John 16:24

Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples in the Farewell Discourse, bridging the present moment with the "in that day" of v. 23, when they will ask the Father directly in his name.

The words — ᾐτήσατε (aorist active indicative of αἰτέω) marks a single, completed act of asking rather than a habitual practice; ὄνοματι (name) is the channel through which the request is made.

The thread — "Your joy may be complete" echoes John 15:11 almost verbatim; the ask-and-receive pattern appears in Matthew 7:7, and James 4:2 inverts it: you do not have because you do not ask.

Why it lands — The verse is a command, not a description; it asks the reader to actually ask in Jesus' name and to recognize that the purpose of asking is not the gift itself but the completion of joy.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ἕωςhe'ōsUntil ἄρτιartinow οὐκouknot ᾐτήσατεētēsateyou have asked οὐδὲνoudenno [thing]ἐνenin τῷtōthe ὀνόματίonomatiname μου·mouof Me;αἰτεῖτεaiteitedo ask καὶkaiand λήμψεσθε,lēmpsestheyou will receive,ἵναinathat ἡhēthe χαρὰcharajoy ὑμῶνhumōnof you ᾖēmay be πεπληρωμένη.¶peplērōmenēfilled.

King James Version

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Cross-references

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
James 4:2 You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
John 15:11 I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.
John 16:23 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope,
1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
Matthew 6:9 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Ephesians 1:16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
2 John 1:12 I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with paper and ink. Instead, I hope to come and speak with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
2 Thessalonians 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.