John 16:7 — ExegesisTAB

The verse opens with the adversative `all {ἀλλʼ | allá} ‘but’`, which reverses the disciples’ expectations and signals a deliberate contrast. `egō {ἐγὼ | egṓ} ‘I’` is placed early for emphasis, and the object phrase `tēn alētheian {τὴν ἀλήθειαν | tḕn alḗtheian} ‘the truth’` is fronted before `legō {λέγω | légō} ‘I say’`, giving Jesus’ statement a solemn, direct force. The repeated `hymin {ὑμῖν | hymîn} ‘to you’` keeps both the declaration and its benefit anchored to the disciples. The impersonal verb `sumpherei {συμφέρει | symphérei} ‘it is beneficial’` governs the `hina {ἵνα | hína}` clause, so Jesus’ departure is presented not as a loss but as the necessary condition for what follows. The first conditional unit, `ean gar mē apelthō {ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ ἀπέλθω | eán gár mḕ apélthō}`, gives the reason: the negative condition explains why the stated benefit depends on His leaving. The sequence `ou mē {οὐ μὴ | ou mḕ}` with `elthē {ἔλθῃ | élthē}` forms a forceful future denial, making the Paraclete’s coming impossible apart from Jesus’ departure. The second conditional unit, `ean de poreuthō {ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ | eán dè poreuthṓ}`, introduces the positive alternative; `de {δὲ | dè}` marks contrast, and `poreuthō {πορευθῶ | poreuthṓ}` functions as the departure verb that advances the sequence toward the promise. The future `pempsō {πέμψω | pémpsō}` then turns the condition into an intentional act of commissioning, and the repeated `pros hymas {πρὸς ὑμᾶς | pròs hymâs} ‘to you’` frames the whole verse around the Paraclete’s arrival for the disciples.