John 16:4

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα λελάληκα ὑμῖν, ἵνα ὅταν ἔλθῃ ἡ ὥρα, μνημονεύητε αὐτῶν. Ὅτι ἐγὼ εἶπον ὑμῖν ταῦτα δὲ ὑμῖν ἐξ ἀρχῆς οὐκ εἶπον, ὅτι μεθʼ ὑμῶν ἤμην.

Transliteration

But tauta lelalēka to you, hina when elthē the hōra, mnēmoneuēte of them. Because I eipon to you tauta but to you from archēs not eipon, because with you ēmēn.

Grammar Details

• Ἀλλὰ: adversative conjunction - but
• *tauta*: demonstrative pronoun, accusative, neuter, plural - these things
• *lelalēka*: perfect active indicative, 1st person singular - I have spoken
• ὑμῖν: personal pronoun, dative, plural - to you
• *hina*: subordinating conjunction introducing purpose clause - so that
• ὅταν: temporal conjunction - when/whenever
• *elthē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might come
• ἡ: definite article, nominative, feminine, singular - the
• *hōra*: noun, nominative, feminine, singular - hour/time
• *mnēmoneuēte*: present active subjunctive, 2nd person plural - you may remember
• αὐτῶν: personal pronoun, genitive, neuter, plural - of them
• Ὅτι: conjunction - because
• ἐγὼ: personal pronoun, nominative, singular - I
• *eipon*: aorist active indicative, 1st person singular - I said/told
• δὲ: contrastive conjunction - but/and
• ἐξ: preposition - from
• *archēs*: noun, genitive, feminine, singular - beginning
• οὐκ: negative particle - not
• ὅτι: conjunction - because
• μεθʼ: preposition - with
• ὑμῶν: personal pronoun, genitive, plural - of you
• *ēmēn*: imperfect active indicative, 1st person singular - I was

Word Meanings

• *tauta*: these things/these matters
• *lelalēka*: I have spoken/I have told (with emphasis on completed action with continuing relevance)
• *elthē*: might come/should come
• *hōra*: hour/time/appointed time
• *mnēmoneuēte*: you may remember/you may recall
• *eipon*: I said/I told
• *archēs*: beginning/start/origin
• *ēmēn*: I was/I continued to be (imperfect tense emphasizes continuous state)

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  But I have told you these things, so when the time comes, you may remember I told you about them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G235} these things{G5023} have I spoken{G2980} unto you,{G5213} that{G2443} when{G3752} their hour{G5610} is come,{G2064} ye may remember{G3421} them,{G846} how that{G3754} I{G1473} told{G2036} you.{G5213} And{G1161} these things{G5023} I said{G2036} not{G3756} unto you{G5213} from{G1537} the beginning,{G746} because{G3754} I was{G2252} with{G3326} you.{G5216}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  But{G235} these things{G5023} have I told{G2980}{(G5758)} you{G5213}, that{G2443} when{G3752} the time{G5610} shall come{G2064}{(G5632)}, ye may remember{G3421}{(G5725)} that{G3754} I{G1473} told{G2036}{(G5627)} you{G5213} of them{G846}. And{G1161} these things{G5023} I said{G2036}{(G5627)} not{G3756} unto you{G5213} at{G1537} the beginning{G746}, because{G3754} I was{G2252}{(G5713)} with{G3326} you{G5216}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  But these thinges have I tolde you that when that houre is come ye myght remember them that I tolde you so. These thinges sayde I not unto you at the begynninge because I was present with you.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  But these thinges haue I sayde vnto you, that whan the tyme cometh ye maye thynke theron, that I tolde you. But these thinges haue I not sayde vnto you from the begynnynge: For I was with you.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  But these things haue I tolde you, that when the houre shall come, ye might remember, that I tolde you them; these things said I not vnto you from ye beginning, because I was with you.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  But these thynges haue I tolde you, that when the tyme is come, ye may remeber then that I tolde you. These thynges sayde I not vnto you at the begynnyng, because I was present with you.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  ‹But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `But these things I have spoken to you, that when the hour may come, ye may remember them, that I said `them' to you, and these things to you from the beginning I did not say, because I was with you;

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  But 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  I have said these things to you so that when the time comes, what I have said may come to your mind. I did not say them to you at the first, because then I was still with you.

• World English Bible (2000)

  But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  But I have told you these things so that when their time comes, you will remember that I told you about them.“I did not tell you these things from the beginning because I was with you.

Referenced Verses

• Matt 9:15 : 15 Jesus answered them, 'Can the wedding guests mourn while the bridegroom is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.'
• John 13:19 : 19 I am telling you this now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe that I am He.
• John 14:29 : 29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it does happen, you may believe.
• John 17:12-13 : 12 While I was with them, I protected them and guarded them by Your name, the name You gave Me. None of them has been lost except the son of destruction, so that Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to You, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
• Mark 13:23 : 23 So be on guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
• Isa 41:22-23 : 22 Tell us, you idols, what is going to happen. Tell us the former things, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come. 23 Tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we might be dismayed and filled with awe.
• 2 Pet 1:14 : 14 knowing that the laying aside of my tent is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
• Acts 9:16 : 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake."
• Matt 10:7 : 7 As you go, proclaim: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.'
• Matt 24:25 : 25 See, I have told you in advance.
• Mark 2:19 : 19 Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.'
• Luke 21:12-13 : 12 But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors on account of my name. 13 This will result in an opportunity for you to bear witness.
• Acts 20:23-24 : 23 'Except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that chains and afflictions await me.' 24 'But I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus—to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.'