12:49a

In Greek this verse begins with a conjunction that means that means “because.” It introduces the reason why Jesus’ word will judge those who reject it. It is because God was the original source of what Jesus said. Here is another way to translate this word:

Because
-or-
This is true, because (Good News Translation)

I have not spoken on My own: This clause means that Jesus was not talking based on his own authority. He did not make up his own thoughts and say them. See how you translated the phrase “on my own” in 7:17. The Greek text emphasizes the words I and My own to contrast with “the Father who sent me” in the next clause. For example:

I do not speak on my own authority (Revised English Bible)
-or-
my teachings are not from my own thinking (Yakan Back Translation)

12:49b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (12:49a) to a positive statement (12:49b). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Languages have different ways to indicate this type of emphasis. Here are some ways to show the emphasis:

• Use the conjunction but as in the Berean Standard Bible.

For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. (NET Bible Bible)

• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:

I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me told me what I should say and how I should say it. (God’s Word)

• Do not use a conjunction. For example:

The things I taught were not from myself. The Father who sent me told me what to say and what to teach. (New Century Version)

• Change the order of the clauses. For example:

Because the Father who sent me has commanded me about what to say and what to speak. I was not the one who decided what to say.

You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.

the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it: This clause says that God had given Jesus his message. The authority on which he spoke was not his own but God’s. Here are other ways to translate this clause:

the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak (Good News Translation)

the Father who sent Me: The words who sent Me tell something about the Father. They do not imply that Jesus had more than one Father, one who sent him and another one who did not. In some languages a literal translation may imply that Jesus had more than one Father. To avoid this wrong meaning, it may be necessary to translate this information as a separate clause. For example:

The Father sent me ⌊into this world⌋ and told me what to say.

The Greek text emphasizes the phrase the Father who sent Me. This emphasis indicates a strong contrast with Jesus (“I” and “my own” are also emphasized in 12:49a). Jesus was not the source of his words, but it was his Father instead. Indicate this emphasis and contrast in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

but it is my Father who sent me who commanded me

the Father: The phrase the Father refers to God. In some languages it is necessary to say whose Father Jesus referred to. For example:

⌊my⌋ Father
-or-

⌊God my⌋ Father

has commanded Me: In some languages it may be more natural to use a noun form rather than the verb commanded. For example:

has himself given me a commandment (New Revised Standard Version)

what to say and how to say it: The phrases what to say and how to say it mean the same thing. Saying it twice emphasizes the idea: God told Jesus exactly what to say, or possibly everything that he should say. For example:

exactly what to say
-or-
just what I should say
-or-
about all that I should say

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