All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

JOHN 16:15KJV
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John 16:15 (KJV)

What does John 16:15 mean?

John 16:15 means that everything the Father has belongs to Jesus, and this is why Jesus says the Spirit will take what is his and reveal it to the disciples. Jesus is explaining that there is complete unity between himself and the Father, so what the Spirit shows the disciples comes from both of them.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples shortly before his arrest. He is preparing them for his departure and explaining how the Holy Spirit will guide them after he is gone. Jesus stresses that the Spirit’s teaching is fully trustworthy because it comes from what belongs to both the Father and the Son.

The Greek behind John 16:15

  • πατήρ (patēr, "Father" — G3962): This word refers to God the Father, highlighting the close relationship and shared authority between the Father and Jesus in this context.
  • ἐμός (emos, "mine" — G1699): This word emphasizes personal possession, showing that what belongs to the Father also truly belongs to Jesus.
  • λαμβάνω (lambanō, "take" — G2983): The Greek here carries the sense of receiving or taking hold of something, suggesting that the Spirit actively receives from Jesus to reveal to the disciples.
  • δείκνυμι (deiknymi, "shew" — G312): This word means to show or make known, underlining that the Spirit’s role is to make clear what belongs to Jesus for the benefit of the disciples.

Why John 16:15 matters

  • John 16:15 clarifies that the teaching and guidance the disciples will receive from the Spirit are not separate from Jesus or the Father, but come from their shared authority and unity.
  • This verse helps prevent misunderstandings about the Holy Spirit acting independently; instead, it shows the deep connection within the Trinity as presented in John’s Gospel.
  • John 16:15 ties together Jesus’ earlier statements about the Spirit’s role, reinforcing the trustworthiness of what the disciples will learn after Jesus’ departure.

Where else these words appear

“shew” Greek G312 · used in 18 verses

  • Mark 5:14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
  • John 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
  • Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

“mine” Greek G1699 · used in 68 verses

  • Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
  • John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

“that” Greek G3745 · used in 104 verses

  • Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
  • Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
  • Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.