John 14 3

John 14:3 kjv

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 14:3 nkjv

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

John 14:3 niv

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

John 14:3 esv

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John 14:3 nlt

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

John 14 verses

John 14 3 Meaning

John 14:3 is a foundational promise by Jesus to His disciples, assuring them of His return to gather them into eternal fellowship with Himself. Jesus states His imminent departure is not abandonment but a purposeful act to prepare a fitting dwelling place for His followers. This preparation enables their entry into God's presence. The verse guarantees His future personal and visible return to "receive" believers, emphasizing a profound, intimate union with Him. The ultimate promise is that wherever Christ resides in glory, His redeemed people will also be present, enjoying perpetual communion and an unshakeable, glorious destiny with Him.

John 14 3 Context

John 14:3 is a pivotal part of Jesus' Farewell Discourse (John 13-17), delivered to His disciples just before His crucifixion. The disciples are deeply distressed and bewildered by His announcement of impending departure (Jn 14:1, Jn 13:33), which they mistakenly interpret as an abandonment or an end to their hopes for an earthly kingdom. In response to their troubled hearts, Jesus offers this profound comfort, redefining their expectations and shifting their focus from His physical absence to His purposeful departure and certain glorious return. He transforms their understanding of "losing" Him into the promise of a greater, eternal reunion. Culturally, His Jewish followers likely yearned for a Messiah who would establish an immediate, tangible earthly kingdom; Jesus here begins to reorient their perspective towards a heavenly, spiritual reality, yet promises a definitive physical return for their ultimate inclusion in that divine reality.

John 14 3 Word analysis

• "And" (Καί - Kai): This conjunction links the promise of His return directly to His preceding statement about going and preparing, emphasizing the unbreakable sequence and certainty of events.
• "if I go" (ἐὰν πορευθῶ - ean poreuthō): The Greek "if" with the subjunctive here denotes not uncertainty, but a certain condition—more akin to "when I have gone" or "since I will certainly go." It refers to His departure through crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, which is necessary for the preparation of their eternal place.
• "and prepare" (καὶ ἑτοιμάσω - kai hetoimasō): To make ready or make fit. This preparation is not just architectural; it's a profound redemptive work through His atoning sacrifice, His victory over death, and His ongoing intercession as High Priest, thereby making sinful humanity fit for God's holy presence (Heb 7:25).
• "a place for you" (τόπον ὑμῖν - topon hymin): Signifies a specific dwelling, a secure, eternal home for believers in the Father's presence. It represents rest, security, and belonging in an ultimate reality, far beyond any earthly abode.
• "I will come again" (πάλιν ἔρχομαι - palin erchomai): "Again" points specifically to His personal, physical, and visible Second Coming (the Parousia). This promise directly addresses and assures against the sorrow of His departure, highlighting a literal return, not merely the coming of the Spirit or a spiritual presence.
• "and receive you" (καὶ παραλήμψομαι ὑμᾶς - kai paralēpsomai hymas): "Receive" conveys an intimate, personal welcome. It means to take to oneself, to embrace, to take into one's company. This highlights Christ's tender, purposeful action in gathering His elect, ensuring their salvation and intimate union with Him.
• "to Myself" (πρὸς ἐμαυτόν - pros emauton): This crucial phrase underlines the deep personal relationship and union that is the ultimate goal. The destiny is not just a location, but to be with Jesus Himself, emphasizing eternal fellowship with the Living Lord.
• "that where I am" (ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγώ - hina hopou eimi egō): This signifies the exalted, glorious state and realm where Christ dwells—the very presence of God. It ensures believers share in His glorious reality, implying participation in His triumph.
• "there you may be also" (κἀκεῖ ὑμεῖς ἦτε - kakei hymeis ēte): The culmination of the promise. The final, secure, and joyous destiny of believers is to perpetually reside in intimate communion and glorious presence with Jesus Christ, in His heavenly dwelling.

(words-group analysis)

• "If I go and prepare a place for you": This phrase links Christ's departure (death, resurrection, ascension) to a specific, beneficent action for His followers. It transforms the perceived loss into a necessary, purposeful act designed to secure their eternal destiny and dwelling.
• "I will come again and receive you to Myself": This promises Christ's definitive Second Coming with the direct purpose of a personal collection. It guarantees not abandonment, but a sure and intimate reunion with the Lord.
• "that where I am, there you may be also": This unveils the ultimate promise of salvation—not simply gaining entry to "heaven," but attaining unbroken, joyous, and eternal fellowship in the very presence of Jesus Christ. It assures believers of perfect union and belonging with Him.

John 14 3 Bonus section

• The promise of Christ's return (Parousia) in this verse has served as a cornerstone for Christian eschatology throughout church history, encouraging perseverance and focus on heavenly realities.
• "Preparing a place" speaks to the divine care and intentionality for each believer's eternal dwelling, signifying security, peace, and permanence in God's presence.
• This verse effectively counters human fears of ultimate separation and death with the certainty of reunion and everlasting life in the intimate presence of Christ.
• The emphasis on "to Myself" signifies that the highest blessing of salvation is the personal relationship and unbroken communion with Jesus Christ, a promise extending beyond just being in "heaven."

John 14 3 Commentary

John 14:3 stands as a beacon of hope and assurance in the midst of the disciples' profound sorrow and confusion over Jesus' imminent departure. Christ reveals that His "going" (His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension) is not an end but a divine plan for their eternal welfare. His work of "preparing a place" for them signifies not merely the construction of physical dwellings, but the accomplishment of the atonement, the establishment of their rightful access to God through His high priestly intercession, and the reservation of a heavenly inheritance (Heb 9:24). The unequivocal promise, "I will come again and receive you to Myself," affirms the certain, personal, and visible Second Coming (the Parousia) as the moment Christ will personally gather His elect. The purpose of this return is profound: to bring them "to Myself," highlighting the intimacy and secure belonging within a relationship that separation cannot break. The ultimate comfort and fulfillment are articulated in the final clause, "that where I am, there you may be also." This declares the believer's final and blessed state—not just a location, but eternal, unbroken fellowship and glorious presence with Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. This promise undergirds Christian hope, ensuring a future beyond earthly tribulations and personal loss, rooted in Christ's unwavering love and sovereignty.