12:48a

There is a judge: The phrase means someone will judge anyone who rejects Jesus. There is someone who will judge that person. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

there is a judge for that person
-or-
there is one who will judge those people

In some languages it is more natural to use judge as a verb. For example:

someone will judge that person
-or-
will be judged (New Living Translation (2004))

the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The phrase the one who refers to anyone and everyone who rejects Jesus. It does not refer to just one person. For example:

anyone who rejects me and does not accept my words (Revised English Bible)
-or-
Those who reject me by not accepting what I say (God’s Word)

rejects Me and does not receive My words: The verbs rejects and does not receive refer to the same attitude in two different ways. They do not refer to two different things. It may be natural to use just one verb. For example:

all who reject me and my message (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
everyone who rejects me and my teachings (Contemporary English Version)

rejects Me: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as rejects means to ignore or refuse to accept. The one who rejects Jesus is someone who will not believe him and what he says.

does not receive My words: This phrase means to not accept what Jesus says as true, and therefore not follow it as a guide. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

does not accept my words (NET Bible Bible)
-or-
do not accept my teaching as true

General Comment on 12:48a

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of the information in this clause and mention the judge first. For example:

There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words. (New International Version)

12:48b

The word that I have spoken will judge him: This clause is a figure of speech. In it, Jesus’ word (what Jesus said) acts like a person that could be a judge. It refers to the time when God will judge people as to whether they received Jesus’ word. There are several ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

the word I have spoken will be his judge on the last day (Revised English Bible)

• Translate the metaphor as a simile. For example:

my word will act like it was his judge

• Make the meaning explicit. For example:

⌊God⌋ will judge him for ⌊rejecting⌋ my word

on the last day: The phrase the last day refers to the day God ends the world and judges its people. You may want to make that clear. For example:

on the day of judgment (New Living Translation (2004))

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