John 16:4ExegesisTAB

John 16 : 4 Foresight | Remembrance | Continuity
4. Linguistic Exegesis
The verse begins with alla {ἀλλὰ | allá} ‘but’, signaling contrast with prior teaching. The demonstrative tauta {ταῦτα | taûta} is fronted for emphasis, and the perfect lelaleka {λελάληκα | lelálēka} underscores a completed action with ongoing relevance. The dative hymin {ὑμῖν | hymîn} frames the recipients in an inclusio. Hina {ἵνα | hína} marks purpose, with hotan {ὅταν | hótan} plus aorist subjunctive elthē {ἔλθῃ | élthē} creating a general future condition. The phrase hē hōra autōn {ἡ ὥρα αὐτῶν | hē ṓra autōn} retains its appointed ambiguity. Mnēmoneuēte {μνημονεύητε | mnēmoneúēte} presents the intended future recollection introduced by hoti {ὅτι | hóti}. The second clause, introduced by de {δὲ | de}, shifts to explanation: the phrase ap’ archēs {ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς | ap’ archēs} fixes the timing of Jesus’ earlier restraint, and the causal hoti {ὅτι | hóti} clause explains that because he was with them (meth’ hymōn {μεθ’ ὑμῶν | meth’ hymōn} + ēmēn {ἤμην | ḗmēn}), he refrained from speaking earlier.

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