John 16:13

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you what is to come.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς εἰς πάσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν: οὐ γὰρ λαλήσει ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ· ἀλλʼ ὅσα ἂν ἀκούσῃ, λαλήσει: καὶ τὰ ἐρχόμενα ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν.

Transliteration

When but elthē that one, the Pneuma tēs alētheias, will hodēgēsei you eis pasan the alētheian: not for lalēsei aph' heautou; but as much as an akousē, he will lalēsei: and the things erchomena anaggelei to you.

Grammar Details

• Ὅταν: temporal conjunction - when/whenever
• δὲ: conjunctive particle - but/and
• *elthē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might come
• ἐκεῖνος: demonstrative pronoun, nominative, masculine, singular - that one
• τὸ: definite article, nominative, neuter, singular - the
• *Pneuma*: noun, nominative, neuter, singular - Spirit
• τῆς: definite article, genitive, feminine, singular - of the
• *alētheias*: noun, genitive, feminine, singular - truth
• *hodēgēsei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - will guide
• ὑμᾶς: personal pronoun, accusative, plural - you
• *eis*: preposition - into
• *pasan*: adjective, accusative, feminine, singular - all
• τὴν: definite article, accusative, feminine, singular - the
• *alētheian*: noun, accusative, feminine, singular - truth
• οὐ: negative particle - not
• γὰρ: conjunction - for
• *lalēsei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - will speak
• ἀφʼ: preposition - from
• *heautou*: reflexive pronoun, genitive, masculine, singular - himself
• ἀλλʼ: adversative conjunction - but
• ὅσα: relative pronoun, accusative, neuter, plural - as much as
• *an*: modal particle - might (indicating contingency)
• *akousē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might hear
• καὶ: conjunction - and
• τὰ: definite article, accusative, neuter, plural - the things
• *erchomena*: present middle/passive participle, accusative, neuter, plural - coming
• *anaggelei*: future active indicative, 3rd person singular - will announce/declare

Word Meanings

• *elthē*: might come/should come
• *Pneuma*: Spirit/breath/wind
• *alētheias*: truth/reality
• *hodēgēsei*: will guide/will lead/will direct
• *eis*: into/toward/in
• *pasan*: all/every/complete
• *alētheian*: truth/reality
• *lalēsei*: will speak/will tell/will utter
• *heautou*: himself/his own
• *an*: contingency marker with subjunctive
• *akousē*: might hear/should hear
• *erchomena*: coming/approaching/future
• *anaggelei*: will announce/will declare/will report

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  However, when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth: for he will not speak on his own; but whatever he hears, he will speak: and he will show you things to come.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  How be it when he is come (I meane the sprete of truthe) he will leade yon into all trueth. He shall not speake of him selfe: but whatsoever he shall heare that shall he speake and he will shewe you thinges to come.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  howbeit whan he (the sprete of trueth commeth) he shal lede you in to all trueth. For he shal not speake of himself, but what soeuer he shal heare, that shal he speake: and he shall shewe you, what is for to come.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Howbeit, when he is come which is the Spirit of trueth, he will leade you into all trueth: for he shall not speake of himselfe, but whatsoeuer he shall heare, shall he speake, and he will shew you the things to come.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Howebeit, when he is come, whiche is the spirite of trueth, he wyl leade you into all trueth. He shall not speake of himselfe: but whatsoeuer he shal heare, that shall he speake, and he wyll shewe you thynges to come.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,› [that] ‹shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and when He may come -- the Spirit of truth -- He will guide you to all the truth, for He will not speak from Himself, but as many things as He will hear He will speak, and the coming things He will tell you;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, `these' shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, [these] shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  However, when he, the Spirit of true knowledge, has come, he will be your guide into all true knowledge: for his words will not come from himself, but whatever has come to his hearing, that he will say: and he will make clear to you the things to come.

• World English Bible (2000)

  However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come.

Referenced Verses

• John 14:26 : 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.
• 1 Cor 2:10-13 : 10 Now God has revealed these things to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person that is within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now, we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13 We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit—explaining spiritual truths to spiritual people.
• John 14:17 : 17 The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him, you know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
• John 15:26 : 26 When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me.
• John 7:16-18 : 16 Jesus answered them, 'My teaching is not Mine, but comes from the One who sent Me. 17 'If anyone wants to do His will, they will know whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own authority.' 18 The one who speaks on his own seeks his own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of the One who sent him is truthful, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
• 1 John 2:20 : 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
• 1 John 4:6 : 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this, we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
• John 12:49 : 49 For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to speak.
• 1 John 2:27 : 27 As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things—and it is true and not a lie—just as it has taught you, remain in Him.
• 2 Thess 2:3 : 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. That day will not come unless the rebellion takes place first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed—the son of destruction.
• 2 Tim 3:1-5 : 1 But know this: In the last days, difficult times will come. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and unholy. 3 They will be unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, and hostile to what is good. 4 They will be traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. 5 They will have a form of godliness but deny its power. Stay away from such people.
• John 8:38 : 38 I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father."
• Joel 2:28 : 28 And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.
• John 3:32 : 32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
• Acts 2:17-18 : 17 ‘In the last days,’ says God, ‘I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
• Acts 11:28 : 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and, through the Spirit, predicted that a severe famine would spread across the entire world. This happened during the reign of Claudius.
• Acts 20:23 : 23 'Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that chains and afflictions await me.'
• Acts 21:9-9 : 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had stayed there for many days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 He came to us, took Paul’s belt, and tied his own hands and feet with it. He said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
• Acts 27:24 : 24 saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar. And God has graciously given you the lives of all who are sailing with you.'
• 2 Pet 2:1-9 : 1 But just as there were false prophets among the people, there will also be false teachers among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their destructive ways, and because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 In their greed, they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment, 5 and if He did not spare the ancient world but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, along with seven others when He brought the flood on the ungodly world, 6 and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, 7 and if He rescued righteous Lot, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless, 8 (For that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard.) 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 especially those who follow the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. They are bold and arrogant, and they are unafraid to slander celestial beings. 11 Yet even angels, who are greater in strength and power, do not bring a slanderous judgment against such beings before the Lord. 12 These people, however, are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They speak abusively about things they do not understand, and in their destruction, they too will be destroyed. 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. They consider it a pleasure to indulge in carousing during the day. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery, never ceasing from sin. They entice unstable souls and have hearts trained in greed. They are accursed children. 15 They have abandoned the straight way and gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—that spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness. 17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness has been reserved for them forever. 18 For they utter arrogant, empty words and entice those who are barely escaping from others living in error, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh and by debauchery. 19 They promise freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave to whatever has mastered them. 20 For if, after escaping the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 Of them the true proverb has come true: "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow that is washed returns to wallowing in the mud."
• 2 Thess 2:12 : 12 in order that all who did not believe the truth but delighted in wickedness might be judged.
• 1 Tim 4:1-3 : 1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons. 2 They will speak lies with hypocrisy, and their consciences will be seared as with a hot iron. 3 They will forbid marriage and require abstinence from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
• John 14:6 : 6 Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'
• Eph 4:7-9 : 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore it says: 'When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people.' 9 But what does 'he ascended' mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things. 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, into a mature man, to the measure of the stature that belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.
• Rev 1:1 : 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John.
• Rev 1:19 : 19 Write down what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.
• Rev 6:1-9 : 1 And I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, 'Come and see.' 2 I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. 3 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, 'Come and see.' 4 Then another horse came out, fiery red. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth, so that people would kill one another, and he was given a large sword. 5 When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come and see.' I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed like a voice from among the four living creatures saying, 'A quart of wheat for a day’s wage, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wage, but do not harm the olive oil and the wine.' 7 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, 'Come and see.' 8 I looked, and there was a pale green horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades followed closely with him. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth to kill with sword, with famine, with plague, and by the beasts of the earth. 9 When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?' 11 Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers were killed just as they had been. 12 And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black like sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon turned red like blood. 13 The stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. 15 The kings of the earth, the nobles, the wealthy, the military commanders, the mighty, and everyone—slave and free—hid themselves in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!' 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?
• Rev 22:1-9 : 1 Then the angel showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of the city’s street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, producing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will no longer be any night, and they will not need the light of a lamp or the sun, for the Lord God will give them light, and they will reign forever and ever. 6 The angel said to me, "These words are faithful and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place." 7 Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this book. 8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. 9 But he said to me, "See that you don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" 10 Then he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. 11 Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy." 12 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. 14 Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to these things for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star. 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say, "Come!" Let the one who is thirsty come, and let the one who desires take the water of life freely. 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to these words, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away their share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all. Amen.