John 16:32
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
Original Language Analysis
ἐλήλυθεν
come
G2064
ἐλήλυθεν
come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
2 of 26
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
4 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
νῦν
now
G3568
νῦν
now
Strong's:
G3568
Word #:
5 of 26
"now" (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate
ἐλήλυθεν
come
G2064
ἐλήλυθεν
come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
6 of 26
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
σκορπισθῆτε
ye shall be scattered
G4650
σκορπισθῆτε
ye shall be scattered
Strong's:
G4650
Word #:
8 of 26
to dissipate, i.e., (figuratively) put to flight, waste, be liberal
εἰς
to
G1519
εἰς
to
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
10 of 26
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὰ
G3588
τὰ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἴδια
his own
G2398
ἴδια
his own
Strong's:
G2398
Word #:
12 of 26
pertaining to self, i.e., one's own; by implication, private or separate
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἀφῆτε·
shall leave
G863
ἀφῆτε·
shall leave
Strong's:
G863
Word #:
16 of 26
to send forth, in various applications (as follow)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
17 of 26
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ὅτι
because
G3754
ὅτι
because
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
21 of 26
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 26
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατὴρ
the Father
G3962
πατὴρ
the Father
Strong's:
G3962
Word #:
23 of 26
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
Cross References
Zechariah 13:7Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.Matthew 26:31Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.John 8:29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.John 8:16And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.Mark 14:27And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.Matthew 26:56But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.John 4:21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.John 4:23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.John 20:10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.John 16:2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
Historical Context
The disciples' scattering fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and demonstrated the weakness of human resolve apart from the Spirit. Their courage returned only after resurrection and Pentecost (Acts 2-4). This pattern—failure under trial, restoration through grace—characterizes Christian experience. The Father's presence with Jesus, and Jesus's later promise of the Spirit's presence with believers (John 14:16-18), grounds Christian perseverance not in human strength but divine faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus's prediction of the disciples' failure and His calm acceptance model grace toward our own spiritual weaknesses?
- What does it mean that Jesus faced abandonment by both human disciples and (at the cross) the Father, and how does this shape our understanding of His suffering?
- How does the promise of the Father's presence sustain you in times when human support fails?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come (ἰδοὺ ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ ἐλήλυθεν)—"The hour" (ἡ ὥρα) throughout John's Gospel refers to Jesus's passion—His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and glorification (John 2:4, 7:30, 12:23, 13:1, 17:1). The perfect tense "is now come" (ἐλήλυθεν) indicates it has arrived and is imminent.
That ye shall be scattered, every man to his own (ἵνα σκορπισθῆτε ἕκαστος εἰς τὰ ἴδια)—The verb "scattered" (σκορπισθῆτε/skorpisthēte) fulfills Zechariah 13:7: "Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered" (quoted in Mark 14:27). Within hours, all the disciples would flee in terror (Matthew 26:56), abandoning Jesus.
And shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me (καὶ ἐμὲ μόνον ἀφῆτε· καὶ οὐκ εἰμὶ μόνος, ὅτι ὁ πατὴρ μετ' ἐμοῦ ἐστιν)—Despite human abandonment, Jesus affirms the Father's presence. Yet on the cross, even this communion would be eclipsed when Jesus bore sin and cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). That absolute desolation—experiencing the full weight of divine wrath against sin—was the deepest suffering of Calvary.