John 12:49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.

◄ John 12:49 ►

New International Version
For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.

New Living Translation
I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.

English Standard Version
For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.

Berean Standard Bible
I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.

Berean Literal Bible
For I did not speak from Myself, but the Father Himself, having sent Me, gave Me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.

King James Bible
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

New King James Version
For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

New American Standard Bible
For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

NASB 1995
“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.

NASB 1977
“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak.

Legacy Standard Bible
For I did not speak from Myself, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.

Amplified Bible
For I have never spoken on My own initiative or authority, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment regarding what to say and what to speak.

Christian Standard Bible
For I have not spoken on my own, but the Father himself who sent me has given me a command to say everything I have said.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak.

American Standard Version
For I spake not from myself; but the Father that sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Contemporary English Version
I don't speak on my own. I say only what the Father who sent me has told me to say.

English Revised Version
For I spake not from myself; but the Father which sent me, he hath given me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak.

International Standard Version
because I haven't spoken on my own authority. Instead, the Father who sent me has himself commanded me what to say and how to speak.

Majority Standard Bible
I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.

NET 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.

New Heart English Bible
For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Webster's Bible Translation
For I have not spoken from myself; but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Weymouth New Testament
Because I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me, Himself gave me a command what to say and in what words to speak.

World English Bible
For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
because I did not speak from Myself, but the Father who sent Me, He gave Me a command, what I may say, and what I may speak,

Berean Literal Bible
For I did not speak from Myself, but the Father Himself, having sent Me, gave Me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.

Young's Literal Translation
because I spake not from myself, but the Father who sent me, He did give me a command, what I may say, and what I may speak,

Smith's Literal Translation
For I spake not of myself; but the Father having sent me, he gave me a command, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For I am not speaking from myself, but from the Father who sent me. He gave a commandment to me as to what I should say and how I should speak.

New American Bible
because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.

New Revised Standard Version
for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For I did not speak of myself; but the Father who sent me, he commanded me what to say and what to speak.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For I have not spoken from myself, but The Father who sent me, he gave me commandments, what I will say and what I will utter.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
For I have not spoken of myself: but the Father who sent me, he gave me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak.

Godbey New Testament
Because I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father Himself having sent me, gave me commandment, what I shall speak, and what I shall say.

Haweis New Testament
Because I have not spoken of myself; but the Farther who has sent me, he gave me commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Mace New Testament
for I have not spoken for my self; but the father who sent me, he commission'd me, what I should teach, and what I should speak.

Weymouth New Testament
Because I have not spoken on my own authority; but the Father who sent me, Himself gave me a command what to say and in what words to speak.

Worrell New Testament
For I spake not from Myself; but the Father, Who sent Me, Himself hath given Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

Worsley New Testament
For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father, who sent me, gave me a commandment, what I should say and what I should speak.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Belief and Unbelief
…48There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. 50And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

John 5:19-20
So Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing by Himself, unless He sees the Father doing it. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does. / The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.

John 7:16-17
“My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me. / If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own.

John 8:28-29
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me. / He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

John 14:10
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.

John 14:24
Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. The word that you hear is not My own, but it is from the Father who sent Me.

John 17:8
For I have given them the words You gave Me, and they have received them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.

John 3:34
For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.

John 8:26
“I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.”

John 10:18
No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

Matthew 11:27
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.

Luke 10:22
All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

Hebrews 1:1-2
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. / But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

Treasury of Scripture

For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

John 3:11,32
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness…

John 5:30
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 6:38-40
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me…

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John 12

1. Jesus excuses Mary anointing his feet.
9. The people flock to see Lazarus.
10. The chief priests consult to kill him.
12. Jesus rides into Jerusalem.
20. Greeks desire to see Jesus.
23. He foretells his death.
37. The people are generally blinded;
42. yet many chief rulers believe, but do not confess him;
44. therefore Jesus calls earnestly for confession of faith.

Berean Study Bible

For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it
For I have not spoken on My own
This phrase emphasizes the divine authority and origin of Jesus' teachings. The Greek word for "spoken" is "laleō," which implies not just speaking but communicating a message. Jesus is asserting that His teachings are not self-derived but are divinely inspired. This reflects the consistent theme in the Gospel of John that Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), and His words are the words of God. Historically, this underscores the Jewish understanding of a prophet as one who speaks the words of God, not their own.

but the Father who sent Me
Here, Jesus identifies God the Father as the source of His mission and message. The Greek word for "sent" is "apostellō," which is the root of the word "apostle," meaning one who is sent with a commission. This highlights the divine mission of Jesus, sent by the Father to fulfill a specific purpose. In the historical context of the Jewish people, being sent by God was a mark of true prophetic authority, distinguishing Jesus from false prophets.

has commanded Me
The word "commanded" in Greek is "entellomai," which means to give orders or instructions. This indicates that Jesus' teachings are not suggestions but divine mandates. This reflects the authority of God in the life and ministry of Jesus, showing that His words carry the weight of divine law. In the scriptural context, this aligns with the Old Testament prophets who received direct commands from God, reinforcing Jesus' role as the ultimate prophet.

what to say and how to say it
This phrase underscores the precision and intentionality of Jesus' message. The Greek words "ti eipō" (what to say) and "ti lalēsō" (how to say it) suggest that both the content and the manner of Jesus' speech are divinely guided. This highlights the perfect obedience of Jesus to the Father's will, a central theme in the Gospel of John. It also reflects the belief that every word of Jesus is purposeful and authoritative, providing a model for Christian communication that is both truthful and loving.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(49) For I have not spoken of myself.--Comp. John 5:30; John 7:16-17; John 7:28-29; John 8:26; John 8:28; John 8:38. The word "for" connects this by way of reason with the condemnatory power of His word. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 49, 50. - There is much emphasis to be laid upon the ὅτι, which implies that our Lord would give a sacred reason for the tremendous power with which his λόγος would be invested. The λόγος, the ῤήμα, is not simply his; it did not proceed from himself only, from his humanity, or even his Divine Sonship alone, but from the Father which sent me. He stood and spake always as the Voice of the Eternal One, from whom he came, with saving powers. He has given me commandment what I should say, and what I should speak. The two words εϊπω and λαλήσω (dicam and loquar, Vulgate), though Hengstenberg says it is frivolous to distinguish, are supposed by Meyer, Westcott, and Godet, to discriminate matter and form, as Godet says, "What I should say, and how I should say it." My words and their manner and opportunity and tone are all of them the outcome of the Father's ἐντολὴ. It certainly is incredible that John could have put these words into the lips of Jesus. They are no mere summary. They are set down with awful sincerity as having burned themselves into his memory. But the Lord added, "I may be rejected and my words spurned, and yet they may go on as apparitors of judgment, but however that may be, and I know (οϊδα) that his commandment, his commission to me, is life eternal - is so now" (cf. John 3:36; John 17:3; 1 John 5:12, 13). "The Law is ordained unto life," said Paul, and "the goodness of God leadeth us unto repentance." The depth of this sublime experience goes down and back into the eternal counsels. The things which therefore I speak (am speaking even at this moment), even as the Father has said unto me, so I speak. "In rejecting me and my words, men reject and insult the Father. His word they dare to renounce, as solemn and unalterable as the word spoken on Sinai. They not only reject me, but they count themselves unworthy of eternal life. They not only spurn Law, but love." Thus, at the conclusion of the public ministry, the evangelist sets forth, in a few burning words, the theme of the prologue, so far as it is realized in the offer of a full revelation of the Logos to the world in human flesh. This Logos found adequate utterance through the human life and lips of Jesus. "The Father has been so amply revealed that the non-believer and rejecter, who hears and does not keep my sayings, is disbelieving and rejecting Hill." These potent words, and this wonderful conclusion of the entire record of the public ministry of Jesus, is the appropriate summary of teachings which were now brought to a dose. Without any exact parallels, they breathe the spirit of the whole teaching, they supply the basis of the prologue. It is, however, dear that the style is different from the prologue, and from the reflection of the evangelist in previous verses. Just as the whole Gospel is a series of recollections which form from their own intrinsic glory and truth a sacred inimitable whole, so this spicilegium is a brief evangelium in evangelio - a gathering up of the whole in the narrow compass of a few precious lines. Though "the hour" has come, it waits. The comparison between this method of the evangelist and that of the apocalyptist is very impressive.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

I
ἐγὼ (egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

{have} not
οὐκ (ouk)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

spoken
ἐλάλησα (elalēsa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

on
ἐξ (ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

My own,
ἐμαυτοῦ (emautou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1683: Genitive case compound of emou and autos; of myself so likewise the dative case emautoi em-ow-to', and accusative case emauton em-ow-ton'.

but
ἀλλ’ (all’)
Conjunction
Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise.

the
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Father
Πατὴρ (Patēr)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.

[who] sent
πέμψας (pempsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3992: To send, transmit, permit to go, put forth.

Me
με (me)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

has commanded Me
ἐντολὴν (entolēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1785: An ordinance, injunction, command, law. From entellomai; injunction, i.e. An authoritative prescription.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

to say
εἴπω (eipō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

how
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

to say it.
λαλήσω (lalēsō)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words.

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NT Gospels: John 12:49 For I spoke not from myself (Jhn Jo Jn)