complete verse (John 12:49)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 12:49:

  • Uma: “Because I do not speak from my own will. I say and I speak what was given/commanded to me by my Father, because he is the one who sent me here.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “For my teachings are not from my own thinking, but from my Father who sent me. All that I am teaching, he is the one who tells me to teach it.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “For my teaching, they do not just come from my own thinking, because my Father God sent me and he commanded me to teach what I teach.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because I have not said these-things on my own but rather my Father who sent me is the one who has commanded what I say and likewise also the way I say-it.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Because there is nothing I am saying which I am just doing by myself, but on the contrary the Father who sent me to come here, he is the one who says what I will speak and what I will explain/make clear.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Because I am not speaking just my own word. My Father who sent me ordered me as to what word I teach you.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 12:49

This is true does not appear as part of the Greek text; it is used as a literary device in English, to contrast Jesus’ words in 48 with those in 49.

For the meaning of the phrase on my own authority, see comments at 7.17.

Has commanded me is literally “has given me a command.” The change from a noun phrase to a verb phrase is to attain a more natural equivalent in English.

In some languages there is no way to distinguish effectively between say and speak. The two expressions may be used in the Greek text simply as a means of emphasis, equivalent essentially to “just what I must say.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .