John 16:22
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Study Note
Study Note
Jesus uses the image of a woman in childbirth — present sorrow giving way to joy that no one can take away — to frame the disciples' coming grief at his death and their coming joy at the resurrection. The Greek 'chairō' (joy) here is not merely emotional pleasure but the eschatological fullness anticipated in Isaiah's servant songs (Isaiah 66:10) and echoed in John 15:11. The phrase 'your joy no one takes from you' (RSV) is theologically significant: the risen Christ's presence generates a durable joy immune to external circumstance, unlike the world's conditional happiness. This verse belongs to the Farewell Discourse (John 13–17), Jesus's most extended theological reflection on what his departure means for the community left behind.
Other Translations
And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you.
`And ye, therefore, now, indeed, have sorrow; and again I will see you, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one doth take from you,
So you have sorrow now: but I will see you again, and your hearts will be glad, and no one will take away your joy.
Cross References
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While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
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And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he …
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Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall …