| Clarke's Commentary on the Bible What is this that he saith - They knew from what he had said that he was to die, but knew not what he meant by their seeing him again in a little time.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThey said therefore,.... One, and all of them; the inquiry became universal; what is this that he saith, a little while? it seems as if this phrase was the most intricate and perplexing to them; for whatever conceptions they might have of not seeing, and seeing him again, as expressive of his going from them, and returning to them, yet had no notion at all what he should mean by "a little while": and therefore add, we cannot tell what he saith: they knew his words, but not his meaning.
Vincent's Word StudiesHe saith (λαλεῖ) Emphasizing the purport of the saying. A little while (τὸ μικρόν) In John 16:16, John 16:17, without the article. Here the article the or this little while defines the special point of their difficulty; this "little while" of which He speaks. We cannot tell (οὐκ οἴδαμεν) Rev., more simply and literally, we know not. He saith (λαλεῖ) Emphasizing the form of the saying.
Geneva Study BibleThey said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith.
People's New Testament 16:16,17 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me. On the morrow he would die, be buried, and for a little while they would not see him; then he would rise, and for another little while, a space of forty days before he went to his Father, they would see him while he remained on the earth. When he ascended to his Father, they, in a spiritual sense, would see him coming in the kingdom of God (Mt 16:28).
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary16:16-22 It is good to consider how near our seasons of grace are to an end, that we may be quickened to improve them. But the sorrows of the disciples would soon be turned into joy; as those of a mother, at the sight of her infant. The Holy Spirit would be their Comforter, and neither men nor devils, neither sufferings in life nor in death, would ever deprive them of their joy. Believers have joy or sorrow, according to their sight of Christ, and the tokens of his presence. Sorrow is coming on the ungodly, which nothing can lessen; the believer is an heir to joy which no one can take away. Where now is the joy of the murderers of our Lord, and the sorrow of his friends? | 
