John 14:2

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.

In {G1722} my {G3450} Father's {G3962} house {G3614} are {G1526} many {G4183} mansions {G3438}: if it were not {G1490} so, I would have told {G302}{G2036} you {G5213}. I go {G4198} to prepare {G2090} a place {G5117} for you {G5213}.

In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you.

In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

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.

In John 14:2, Jesus offers profound comfort and assurance to His disciples during His final discourse before His crucifixion. This verse is a cornerstone of Christian hope, speaking directly to the future and the believer's ultimate destination.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus's extended farewell discourse to His disciples, recorded in John chapters 13-17. Spoken after the Last Supper and the revelation of Judas's betrayal, and just before Peter's denial is foretold, the disciples are deeply troubled and anxious about Jesus's imminent departure. Jesus begins this section with the famous words, "Let not your heart be troubled," setting the tone for a message of peace, hope, and reassurance amidst their sorrow and confusion.

Key Themes

  • Heavenly Hope and Assurance: The central message is the promise of a secure and permanent future dwelling place with God. Jesus explicitly states that a place is being prepared for His followers, removing doubt about their eternal destiny.
  • The Father's House: This metaphor represents heaven, the ultimate dwelling place of God. It signifies not just a physical location but a relational home, emphasizing intimacy, belonging, and security within the divine family.
  • Jesus's Preparatory Work: Jesus's declaration, "I go to prepare a place for you," highlights His active role in securing salvation and access to the Father's presence. This preparation involves His sacrificial work on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension, which opened the way for believers to enter God's presence.
  • Divine Truthfulness: "If it were not so, I would have told you" underscores Jesus's absolute honesty and trustworthiness. His words are not mere comfort but a divine guarantee.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "mansions" comes from the Greek word monē (μονή), which means "an abiding place," "a dwelling," or "a permanent residence." It does not necessarily imply grand, palatial structures, but rather secure and lasting accommodations. The emphasis is on permanence and relationship, suggesting that there are ample, secure, and personal dwelling places for all who belong to Christ in God's eternal home. The word "prepare" (Greek hetoimazō - ἑτοιμάζω) signifies making something ready, demonstrating Jesus's intentional and active work to secure our eternal future.

Related Scriptures

This verse ties into several other foundational biblical truths:

Practical Application

For believers today, John 14:2 offers immense hope and stability in an often-turbulent world. It provides:

  • Comfort in Grief: It assures those who mourn the loss of loved ones that there is a promised reunion and a secure home beyond this life.
  • Purpose in Life: Knowing our ultimate destination can motivate us to live purposefully, focusing on eternal values rather than fleeting earthly pursuits.
  • Peace in Uncertainty: When facing personal trials or global instability, this promise reminds us that our ultimate security rests in God's hands and His prepared dwelling.
  • Trust in Jesus: It reinforces the trustworthiness of Jesus's promises and His ongoing care for His followers, even after His ascension.

This verse encourages believers to live with an eternal perspective, fixing their hope on the glorious future that Jesus Himself has secured.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:1

    ¶ For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

  • John 13:36

    ¶ Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.

  • Hebrews 13:14

    For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

  • Revelation 21:2

    And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

  • Revelation 3:12

    Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

  • Hebrews 11:14

    For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

  • Hebrews 11:16

    But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
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