JHN 14:1-4

In My Fatherʼs House Are Many Rooms

1Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. [14:2] In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? [14:3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you alongside myself, so that where I am, you also may be. [14:4] And where I am going, you know the way.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st century, the imagery of a household would evoke the Greco-Roman and Jewish understanding of a family dwelling, a place of belonging and communal identity. The mention of 'many rooms' would resonate with the practice of large households hosting extended family or dependents, reflecting a social structure where patronage and hospitality were central. The phrase 'prepare a place' would align with the cultural expectation of a host arranging accommodations for guests, a gesture of honor and care. The assurance of being 'received' would evoke the image of a patron or family head welcoming dependents into their home, ensuring their security and inclusion. For Jewish listeners, the Father’s house might also recall the Temple, understood as God’s dwelling place, while the promise of abiding with Jesus would echo covenantal themes of presence and fidelity. The exhortation to trust would address the disciples’ anxiety, grounding their hope in the relational and communal framework of the household.

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How other translations render this

JHN 14:1

KJV: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
BSB: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well.
Koinōnos: Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

JHN 14:2

KJV: 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.
BSB: In My Fatherʼs 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?
Koinōnos: In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?

JHN 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.
BSB: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
Koinōnos: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you alongside myself, so that where I am, you also may be.

JHN 14:4

KJV: And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
BSB: You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Koinōnos: And where I am going, you know the way.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

JHN 14:1

heart;:The word translated 'heart' here refers to the core of a person's being, encompassing their thoughts, emotions, will, and moral character, not just the physical organ.

JHN 14:2

house:The word translated 'house' refers to a dwelling or habitation, often implying a family residence or household, rather than just a building.
mansions:The word translated 'mansions' or 'rooms' literally means 'abiding places' or 'dwelling places,' emphasizing permanence and a settled residence rather than luxurious accommodations.

JHN 14:3

I will receive:The phrase translated 'I will receive' carries the sense of taking someone alongside oneself, often for companionship, protection, or to bring them to a specific destination.