💫WEB · John 14:16
What does John 14:16 mean?
"I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,—"
— John 14:16 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.
If you love me, keep my commandments.
I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,—
the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.
Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also.
Explanation
John 14:16 records words Jesus spoke to his disciples during the Last Supper, in the hours before his arrest and crucifixion. In plain language, Jesus is making a promise: he will ask the Father, and the Father will send someone to take his place among the disciples—another Counselor who will remain with them permanently, not just for a season. The word translated "Counselor" (from the Greek "Parakletos") carries a rich range of meaning—advocate, helper, comforter, one called alongside to assist. Jesus is telling his followers that even though he is about to leave them physically, they will not be abandoned.
The context is crucial for understanding the weight of this promise. Jesus has just told the disciples in John 13 and 14 that he is going away, and they are troubled and confused. Thomas asks where he is going; Philip asks to see the Father. The disciples have built their entire lives around Jesus' physical presence—following him, learning from him, relying on him for guidance and protection. Now he announces his departure. Into that anxiety, Jesus speaks this promise of continuity: he himself has been their helper and guide for three years, and now "another" of the same kind will come. The word "another" in Greek (allos) implies one of the same kind, not a lesser substitute—the Counselor will function in Jesus' stead, doing for them what Jesus has been doing.
Theologically, this verse is a key text pointing toward the coming of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus identifies more explicitly in the following verses (John 14:17) as "the Spirit of truth."
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