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John 14:5
ESV Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?"
NIV Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
NASB Thomas *said to Him, 'Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?'
CSB "Lord," Thomas said, "we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?"
NLT No, we don’t know, Lord,' Thomas said. 'We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?'
KJV Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
NKJV Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

What does John 14:5 mean?

In reassuring the disciples (John 14:1), Jesus has reminded them that He has their fate in His hands. Confidence should come from knowing "the way to" where Jesus will one day take them (John 14:3–4). Here, Thomas expresses a question which makes perfect sense, at least from an earthly point of view. How can someone know "the way" when they don't know where they're going? Since these men are not sure of where Jesus plans to go, they aren't sure they will be able to get there.

That, of course, is part of the point Jesus is making. His promise is to bring them to be where He is—ultimately, in the presence of God the Father (John 14:2, 28). This is not somewhere any person can "go," in the sense of making the journey according to their own efforts (Romans 3:20; 11:6). No amount of good deeds or effort will get them there (Titus 3:5). Rather, "the way" to be reconciled to God is not a process; it's a person (John 14:6; 2 Corinthians 4:6).
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