.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 16:18.
What translation should I read John 16:18 in?
John 16:18 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 16:18?
John 16:18 reads (BBE): “So they said again and again, What is this he is saying, A little time? His words are not clear to us.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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