8:28a
So Jesus said: The conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So means “therefore.” It introduces something Jesus said in response to his listeners’ failure to understand what he was talking about.
When you have lifted up the Son of Man: This clause refers to something that would happen in the future. It refers to the time when Jesus would be put on a cross to die. See how you translated this in 3:14a, b, and see the notes there. A literal translation may give the wrong meaning that Jesus would fall down and people would help him stand up. In order to avoid this wrong meaning, it may be necessary to explicitly mention the cross:
When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross (New Living Translation (2004))
the Son of Man: This phrase comes from the description of the person in Daniel 7:13–14. See the notes on 1:51c and 3:14b and how you translated the phrase in those verses. Jesus used this term to refer to himself, which indicates that he was the true man from God.
8:28b
you will know that I am He: The verb phrase you will know indicates that the people would come to understand something they did not understand before. The expression I am He is the same as in 8:24b. See the note there, and translate this clause the same way in both verses. If you have translated the book of Isaiah, see how you translated a similar expression in Isaiah 41:4 and 43:10, 13. Jesus again implied that he was God. Here are other ways that you can express this implication:
you will know that I am what I am (Revised English Bible)
-or-
you will know that I am the one (God’s Word)
8:28c
I do nothing on My own: This clause indicates that Jesus did not act on his own authority. Neither did he do what he alone decided. He did only what God told him to do. For example:
I do nothing on my own authority. (English Standard Version)
-or-
I do nothing from my own thoughts.
8:28d
but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here connects a negative statement (8:28c) to a positive statement (8:28d). 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.
• Use a conjunction other than but. This is a common way in English to show this type of emphasis. For example:
I do nothing on my own, rather/instead I say what the Father teaches me.
• Do not use a conjunction. For example:
I don’t do anything on my own. I say only what my Father taught me. (Contemporary English Version)
• Change the order of the clauses. For example:
I only say what my Father taught me. I do not do anything on my own authority.
You should translate this emphasis in the way that is most natural in your language.
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