# John 12.48

<!-- type: passage | created: 2026-05-06 | updated: 2026-05-06 -->

**Book:** [John](/codex/john-the-apostle/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT

## Immediate context (±2 verses)

**ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/))
> 46. <span class="rl-speech">I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">And if any man hear my sayings, and keep them not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.</span>
>
> **48. <span class="rl-speech">He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.</span>**
>
> 49. <span class="rl-speech">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.</span> 50. And I know that his commandment is life eternal: the things therefore which I speak, even as the Father hath said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:46-50, ASV)

**WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/))
> 46. <span class="rl-speech">I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness.</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">If anyone listens to my sayings, and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.</span>
>
> **48. <span class="rl-speech">He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.</span>**
>
> 49. <span class="rl-speech">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.</span> 50. I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.” (John 12:46-50, WEB)

**KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/))
> 46. <span class="rl-speech">I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.</span>
>
> **48. <span class="rl-speech">He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.</span>**
>
> 49. <span class="rl-speech">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.</span> 50. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. (John 12:46-50, KJV)

**YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/))
> 46. <span class="rl-speech">I a light to the world have come, that every one who is believing in me, in the darkness may not remain;</span> 47. <span class="rl-speech">and if any one may hear my sayings, and not believe, I, I do not judge him, for I came not that I might judge the world, but that I might save the world.</span>
>
> **48. <span class="rl-speech">'He who is rejecting me, and not receiving my sayings, hath one who is judging him, the word that I spake, that will judge him in the last day,</span>**
>
> 49. <span class="rl-speech">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,</span> 50. and I have known that His command is life age-during; what, therefore, I speak, according as the Father hath said to me, so I speak.' (John 12:46-50, YLT)

## Setting

- **Speaker:** John the Apostle (traditionally) / narrator + Jesus's direct teaching
- **Audience:** later Christian audience (high-Christological emphasis; against early gnosticism)
- **Location:** first-century Palestine (events); possibly Ephesus (composition)
- **Time period:** events c. 26-33 AD (3-Passover chronology); composed c. AD 85-95

## Theological reading

## Key words

- [G3056 - logos](/codex/g3056-logos/), *logos* (Strong's G3056). Also appears in: [Matthew 7.24-27](/codex/matthew-7-24-27/), [Matthew 8.5-12](/codex/matthew-8-5-12/), [Matthew 8.16](/codex/matthew-8-16/).

## Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

- **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
- **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
- **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
- **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.

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## Quoted in

**Concepts:**

- [Jesus Said](/codex/jesus-said/), via [John 12](/codex/john-12/)

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