14:3a

And if I go and prepare a place for you: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible has translated as if in this context means “when” or “after.” It introduces something that will certainly happen. For example:

and after I have gone and prepared you a place (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
And when I go and prepare a place for you (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Then when I finish preparing your living places

I go and prepare a place for you: See the notes on a similar expression in 14:2d. Because the expressions there and here are so similar, it may be more natural to not repeat everything. For example:

After I have done this (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
When everything is ready (New Living Translation (2004))

14:3b

I will come back and welcome you into My presence: This clause indicates that Jesus would return to his people. He would come to take his people to himself so that they would be with him. This clause probably refers to Jesus’ second coming. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

I will come back and take you to be with me (New International Version)
-or-
I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence. (God’s Word)

14:3c

so that you also may be where I am: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that here introduces a purpose clause. Jesus will bring his people into his presence in order that they might be together. In some languages it may be natural to rearrange the clauses in this expression. For example:

so that you will be where I am (God’s Word)

you also may be where I am: This expression indicates that Jesus’ people will remain with him always. They will live with him in his Father’s home. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as one clause. For example:

we will be together (Contemporary English Version)

you: The word you is plural and refers to the disciples.

where I am: This clause refers to the place Jesus will be at that future time. It does not refer to Jerusalem where he was when he said this. In some languages it is more natural to use a future tense. For example:

where I will be

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