Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

JOHN 16:20KJV
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John 16:20 (KJV)

What does John 16:20 mean?

John 16:20 means that Jesus is warning his disciples they will soon experience deep sadness and grief, while others around them will feel happiness, but their sorrow will eventually be transformed into joy. Jesus is preparing them for a time of pain that will not last forever.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his closest followers shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. He tells them plainly that they will "weep and lament" while "the world shall rejoice," pointing to the coming events of his death, when his enemies will feel victorious. The promise that "your sorrow shall be turned into joy" hints at his resurrection, assuring them that their grief will be replaced by happiness when they see him alive again.

The Greek behind John 16:20

  • "Verily, verily" (ἀμὴν ἀμὴν, amēn amēn): This phrase is a strong way of saying, "Truly, truly," emphasizing that what Jesus is about to say is certain and important.
  • "Weep" (κλαύσετε, klausete) and "lament" (θρηνήσετε, thrēnēsete): These two words together stress the depth of the disciples' coming grief, not just sadness but open mourning and wailing, the kind shown at funerals.
  • "World" (κόσμος, kosmos): Here, "the world" refers to those outside Jesus' group, especially those opposed to him, who will feel relief or even happiness at his death.
  • "Turned" (γενήσεται, genēsetai): This word means "to become" or "to be changed into," showing that the sorrow itself will be transformed into joy, not just replaced by it.

Why John 16:20 matters

  • John 16:20 clears up that Jesus was not promising his followers an easy path, but was honest about the pain they would soon face, which helps readers understand the reality of Christian experience.
  • The verse highlights the sharp contrast between the feelings of Jesus' followers and those of "the world," showing the different reactions to Jesus' death.
  • This promise of sorrow turning into joy connects to the resurrection, helping readers see how Jesus prepared his disciples for both suffering and hope, which is a key theme in this part of John's Gospel.

Where else these words appear

“lament” Greek G2354 · used in 4 verses

  • Matthew 11:17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
  • Luke 7:32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
  • Luke 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

“sorrow” Greek G3077 · used in 14 verses

  • Luke 22:45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
  • Romans 9:2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
  • 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

“sorrowful” Greek G3076 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 14:9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
  • Mark 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
  • 2 Corinthians 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

“weep” Greek G2799 · used in 34 verses

  • Matthew 2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
  • Luke 8:52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
  • Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.