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John 16 · a question people ask

"They will put you out of the synagogues" (16:2). Who are "they"?

In the text

Jesus doesn't name them here, and these notes don't either. These are his words: "They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God" (16:2), and "They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me" (16:3). He says what they will do (16:2) and why (16:3), and nothing more about who they are. These notes add no history from outside the Bible, and apply his words to no people, group or nation today.

The verses

“They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me.”
John 16:2-3 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of John 16

John 16: Sorrow turned into joy

"A little while" comes seven times in four verses (16:16-19), as some of his disciples ask one another what he means, and Jesus speaks of a woman giving birth and then says, "you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice" (16:22). In the Greek, the verb of "sorrow has filled your heart" (16:6) is the verb of "that your joy may be made full" (16:24).

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Last reviewed October 2, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions