Paragraph 12:30–33
12:30
In response, Jesus said: John did not say that the crowd asked Jesus a question. In some languages it is therefore more natural to use a word other than In response. For example:
Then Jesus told the crowd (Contemporary English Version)
This voice was not for My benefit, but yours: Jesus said that the voice from heaven was for the benefit of the people, the listeners. God spoke his words to Jesus, but he intended them to help the people who were listening.
This voice was not for My benefit: The phrase This voice refers to what the crowd heard. God wanted the crowd to know that he had answered Jesus’ prayer, even though they could not understand what he said. Just knowing that God spoke to Jesus was a big benefit to the people. In some languages it may not be natural to say that the voice was not for something. It may be more natural to follow one of these models:
The voice was not for my benefit
-or-
This voice did not speak for my sake
-or-
⌊God⌋ did not speak for my benefit
but yours: This phrase is a short way of saying “This voice was for your sake/benefit.” It indicates that the voice was more for the crowd’s benefit than for Jesus’ benefit. For example:
This voice came more to help you than to help me.
General Comment on 12:30
In the Greek text and the Berean Standard Bible, the negative statement (not for my sake) comes first, followed by the positive statement (but for your sake). This kind of sentence emphasizes the positive statement. Translate this verse in a natural way in your language to emphasize the positive statement. In some languages it may be natural to follow the Greek word order. For example:
Jesus said, “This voice has not come for my benefit but for yours….” (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
Jesus replied, “That voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours….” (God’s Word)
-or-
Jesus said to them, “That voice which you heard, it was not for me but rather for you….”
-or-
Jesus said, “That voice was not heard because of me. It was because of you….”
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