Devine Scripture

John 14:2

What does John 14:2 mean?

A plain-English look at John 14:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What John 14:2 means

Jesus expands their hope beyond present loss. His Father’s house has ample room—no scarcity, no crowding out of any who belong to Him. His going is not abandonment but purposeful preparation. He assures them of His truthfulness: if space were limited or uncertain, He would not have raised false expectations. The phrase “prepare a place for you” presents His death, resurrection, and ascension as the means by which access is secured. Heaven is not a vague comfort but a concrete home promised by the Son. Their future with God rests not on their works but on His initiative to make room and make ready.

John 14:2 in context

John 14 — I Am the Way

On the night before his crucifixion Jesus comforts his disciples. He is going to prepare a place for them; he is the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by him. He promises another Comforter — the Holy Spirit — who will dwell in them and bring his words to remembrance. The peace he gives is not as the world gives. Even with the cross hours away, he turns from his own sorrow to steady theirs.

  • Heaven
  • Exclusivity of Christ
  • Holy Spirit promised
  • Christ's peace

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In my Father's house are rooms enough; if it was not so, would I have said that I am going to make ready a place for you?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

in the house of my Father are many mansions; and if not, I would have told you; I go on to prepare a place for you;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

In my Father's house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

In my Father's house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place;

Context

Flowing from the call to trust, Jesus turns their eyes from the present sorrow to the Father’s house and His purposeful departure. This counters the disciples’ fear that His leaving ends their fellowship. It introduces the image of dwelling that will reappear later, when He speaks of making an abode with those who love Him. The next verse continues this comfort, promising not only preparation but His personal return to bring them into that prepared fellowship, deepening their assurance that His going achieves, not destroys, their communion.

v.1Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.

v.2This passage

v.3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hebrews 13:14

    For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.

  • Luke 14:26

    If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Titus 1:2

    in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;

  • Acts 9:16

    for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

  • John 16:4

    But these things have I spoken unto you, that when their hour is come, ye may remember them, how that I told you. And these things I said not unto you from the beginning, because I was with you.

  • John 17:24

    Father, I desire that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Sermon ideas from John 14:2

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What John 14:2 teaches us about heaven

  • What John 14:2 teaches us about exclusivity of christ

  • What John 14:2 teaches us about holy spirit promised

  • What John 14:2 teaches us about christ's peace

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