John 16:32

“Look, an hour is coming and has already come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and you will leave Me all alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples during the Farewell Discourse, immediately after asking if they finally believe. He describes a moment of crisis when they will abandon him and retreat to their own homes.

The words — The Greek ὥρα (hōra) denotes a specific, appointed time, while σκορπισθῆτε (skorpisthēte) literally means you will be scattered or dispersed. Jesus uses these terms to mark the transition from his imminent arrest to the disciples' flight.

The thread — This scattering fulfills the prophecy in Zechariah 13:7 and is echoed in Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:27, where striking the Shepherd causes the sheep to scatter. The motif connects Jesus' impending isolation to the broader biblical theme of shepherd and flock.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that physical abandonment does not equal divine abandonment, since the Father remains with Jesus. It calls the reader to trust in that unbroken presence rather than relying on human solidarity.

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

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Zechariah 13:7 Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.
Matthew 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Mark 14:27 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
John 8:29 He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”
John 8:16 But even if I do judge, My judgment is true, because I am not alone; I am with the Father who sent Me.
Matthew 26:56 But this has all happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.
Isaiah 50:6 I offered My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who tore out My beard. I did not hide My face from scorn and spittle.
Mark 14:50 Then everyone deserted Him and fled.
John 4:21 “Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
John 4:23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.