John 14:3 (KJV)

What does John 14:3 mean?

John 14:3 means that Jesus is promising his followers that he will return after leaving them, and when he does, he will bring them to be with him so they can always be where he is. This is a reassurance that his departure is not permanent and that his followers will ultimately be together with him.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples during the Last Supper, just before his arrest. The disciples are troubled by Jesus saying he will soon leave, so Jesus comforts them by explaining that he is going to prepare a place for them. The verse highlights both Jesus's care for his followers and his promise of reunion in the future.

The Greek behind John 14:3

• The word "receive" (παραλήμψομαι, paralēpsomai) means to take or bring someone along. Here, it carries the sense of personally welcoming the disciples to himself, not just sending for them.
• The phrase "that where I am, there ye may be also" uses the Greek word ὅπου (hopou, "where"), emphasizing a shared location. This stresses the closeness and togetherness Jesus promises, not just a distant or impersonal arrangement.

Why John 14:3 matters

• John 14:3 clears up the fear that Jesus's departure means abandonment; instead, it emphasizes a future reunion.
• The verse shows that Jesus’s relationship with his followers is personal—he himself will come back for them, not just send a messenger.
• This promise ties into the larger theme of comfort and assurance running through John 14, where Jesus explains his purpose in leaving and reassures his disciples of their place with him.