James

James front

Introduction to James

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of the book of James

1. Greetings (1:1)
2. Gaining endurance through trials (1:2-4)
3. Trusting God for wisdom (1:5-8)
4. What poor and rich people should boast about (1:9-11)
5. Enduring temptation (1:12-15)
6. Hearing and doing what God’s Word says (1:16-27)
7. A warning against favoring rich people (2:1-13)
8. Faith and works (2:14-26)
9. The need for self-control in speech (3:1-12)
10. Worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom contrasted (3:13-18)
11. Worldly desires and the sin and conflict they cause (4:1-12)
12. A warning against boasting about tomorrow (4:13-17)
13. Rebuke of rich people (5:1-6)
14. Waiting patiently for the Lord’s return (5:7-11)
15. Oaths forbidden (5:12)
16. Prayer, forgiveness, and healing (5:13-18)
17. Restoration of a sinner (5:19-20)

Who wrote the book of James?

There is wide agreement among biblical scholars that the author of this book was James the half-brother of Jesus, who was a leader in the early church in the city of Jerusalem. He was respected for his wisdom and authority. For example, he had the last word at the Jerusalem Council, an important meeting of the early church, that is described in Acts 15:13-21. In Galatians 2:9, the apostle Paul calls him a “pillar” of the church, meaning one of its most important leaders. However, even though James was an influential church leader and the half-brother of Jesus, in this letter he introduces himself humbly as “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is not the same man as the apostle James, who was the brother of the apostle John. That James was killed for his faith a few years after Jesus himself was killed and rose from the dead. This letter was written many years after that.

What kind of writing is the book of James?

The book of James has an opening that is typical of the letters of its time, but it does not have a main body that develops sequentially and logically the way a letter would have. Instead, the book presents a collection of short sayings and reflections on various subjects. (In that way it is similar to the book of Proverbs.) As the outline at the beginning of this introduction shows, the book is made up of many short sections that move around from topic to topic.

James uses many of the devices that speakers used in his time, such as anticipating and answering a question that someone might ask. He also uses many vivid examples drawn from both nature and everyday life. For this reason, many interpreters believe that for the content of this book, James drew on sermons he had preached and on wise advice he had given. He wanted to share all of that wisdom with Christians living in different parts of the Roman Empire to help them face difficult times. It is also possible that James wrote this letter because he was nearing the end of his life and he wanted his wisdom to be preserved and shared after his death.

To whom was the book of James written?

James wrote this letter to believers in Jesus who had a Jewish background. This is clear from many of the things that he says in the letter. For example, he addresses his readers figuratively as “the twelve tribes” in 1:1. He speaks of their meeting place as a “synagogue” in 2:2. He assumes in 2:19 that they are familiar with the essential Jewish affirmation that “God is one,” and in 2:21 he calls Abraham “our father.” He calls God by the Hebrew title the Lord of Sabaoth in 5:4. He assumes that his readers will be familiar from the Hebrew Scriptures with the stories of people such as Job (5:11) and Elijah (5:17). These notes will call attention to the places where James engages his readers in light of their Jewish background.

What is the book of James about?

In this letter, James writes to believers living all over the Roman Empire who are suffering. He tells them that God is working through their sufferings to help them become more mature Christians. James also writes much in this letter about how believers should live in this world and treat one another. He urges them to treat other people fairly, not to quarrel and fight, and to be compassionate and generous.

How should the title of this book be translated?

Translators may choose to call this book by its traditional title, “James.” Alternatively, they may choose a different title such as “A Letter from James” or “The Letter James Wrote.” But note that “James” is actually the English form of the author’s name. In the letter itself, he calls himself “Jacob,” which is the original Hebrew form of his name. So you may want to refer to him in the title of the book by the same name that you will use in your translation for the character of Jacob in the book of Genesis. (See: How to Translate Names)

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

Did James disagree with Paul about how a person is justified before God?

Paul taught in Romans that Christians are justified by faith and not by works. James seems to teach that Christians are justified by works. This could be confusing. However, a better understanding of what Paul and James each taught shows that they actually agree with one another. Both of them taught that a person needs faith in order to be justified. They both also taught that true faith would lead a person to do good works. Paul and James taught about these things in different ways because they had different audiences who needed to know different things about being justified. James wrote primarily to Jewish Christians, while Paul wrote to communities in which there were many Gentile Christians. (See: just, justice, unjust, injustice, justify, justification and faith and work, works, deeds)

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

How should the translator signal transitions between topics in the book of James?

James moves briskly from one topic to another. Often he does not end his discussion of one topic with a summary and then begin the discussion of the next topic with an introduction. It might be helpful to your readers if you set topics apart by putting blank lines between them. However, your readers would have the same experience of the letter that its original audience did if you allowed the transitions between topics to remain abrupt. Just as happens in the book of Proverbs, James seems to have wanted each new thought to strike his audience with fresh force. So you may also choose not to put any blank lines between topics in your translation.

James often makes the link between topics through key words, for example, “rejoice” in 1:1 and “joy” in 1:2; “lacking” in 1:4 and “lacks” in 1:5; and so forth. If you can find ways to translate these key words similarly in both of their occurrences, this should help your readers appreciate the link and the transition.

Changes from the present tense to the past tense

In several places where James offers an illustration of a point he has just made, he narrates that illustration in the past tense as if he were telling the story of something that had happened. If this would be confusing for your readers, you could translate these illustrations in the present tense. Notes will identify each of these places and make that suggestion.

Textual issues in the book of James

See the General Notes to chapter 2 for a discussion of one important textual issue in this book.

James 1

James 1 General Notes

Structure and formatting

1. Greetings (1:1)
2. Gaining endurance through trials (1:2-4)
3. Trusting God for wisdom (1:5-8)
4. What poor and rich people should boast about (1:9-11)
5. Enduring temptation (1:12-15)
6. Hearing and doing what God’s Word says (1:16-27)

James begins this letter in 1:1 by giving his name, identifying the people to whom he is writing, and offering a greeting. That was the way people typically began letters at this time. However, as Part 1 of the Introduction to James explains, the letter does not then develop the way other letters did. Instead, it is a collection of short sayings and reflections.

Special concepts in this chapter

Testing and temptation

James uses a word in this chapter that can mean both “trial,” as in 1:2 and 1:12, and “temptation,” as in 1:13-14. In both cases the word speaks of the situation of a person who needs to choose between doing something good and doing something evil. The difference between the two senses is important. When ULT translates the word as “trial,” God is testing the person and wants him to do what is good. When ULT translates the word as “temptation,” Satan is tempting the person and wants him to do what is evil.

James 1:1

Ἰάκωβος

In this culture, letter writers would give their own names first, and they would refer to themselves in the third person. If that would be confusing in your language, you could use the first person. If your language has a particular way of introducing the author of a letter, you could also use that if it would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “I, James, am writing this letter” or “From James” (See: First, Second or Third Person)

Ἰάκωβος

This is the name of a man, the half-brother of Jesus. See the information about him in Part 1 of the Introduction to James. (See: How to Translate Names)

ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς

James is speaking figuratively of the nation of Israel by association with the fact that it was made up of twelve tribes. Alternate translation: “to the nation of Israel” (See: Metonymy)

ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς

James is speaking figuratively of Jesus’ followers as if they were the nation of Israel, since the community of the people of God had expanded from that nation to include people of every nation who followed Jesus. Alternate translation: “to followers of Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

ταῖς δώδεκα φυλαῖς

In this culture, after giving their own names, letter writers would then say to whom they were writing, naming those people in the third person. If that would be confusing in your language, you could use the second person. Alternate translation: “to you followers of Jesus” (See: First, Second or Third Person)

ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ

At this time, the term dispersion referred to those Jews who were living away from their homeland of Israel and who were scattered into various parts of the Roman Empire. If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun dispersion, you could express the idea behind it with a verb such as “scattered.” Alternate translation: “scattered throughout the world” or, if you are using the second person, “who are scattered throughout the world” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐν τῇ διασπορᾷ

While the term dispersion referred literally to Jews, James is using it figuratively to describe followers of Jesus. Alternate translation: “scattered throughout the world” or, if you are using the second person, “who are scattered throughout the world” (See: Metaphor)

χαίρειν.

The word Rejoice was used at this time as a greeting. In your translation, you can use the greeting that is typical of your language and culture. Alternate translation: “Greetings!” (See: Idiom)

James 1:2

πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun joy, you could express the idea behind it with an adjective such as “happy.” Alternate translation: “You should be happy” (See: Abstract Nouns)

πᾶσαν χαρὰν ἡγήσασθε

James says all as an overstatement for emphasis. He does not mean that believers should be happy about all the bad things that happen to them when they encounter trials. Rather, he means that the trials provide a general occasion for them to rejoice because of the valuable things God that is developing in their lives. He describes these things in the next verse. Alternate translation: “You should be very happy” (See: Hyperbole)

ἀδελφοί μου

James is using the term brothers figuratively to refer to fellow believers in Jesus. Alternate translation, as in UST: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

ἀδελφοί μου

James is using the term brothers in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Be sure that this is clear in your translation so that your readers do not get the impression that James is addressing only men. If you use a non-figurative word such as “believers” to translate the metaphor brothers, you may need to use both the masculine and the feminine forms of that word in your language. If you retain the metaphor, you could state “my brothers and sisters.” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

περιπέσητε

James is speaking figuratively of trials as if they were a hole or pit that believers could fall into. Alternate translation: “you encounter” (See: Metaphor)

περιπέσητε

The pronoun you is plural here, since James is writing to believers in Jesus as a group. Generally throughout the letter, the pronouns “you” and “your” are plural for this same reason. These notes will identify the few places where they are singular instead. (See: Forms of You)

James 1:3

γινώσκοντες ὅτι

It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here, as UST does. Alternate translation: “I want you to know that” or “You should realize that”

τὸ δοκίμιον ὑμῶν τῆς πίστεως κατεργάζεται ὑπομονήν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns testing, faith, and endurance, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “when you rely on God to help you through a difficult situation, this teaches you not to give up” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 1:4

ἡ δὲ ὑπομονὴ ἔργον τέλειον ἐχέτω

The expression let endurance have a perfect work means “let endurance complete its work.” James is speaking figuratively as if the quality of endurance were actively developing the character of believers. Alternate translation: “But make sure that you completely develop the ability not to give up” (See: Personification)

τέλειοι καὶ ὁλόκληροι

The words perfect and whole mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. In this context, the word perfect does not mean without any flaws. Rather, it refers to something that has reached its goal. The word whole describes something that is not missing any of its parts or pieces. Together, the words describe mature Christian character. If your readers would misunderstand this idea, you could translate this pair of words with a single expression. Alternate translation: “completely mature” (See: Doublet)

ἐν μηδενὶ λειπόμενοι

You could state this positively in your translation. Alternate translation: “having all that you need” or “being all that you need to be”

James 1:5

λείπεται σοφίας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun wisdom, you could express the idea behind it with an adjective such as “wise.” Alternate translation: “is not sure what would be the wise thing to do” (See: Abstract Nouns)

αἰτείτω παρὰ…Θεοῦ

Alternate translation: “let him ask God”

δοθήσεται αὐτῷ

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who will do the action. Alternate translation: “God will give it to him” (See: Active or Passive)

James 1:6

ἐν πίστει

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun faith, you could express the idea behind it with a verb such as “trust.” Alternate translation: “confidently trusting God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

μηδὲν διακρινόμενος

If your readers would misunderstand this double negative that consists of the negative verb doubting and the negative object nothing, you could use a positive expression to translate it. Alternate translation: “with complete certainty that God will answer” (See: Double Negatives)

ἔοικεν κλύδωνι θαλάσσης, ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ

The point of this comparison is that anyone who doubts will be like the waves in the ocean, which keep moving in different directions. In your translation, you could express this meaning in a non-figurative way. (However, you could also reproduce the simile, as suggested in the next note.) Alternate translation: “will keep changing his mind about what to do” (See: Simile)

κλύδωνι θαλάσσης, ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ

If you would like to use a simile in your translation but your readers would not be familiar with a wave of the sea, you could use another illustration that would be familiar to them. Alternate translation: “the desert sand swirling in the wind” or “stalks of tall grass swaying back and forth in the wind” (See: Translate Unknowns)

κλύδωνι θαλάσσης, ἀνεμιζομένῳ καὶ ῥιπιζομένῳ

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “an ocean wave that the wind is blowing and tossing around” (See: Active or Passive)

James 1:7

μὴ γὰρ οἰέσθω ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἐκεῖνος

James is using the term man in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “Such a person should not think” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

James 1:8

ἀνὴρ δίψυχος

James speaks figuratively of this person as if he had two minds, with one mind deciding to do one thing and the other mind deciding to do something else. Alternate translation: “a man who cannot make up his mind” (See: Metaphor)

ἀνὴρ δίψυχος

James is using the term man in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “a person who cannot make up his mind” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

ἀκατάστατος ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ

James is speaking figuratively as if life presented paths for people to follow, and he is speaking figuratively of this person as if he could not settle on which path to take. Alternate translation: “who cannot decide whether to do one thing or another” (See: Metaphor)

James 1:9

καυχάσθω δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὁ ταπεινὸς

James is using the word boast in a positive sense. He does not mean it in the sinful sense of bragging or vaunting oneself over others. Alternate translation: “Now let the lowly brother take satisfaction”

ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὁ ταπεινὸς

Since James contrasts this person with “the rich” in the next verse, he is using the word lowly as a spatial metaphor to mean “poor.” Alternate translation: “a believer who is poor” (See: Metaphor)

ἀδελφὸς

James is using the term brother figuratively to refer to a fellow believer in Jesus. See how you translated the term in 1:2. Alternate translation: “believer” (See: Metaphor)

τῷ ὕψει αὐτοῦ

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun exaltation, you could express the idea behind it with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “the high place he occupies” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τῷ ὕψει αὐτοῦ

James is using a spatial metaphor to describe poor believers as if they were in a high place. He wants to convey that God has shown special concern for them. Alternate translation: “the special concern that God has shown for him” (See: Metaphor)

James 1:10

ὁ δὲ πλούσιος, ἐν τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

James is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the previous verse. Alternate translation: “but let the rich boast in his lowliness” or “but let the rich take satisfaction in his lowliness” (See: Ellipsis)

ὁ…πλούσιος

James is using the adjective rich as a noun in order to indicate a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. It is clear in context that James is speaking of a rich “brother” or “believer,” in parallel with the “lowly brother” he describes in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “a believer who is rich” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun lowliness, you could express the idea behind it with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “the low place he occupies” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

James is using a spatial metaphor to describe rich believers as if they were in a low place in order to indicate that God has taught them humility. Alternate translation: “the humility that God has taught them” (See: Metaphor)

τῇ ταπεινώσει αὐτοῦ

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly, as UST does, that God has taught rich believers humility by showing them that their wealth does not make them better than other people. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

παρελεύσεται

James is using a mild expression to refer to death. Alternate translation: “he will die” (See: Euphemism)

ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου

The point of this comparison is that just as wild flowers bloom only for a short time, rich people will live on earth for the same relatively short time as anyone else, so their riches do not give them any advantage. You could explain the meaning of this figurative expression in your translation. (However, you could also reproduce the simile, as suggested in the next note.) Alternate translation: “after living for only a relatively short time” (See: Simile)

ὡς ἄνθος χόρτου παρελεύσεται

If you would like to use a simile in your translation but your readers would not be familiar with a flower of the grass (that is, a wildflower), you could use a different illustration. You could use something familiar to them that lasts only for a short time. (See: Translate Unknowns)

James 1:11

ἀνέτειλεν γὰρ ὁ ἥλιος σὺν τῷ καύσωνι, καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὸν χόρτον, καὶ τὸ ἄνθος αὐτοῦ ἐξέπεσεν, καὶ ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

Here James is giving an illustration in the past tense as if he were telling the story of something that had happened. (See the discussion of this in Part 3 of the Introduction to James.) If your readers would misunderstand this, you could translate this sentence with the present tense. Alternate translation: “For the sun rises with heat and dries up the grass, and its flower falls off and the beauty of its face perishes”

γὰρ

James is giving the reason for the result he implicitly described in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “This is because” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

σὺν τῷ καύσωνι

Here, heat could mean one of two things. (1) It could refer to intense, withering heat. Alternate translation: “and radiated withering heat” or, if you are using the present tense, “and radiates withering heat” (2) It could refer to a hot wind that occurs in full sunlight. Alternate translation: “and caused a hot wind” or, if you are using the present tense, “and causes a hot wind”

ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun beauty, you could express the idea behind it with an adjective such as “beautiful.” Alternate translation: “it no longer had a beautiful appearance” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

James speaks figuratively of the wild flower as if it had a face. Alternate translation: “it no longer had a beautiful appearance” (See: Metaphor)

ἡ εὐπρέπεια τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ ἀπώλετο

James speaks figuratively of the flower’s beauty as if it perished or died. Alternate translation: “it no longer had a beautiful appearance” (See: Metaphor)

οὕτως καὶ

James uses the words Thus also to introduce a simile or comparison between a rich person and a fading flower. Alternate translation: “In the same way” or “Likewise” (See: Simile)

ὁ πλούσιος

James is using the adjective rich as a noun in order to indicate a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “a person who is rich” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

μαρανθήσεται

James speaks of the rich person as if he were a flower that would wither. James means figuratively that this person will “die,” as UST indicates. (See: Metaphor)

ἐν ταῖς πορείαις αὐτοῦ

James speaks figuratively of a rich person’s activities as if they were a journey that he was taking. This metaphor implies that he is giving no thought to his coming death and that it will take him by surprise. Alternate translation: “in the midst of his activities” (See: Metaphor)

James 1:12

μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν

Blessed is indicates that God is giving favor to someone or that his situation is positive or good. Alternate translation: “The person who endures trial receives God’s favor” or “The person who endures trial is in a positive situation” (See: Idiom)

ἀνὴρ

James is using the term man in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “the person” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

ὑπομένει πειρασμόν

Here, trial could mean one of two things. See the discussion of the word in the General Notes to this chapter. James may actually want his readers to hear both senses in this case, as this verse is making a transition from a discussion of testing into a discussion of temptation. (1) The word trial could mean the same thing as in 1:2-3, where it describes the “testing” of “faith.” The reading of UST expresses this interpretation. (2) The word could refer to being tempted, that is, being led by one’s desires to do something wrong, which James discusses in the following verses. Alternate translation: “resists temptation”

δόκιμος γενόμενος

How you translate this will depend on how you translate trial earlier in the sentence. (In your translation, you could also focus on the way that God approves of this person, as UST does.) Alternate translation: “once he has demonstrated his faithfulness” of “once he has demonstrated his obedience”

λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς

James is using the possessive form not to refer to a crown that belongs to life but to describe life as if it were a crown. Alternate translation: “he will receive the crown that is life” (See: Possession)

λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς

James is using the image of a crown figuratively to indicate that God will honor this person. Alternate translation: “God will honor him by giving him life” (See: Metaphor)

λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς

James is likely not speaking of physical life but of spiritual life, that is, of living forever in the presence of God after physical death. Alternate translation: “God will honor that person by giving him everlasting life in his presence” (See: Metaphor)

ὃν ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν

In this last clause in the verse, the words he and him refer to God, not to the person who endures trial. Alternate translation: “which God promised to those who love him” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

James 1:13

ἀπὸ Θεοῦ πειράζομαι

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “God is tempting me” or “God is leading me to do something wrong” (See: Active or Passive)

ὁ…Θεὸς ἀπείραστός ἐστιν κακῶν

Even though the word that ULT translates as untempted is an adjective, not a passive verbal form, it may be helpful to your readers if you translate it with an active verbal form. Alternate translation: “evil does not tempt God” or “God’s desires never lead him to do something wrong”

πειράζει δὲ αὐτὸς οὐδένα

Alternate translation: “and God himself never leads anyone to do anything wrong”

James 1:14

δὲ

James is using the word But to indicate a contrast between the wrong idea that God might tempt someone and the truth that each person is tempted by his own desire. This is actually a strong contrast, and you may wish to use a strong expression for it. Alternate translation: “No, on the contrary,” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

ἕκαστος…πειράζεται ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας, ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος

If your readers would misunderstand these passive phrases, you could express each of these things with active verbal forms. Alternate translation: “each person’s own desire tempts him by enticing him and then dragging him away” (See: Active or Passive)

ἕκαστος…πειράζεται ὑπὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας, ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος

James is speaking figuratively of desire as if it were a living thing that could actively tempt people, entice them, and drag them away captive. Alternate translation: “each person wants to do wrong when he desires something that he should not desire and, because he is attracted to that thing, he commits sin and then cannot stop sinning” (See: Personification)

ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος

Since the word translated as enticed often means to use bait to trap prey, James may be stressing the result (the captured prey being dragged away) by speaking of it before the method that was used to achieve it (baiting a trap). It may be helpful to your readers to indicate that the method came before the result. Alternate translation: “enticed and dragged away” or “dragged away after being enticed” (See: Order of Events)

ἐξελκόμενος καὶ δελεαζόμενος

James is speaking figuratively of temptation as if the person who gave in to it were captured in a baited trap. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could translate this metaphor as a simile. It may also be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “It is as if the wrong thing he desired were bait in a trap that caught him so that a hunter could then drag him away” (See: Metaphor)

James 1:15

εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν

James uses the word Then to indicate that what he describes in this verse happens after something that he described in the previous verse. However, he does not mean that this happens after a person is “dragged away and enticed,” as he said at the end of that verse. Rather, he means that it happens after a person begins to entertain the temptation of a wrong “desire,” as he said at the beginning of that verse. It may be helpful to your readers to use the word “when” to indicate this. Alternate translation: “When desire has conceived, it bears sin” (See: Connect — Sequential Time Relationship)

εἶτα ἡ ἐπιθυμία συλλαβοῦσα τίκτει ἁμαρτίαν

James continues to speak figuratively of desire as if it were a living thing, in this case as if it were a woman who became pregnant and gave birth. Alternate translation: “If a person entertains wrong desires, he will become more and more inclined to sin until he finally does commit sin” (See: Personification)

ἡ δὲ ἁμαρτία ἀποτελεσθεῖσα, ἀποκύει θάνατον

James also speaks figuratively of sin as if it were a living thing, a baby girl who grew up to be a woman who also became pregnant and gave birth. Alternate translation: “and if he continues to sin, it will affect more and more of his life until it causes his death” (See: Personification)

ἀποκύει θάνατον

Here, death could mean: (1) spiritual death, that is, separation from God. This is the interpretation in UST. (2) physical death. Alternate translation: “causes the person to die” (See: Metaphor)

James 1:16

μὴ πλανᾶσθε

James is speaking figuratively as if some deceptive guides were trying to lead his readers in the wrong direction. Alternate translation: “Do not be deceived” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ πλανᾶσθε

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. The meaning here is probably not truly passive. That is, even though James speaks as if someone else might lead his readers astray, that is probably not what he means. This could be: (1) a warning James’ readers not to lead themselves astray, that is, not to deceive themselves. That is the interpretation in UST. (2) a simple active meaning. Alternate translation: “Make no mistake about this” (See: Active or Passive)

μὴ πλανᾶσθε

James is referring back to his statement in 1:13 that God never desires to do evil and that God never leads anyone to do evil. Instead, as James will say in the next two verses, God gives only good things to people. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could make this connection more explicit. Alternate translation: “Do not deceive yourselves, God is not evil, God is good” or “Make no mistake about this, God is not evil, God is good” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my dear fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

James 1:17

πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ, καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον, ἄνωθέν ἐστιν

Here, from above is a spatial metaphor that figuratively describes God. Alternate translation: “God gives us every good present and every perfect gift” (See: Metaphor)

πᾶσα δόσις ἀγαθὴ, καὶ πᾶν δώρημα τέλειον, ἄνωθέν ἐστιν

The phrases good present and perfect gift mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. (As in 1:4, the word perfect refers to something that has developed to the point where it is fully suited to its purpose.) If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could translate both phrases with a single expression. Alternate translation: “God gives us the things that are just right for us” (See: Doublet)

καταβαῖνον ἀπὸ

Continuing the spatial metaphor, James speaks figuratively of these gifts coming down from God. If you use a non-figurative expression to translate this, it may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “They come to us from” (See: Metaphor)

τοῦ Πατρὸς τῶν φώτων

Here, lights likely means the lights in the sky, that is, the sun, moon, and stars. James says figuratively that God is their Father because he created them. Alternate translation: “God, who created all the lights in the sky” (See: Metaphor)

παρ’ ᾧ οὐκ ἔνι παραλλαγὴ ἢ τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα

Here, change and shadow of turning mean similar things. James is using repetition for emphasis. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them into a single phrase and express the metaphor of a shadow (see later note) as a simile. It may also be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “God does not change as shifting shadows do” (See: Doublet)

τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα

James is using the possessive form to describe a shadow that is characterized by turning. Alternate translation: “shadow that turns” or “shadow that changes position” (See: Possession)

τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα

James is contrasting God, the Creator of the lights in the sky, with those lights themselves, which are not as great as their Creator. They create shadows that change position, but God never deviates from wanting only good things for people. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “turning shadow such as the sun or moon casts. No, God always wants good things for people” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τροπῆς ἀποσκίασμα

There could not literally be a shadow in God, so this is a metaphor. Alternate translation: “variability” (See: Metaphor)

James 1:18

βουληθεὶς, ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς

Alternate translation: “God chose to give birth to us”

βουληθεὶς, ἀπεκύησεν ἡμᾶς

James says figuratively that God gave birth to us because God gives spiritual life to everyone who believes in Jesus. Alternate translation: “God chose to give us spiritual life” (See: Metaphor)

ἡμᾶς…ἡμᾶς

Here and throughout this letter, James uses the pronoun us to refer to himself and his readers. Sometimes by extension he also means all believers or all people. In every case, therefore, the pronoun us is inclusive, so use the inclusive form if your language makes that distinction. The same applies to the pronoun “our.” However, in some cases the pronoun “we” is exclusive. Notes will identify those places. Everywhere else, the pronoun “we” is inclusive. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

James is using the possessive form to describe a word that is characterized by truth. Alternate translation: “by the true word” (See: Possession)

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

James is using term word figuratively to describe the message about Jesus that was conveyed by using words. Alternate translation: “by the true message” (See: Metonymy)

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun truth, you could translate the idea behind it with an equivalent expression that uses an adjective such as “true.” Alternate translation: “when we believed the true message” (See: Abstract Nouns)

λόγῳ ἀληθείας

James is referring implicitly to the message about Jesus. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “when we believed the true message about Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

εἰς τὸ εἶναι ἡμᾶς ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων

This is a purpose clause. James is stating the purpose for which God desired to give us birth. In your translation, follow the conventions of your language for purpose clauses. Alternate translation (without a comma preceding): “so that we would be like a firstfruits of his creatures” (See: Connect — Goal (Purpose) Relationship)

ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων

James is assuming that his readers will know that he is using the traditional Israelite offering known as firstfruits as a simile. The law of Moses required the Israelites to offer to God some of the first crops they harvested each year. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state specifically that this is the name of an offering. Alternate translation: “something like an offering of firstfruits from among his creatures” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀπαρχήν τινα τῶν αὐτοῦ κτισμάτων

When they offered some of their first crops to God each year, the Israelites were acknowledging that the entire crop belonged to God and was a gift from God to them. James is using this firstfruits offering as a simile to indicate that the believers of his time are an indication that there will be many more people who will belong to God in the future. In fact, since James speaks of creatures, he may even mean that believers in Jesus are the first part of God’s creation to be freed from the curse and come back fully under his rule. Alternate translation: “the first of many people who would believe in Jesus” or “the first of God’s creatures to be freed from the curse and come back fully under his rule” (See: Simile)

James 1:19

ἴστε

This Greek form could be either imperative or indicative, and so it could mean: (1) if it is an imperative, James is telling his readers to pay attention to what he is about to say. Alternate translation: “This is important” (2) if it is an indicative, James is telling his readers that he is about to remind them of something that they already know. Alternate translation: “You already know this” (See: Sentence Types)

ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί

See how you translated this expression in 1:16. Alternate translation: “my dear fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

δὲ

But could mean: (1) if know is an imperative, then James is using the term but as a transitional particle that does not indicate a contrast. If you decided to translate know as an imperative, you may have a similar word in your language that you can use for this same purpose. Otherwise, you do not need to translate the term. (2) if know is an indicative, then James is using the term but to introduce a mild contrast. He is saying that even though his readers already know what he is about to say, he wants to stress it anyway. If you decided to translate know as an indicative, you could use a term in your language that indicates a mild contrast. (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

ἔστω…πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ταχὺς εἰς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι, βραδὺς εἰς τὸ λαλῆσαι, βραδὺς εἰς ὀργήν

The expression slow to speak does not refer to speaking slowly. Rather, like the expressions before and after it, it is an idiom. Alternate translation: “each of you should listen carefully, speak only after reflecting on what to say, and not lose your tempers easily” (See: Idiom)

πᾶς ἄνθρωπος

James is using the term man in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “each of you” or “each person” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

James 1:20

γὰρ

James is giving the reason why people should not get angry, as he said in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “You should not get angry, because” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ὀργὴ…ἀνδρὸς

James is using the term man in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “human anger” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

δικαιοσύνην Θεοῦ οὐκ ἐργάζεται

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun righteousness, you could translate the idea behind it with an adjective such as “righteous” or “right.” Alternate translation: “does not fulfill the righteous purposes of God” or “does not accomplish the right things that God wants to do” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 1:21

διὸ

Here James is telling his readers what they should do as a result of what he explained to them in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “Consequently” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἀποθέμενοι πᾶσαν ῥυπαρίαν καὶ περισσείαν κακίας

James is speaking of filth and abundance of wickedness as if they were clothing that could be taken off. By those expressions he means sin and wrong actions (see later notes to this verse). Alternate translation: “stop committing sin and doing so many wrong things” (See: Metaphor)

ῥυπαρίαν καὶ περισσείαν κακίας

The expressions filth and abundance of wickedness mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them into a single phrase. Alternate translation: “every kind of sinful behavior” (See: Doublet)

ῥυπαρίαν

James is speaking figuratively of sin as if it were filth, that is, something that made people dirty. Alternate translation: “sin” (See: Metaphor)

περισσείαν κακίας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun wickedness, you could translate the idea behind it with an adjective such as “wrong.” Alternate translation: “the many wrong things that people do” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐν πραΰτητι

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun humility, you could translate the idea behind it with an adverb such as “humbly.” Alternate translation: “humbly” (See: Abstract Nouns)

δέξασθε τὸν ἔμφυτον λόγον

The word implanted describes something that has been placed inside another thing. James is speaking of God’s word figuratively as if it had been planted and was growing inside believers. Alternate translation: “obey the word that you have heard” (See: Metaphor)

δέξασθε τὸν ἔμφυτον λόγον

James is using term word figuratively to describe the message about Jesus that was conveyed by using words. Alternate translation: “obey the message about Jesus that you have heard” (See: Metonymy)

τὸν δυνάμενον σῶσαι τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν

James is speaking figuratively of the word or message as if it were a living thing that could actively save believers. He means that obedience to the message will lead to salvation. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “If you do that, you will be saved” (See: Personification)

τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν

James is figuratively referring to one part of his readers, their souls, to mean their whole beings. Alternate translation: “you” (See: Synecdoche)

James 1:22

δὲ

But draws a contrast not with what James has just said, but with a potential misunderstanding of what he has just said. He wants to clarify that by “receive the implanted word” he does not mean simply to believe it, but to put it into practice. It may be appropriate in your language to translate the word but with an expression that introduces a clarification. Alternate translation: “Now” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

γίνεσθε δὲ ποιηταὶ λόγου, καὶ μὴ μόνον ἀκροαταὶ

At the end of this clause, James is leaving out some of the words that it would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from earlier in the clause. Alternate translation: “be doers of the word and not only hearers of the word” (See: Ellipsis)

γίνεσθε…ποιηταὶ λόγου, καὶ μὴ μόνον ἀκροαταὶ

James is using the term word figuratively to describe the message about Jesus that was conveyed by using words. Alternate translation: “obey the message about Jesus, do not just listen to it” (See: Metonymy)

καὶ μὴ μόνον ἀκροαταὶ

In the Bible, the word “hear” often has the idiomatic sense of agreeing with what is heard. James may be using the word in that sense. Alternate translation: “and do not just decide that you agree with it” (See: Idiom)

James 1:23

ὅτι εἴ τις ἀκροατὴς λόγου ἐστὶν, καὶ οὐ ποιητής, οὗτος ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ κατανοοῦντι τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γενέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ

James is using a hypothetical situation to teach. Alternate translation: “Suppose someone is a hearer of the word and not a doer. Then he is like a man beholding the face of his birth in a mirror” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

ἀκροατὴς λόγου ἐστὶν, καὶ οὐ ποιητής

At the end of this clause, James is leaving out some of the words that it would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from earlier in the clause. Alternate translation: “is a hearer of the word and not a doer of the word” (See: Ellipsis)

ἀκροατὴς λόγου ἐστὶν, καὶ οὐ ποιητής

See how you translated these expressions in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “just listens to the word but does not obey it” (See: Idiom)

λόγου

James is using term word figuratively to describe the message about Jesus that was conveyed by using words. Alternate translation: “of the message about Jesus” (See: Metonymy)

οὗτος ἔοικεν ἀνδρὶ κατανοοῦντι τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γενέσεως αὐτοῦ ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ

Here James begins a simile, an illustrative comparison, that continues through the next two verses. (See: Simile)

ἀνδρὶ

James is using the term man in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: “a person” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γενέσεως αὐτοῦ

This is an idiom that refers to the face a person was born with, that is, that person’s natural or physical face. Since the term “face” had many figurative meanings at this time, James is using this idiomatic expression to clarify that he means the hypothetical person’s literal, physical face. You may not need to make this clarification in your language. Alternate translation: “his physical face” or “his face” (See: Idiom)

ἐν ἐσόπτρῳ

A mirror is a flat object made of some reflective material, such as glass or polished metal, that people use to see what they look like. If your readers would not be familiar with what a mirror is, you could use the name of something else that serves this purpose in your culture. Alternate translation: “reflected in the water” (See: Translate Unknowns)

James 1:24

γὰρ

For introduces a reason, as would be expected, but it is a reason for something that must be inferred from the context. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what James is giving the reason for. Alternate translation: “This did not really benefit him, because” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

κατενόησεν…ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀπελήλυθεν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐπελάθετο ὁποῖος ἦν

Here James is giving an illustration in the past tense as if he were telling the story of something that had happened. (See the discussion of this in Part 3 of the Introduction to James.) If your readers would misunderstand this sentence, you could translate this with the present tense. Alternate translation: “he beholds himself and goes away and immediately forgets of what sort he is”

κατενόησεν…ἑαυτὸν

James is continuing the simile he began in the previous verse, so the pronouns he and himself refer to the hypothetical person who looks in the mirror. Alternate translation (using the present tense): “such a person looked at himself in a mirror” or, if you are using the present tense, “such a person looks at himself in a mirror” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

καὶ ἀπελήλυθεν, καὶ εὐθέως ἐπελάθετο ὁποῖος ἦν

James is saying implicitly that this is a person who sees but does not do, just like a person who hears the word of God but does not obey it. The implication is that he sees in the mirror that he needs to do something such as wash his face or fix his hair. But because he does not do that when he is looking in the mirror, when he walks away, he forgets to do it. The point of the comparison is that a person who does not obey God’s word is like this. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain that explicitly. Alternate translation: “but because he did not immediately do what he saw he should do, when he walked away from the mirror, he forgot what he saw and so he did nothing about it” or, if you are using the present tense, “but because he does not immediately do what he sees he should do, when he walks away from the mirror, he forgets what he saw and so he does nothing about it” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὁποῖος ἦν

Alternate translation: “what he needed to do about his appearance” or, if you are using the present tense, “what he needs to do about his appearance”

James 1:25

ὁ δὲ παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας, καὶ παραμείνας…οὗτος μακάριος…ἔσται

James is using a further hypothetical situation to teach. This illustration is a contrast to the one he offered in 1:23. Alternate translation: “But suppose someone gazes into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres …. Then that person will be blessed” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

ὁ…παρακύψας εἰς νόμον τέλειον

In this verse, James continues to compare hearing the word of God to looking in a mirror. But the image now becomes a metaphor rather than a simile, since James speaks figuratively about someone who has gazed into the law. He means someone who has listened attentively to God’s word. Alternate translation: “someone who has listened attentively to the perfect law” (See: Metaphor)

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

James is using the possessive form to describe a law that brings freedom. See the notes to 2:12 for a further explanation of what James means by the law of freedom. Alternate translation: “the perfect law that brings freedom” (See: Possession)

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun freedom, you could translate the idea behind it with an adjective such as “free.” Alternate translation: “the perfect law that sets people free” (See: Abstract Nouns)

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what this law gives people the freedom to do. Alternate translation: “the law that sets people free to obey God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

νόμον τέλειον, τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας

As in 1:4 and 1:17, the term perfect refers to something that has developed to the point where it is fully suited to its purpose. See how you translated the term in those verses. Alternate translation: “the law that is perfectly suited to set people free from sin”

καὶ παραμείνας

James is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the context. Alternate translation: “and who has continued to obey that law” (See: Ellipsis)

ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς

James is using the possessive form to describe a hearer who is characterized by forgetfulness. Alternate translation: “a hearer who is forgetful” (See: Possession)

ἀκροατὴς ἐπιλησμονῆς

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun forgetfulness, you could translate the idea behind it with a verb such as “forget.” Alternate translation: “a hearer who forgets” or “someone who forgets what he hears” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ποιητὴς ἔργου

By association with the work that it takes to carry out God’s commands, James is using the term work figuratively to mean what God commands. Alternate translation: “someone who does what God commands” (See: Metonymy)

οὗτος μακάριος…αὐτοῦ ἔσται

While the word blessed is an adjective and so the expression will be blessed is not a passive verbal form, it may be helpful to your readers to translate this with an active verbal form. Alternate translation: “God will bless such a person” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun doing, you could translate the idea behind it with a verb such as “do.” Alternate translation: “in what he does” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 1:26

εἴ τις δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι, μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία

James is using a hypothetical situation to teach. Alternate translation: “Suppose someone thinks that he is religious, but he does not bridle his tongue, thus deceiving his heart. Then his religion is worthless” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

δοκεῖ θρησκὸς εἶναι

The word translated religious could refer to a pattern of behavior rather than to participation in worship activities. Alternate translation: “thinks that he is honoring God by his actions”

μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ

James speaks figuratively of a person bridling his tongue as if he were controlling a horse with a bridle. Alternate translation: “but he does not control his tongue” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ

A bridle is headgear that is used to control a horse. If your readers would not be familiar with what a bridle is, you could use a different illustration that would be familiar to them of a device that is used in your culture to control animals. (See: Translate Unknowns)

μὴ χαλιναγωγῶν γλῶσσαν αὐτοῦ

By association with the way that the tongue is used in speech, James is using the term tongue figuratively to mean what a person says. Alternate translation: “not controlling what he says” (See: Metonymy)

ἀπατῶν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ

James is figuratively using one part of this hypothetical person, his heart, to mean the person himself. Alternate translation: “deceiving himself” (See: Synecdoche)

τούτου μάταιος ἡ θρησκεία

James says worthless as an overstatement for emphasis. There would conceivably still be some value in the religion of a person even if he did not carefully control what he said. But James wants to emphasize how inconsistent it is to claim to love God but then to say things that hurt and disparage other people. He will develop this point further in 3:9-10. Alternate translation: “his actions are not as pleasing to God as he thinks” (See: Hyperbole)

James 1:27

θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ ἀμίαντος

James is speaking figuratively of religion as if it could be physically pure and undefiled. Alternate translation: “Religion that is pleasing and acceptable” (See: Metaphor)

θρησκεία καθαρὰ καὶ ἀμίαντος

The terms pure and undefiled mean similar things. They both indicate that something is free of contamination. James is using these terms together for emphasis. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine them into a single phrase. Alternate translation: “Religion that is completely acceptable” (See: Doublet)

παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ

The word before means “in front of” or “in the presence of” another person, and in this case before him indicates “where God can see.” Seeing, for its part, represents attention and judgment. Alternate translation: “from God’s perspective” (See: Metaphor)

τῷ Θεῷ καὶ Πατρί

James is not talking about two different people. He is expressing a single idea by using two nouns connected with and. The noun Father further identifies God. Alternate translation: “God the Father” (See: Hendiadys)

Πατρί

Father is an important title for God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ὀρφανοὺς καὶ χήρας ἐν τῇ θλίψει αὐτῶν

Here, look upon is an idiom that means “show concern for” or “help compassionately.” Alternate translation: “to help orphans and widows in their distress” (See: Idiom)

ἐπισκέπτεσθαι ὀρφανοὺς καὶ χήρας ἐν τῇ θλίψει αὐτῶν

James assumes that his readers will know that orphans and widows are in practical and financial distress because their fathers or husbands have died and so are no longer providing for them. In this culture, women and children were dependent on male relatives for support. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly what kind of distress James wants his readers to help relieve. Alternate translation: “to help poor orphans and widows with their practical needs” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἄσπιλον ἑαυτὸν τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου

This is not a purpose or result clause. James is not telling his readers that they should help orphans and widows in order to stay unstained by the world or that this would be the result if they did help them. Rather, James is saying that this is a second thing that characterizes religion that pleases God. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could add the word “and” before this clause in order to clarify this.

ἄσπιλον ἑαυτὸν τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου

James is using the term world figuratively to mean the system of values shared by people who do not honor God, by association with the way those people live in the world. Alternate translation: “to keep oneself unstained by the value system of ungodly people” (See: Metonymy)

ἄσπιλον ἑαυτὸν τηρεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου

James is speaking figuratively of the influence of ungodly people as if it could physically stain a person. By unstained he actually means free from sin. Alternate translation: “not to allow ungodly people and their influence to cause oneself to sin” (See: Metaphor)

James 2

James 2 General Notes

Structure and formatting

1. A warning against favoring rich people (2:1-13)
2. Faith and works (2:14-26)

Special concepts in this chapter

Favoritism

Some of James’s readers treated rich and powerful people well and they treated poor people badly. Treating some people better than others is called favoritism. James tells his readers that this is wrong. God wants his people to treat everyone well.

Justification

Justification is what happens when God makes a person righteous, that is, when God puts a person in right standing with himself. James says in this chapter that God justifies people when they do good works along with having faith. But that is because the good works demonstrate the faith that a person has, as James says explicitly in 2:18. James is not saying that people need to add good works to their faith in order to be justified. (See: just, justice, unjust, injustice, justify, justification and righteous, righteousness, unrighteous, unrighteousness, upright, uprightness and faith)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

But someone may say, “You have faith, and I have works” (2:18)

When James says this, he seems to be raising an objection that someone might make to what he has been saying. Public speakers at this time commonly raised such objections in order to answer them, and James is probably using that device. However, if that is what he is doing, we would expect the objection to be, “You have works, and I have faith,” since James has been stressing the importance of works accompanying faith. So why does this hypothetical speaker say instead, “You have faith, and I have works”?

It appears that James actually has this speaker addressing these words to the same “you” whom he has been addressing himself since 2:16 as “one of you” and whom he then goes on to address in the rest of this chapter. In other words, James is raising this hypothetical objection so that he can address this same “you” in this verse as well. James is saying, “Someone might reassure you that you nevertheless have faith, while I (James) have works. He might argue that both are valid expressions of religion and that it is not necessary for a person to have both.” James then answers this argument by observing that he can show his faith through his works, while a person who claims to have faith but not works has no means of proving that.

In your translation, you may wish to express this implicit information, as UST does. Alternatively, you may wish to translate as ULT does and leave it to Bible teachers and preachers to explain the meaning. See the further discussion in the notes to 2:18. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Major textual issues in this chapter

Faith without works is “useless” or “dead” (2:20)

In James 2:20, some ancient manuscripts say that faith without works is “useless.” ULT and UST follow that reading. Some other ancient manuscripts say that it is “dead,” perhaps under the influence of 2:17 and 2:26, where James uses the term “dead” to describe faith that is not expressed in works. If a translation of the Bible already exists in your area, consider using the reading found in that translation. If not, we recommend that you follow the reading of ULT and UST. (See: Textual Variants)

James 2:1

ἀδελφοί μου

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “My fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ ἐν προσωπολημψίαις ἔχετε

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun favoritism, you could express the idea behind it with an equivalent phrase. (See the discussion of favoritism in the General Notes to this chapter.) Alternate translation: “you should not treat some people better than others, because that is not consistent with” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τὴν πίστιν τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ

James is using the possessive form to refer to faith that other people have in Jesus. Alternate translation: “faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (See: Possession)

τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν, Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, τῆς δόξης

James is using the possessive form to describe Jesus as characterized by glory. Alternate translation: “our glorious Lord Jesus Christ” (See: Possession)

James 2:2

ἐὰν γὰρ

James is using a hypothetical situation to teach. He describes the condition in this verse and the next verse, and he describes the result in 2:4. Alternate translation: “Suppose” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

ἀνὴρ χρυσοδακτύλιος, ἐν ἐσθῆτι λαμπρᾷ

James assumes that his readers will know that he is giving an example of what a wealthy person might wear. (The expression a gold-ringed man does not mean a man who is ringed around with gold, but a man who is wearing a gold ring.) If it would be helpful to your readers, you could use a different example from your own culture, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “someone who is dressed like a wealthy person” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀνὴρ

James is using the term man in a generic sense that could mean either a man or a woman. Alternate translation: “person” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

συναγωγὴν

A synagogue is a Jewish meeting place for worship. James uses the term because he is writing primarily to Jews who have put their faith in Jesus as their Messiah. (See the discussion in Part 1 of the Introduction to James.) In your translation you could use a more general term. Alternate translation: “meeting place” (See: Translate Unknowns)

πτωχὸς

James is using the adjective poor as a noun in order to mean a kind of person. (ULT adds one to indicate this.) Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “a person who is poor” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

James 2:3

δὲ

James is continuing to describe the condition in the hypothetical situation that he introduced in the previous verse. Alternate translation, as in UST: “and suppose” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

ἐπιβλέψητε…εἴπητε…εἴπητε

In these three instances you is plural, since James is speaking to all of his readers about what they might do in such a situation. (See: Forms of You)

ἐπιβλέψητε…ἐπὶ

In this context, this expression means to look at someone or something with admiration. Alternate translation: “you look admiringly at” (See: Idiom)

σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς…σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ…κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

Since these comments are addressed to the rich person and to the poor person as individuals, you is singular in the first two instances and the implied “you” in the command to sit is also singular. (See: Forms of ‘You’ — Singular)

σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς

In this context well means “honorably.” It does not refer to how well the rich person would be able to sit in the indicated seat. Alternate translation: “Sit here in this place of honor” (See: Idiom)

σὺ κάθου ὧδε καλῶς

This is an imperative, but it should be translated as a polite request rather than as a command. It may be helpful to add an expression such as “please” to make this clear. Alternate translation: “Please sit here in this place of honor” (See: Imperatives — Other Uses)

καὶ

The term and introduces a contrast between the way the rich person and the poor person are treated. Alternate translation: “but” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ…κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

These statements addressed to the poor person probably are direct imperatives rather than polite requests, since James is illustrating how believers might treat poor people differently from rich people. Not adding “please” to these statements would show the contrast with the way the rich person is addressed. (See: Imperatives — Other Uses)

σὺ στῆθι ἐκεῖ…κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

The implications are that the poor person is being told to stand or sit in a humbler and less honorable place. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly, as UST does. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

κάθου ὑπὸ τὸ ὑποπόδιόν μου

This imperative statement uses the singular first-person pronoun my, since it is something that one of the believers might say to the hypothetical poor person. If this would not be natural in your language, since the statement is introduced by you (plural) say, you could also use a plural form in the statement itself. Alternate translation: “Sit on the floor by our feet” (See: Forms of You)

James 2:4

οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν?

In this verse James describes the result of the hypothetical situation he has been describing since 2:2. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “Then you have distinguished among yourselves and become judges of evil thoughts.” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν

If your readers would misunderstand this sentence, you could reverse the order of these phrases, since the second phrase gives the reason for the result that the first phrase describes. Alternate translation: “have you not become judges who think evil things and so begun to consider some people better than others” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

οὐ διεκρίθητε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν?

As James describes this result, he uses the question form for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “you have considered some people better than others, because you have become judges who think evil things!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν

James is using the possessive form to describe judges who are characterized by evil thoughts. He is not speaking of people who judge whether thoughts are evil. Alternate translation: “become judges who think evil things” (See: Possession)

ἐγένεσθε κριταὶ διαλογισμῶν πονηρῶν

James is describing something more than passively assuming a certain role and thinking in a certain way. He is describing taking action based on that way of thinking. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “made wrong judgments about how people should be treated and then treated them that way” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 2:5

ἀκούσατε

James uses this expression to emphasize what he is about to say. Alternate translation: “Pay attention to this” (See: Idiom)

ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί

See how you translated this in 1:16. Alternate translation: “my dear fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

οὐχ ὁ Θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ, πλουσίους ἐν πίστει, καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τοὺς πτωχοὺς

James is using the adjective poor as a noun to refer to a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “people who are poor” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

τῷ κόσμῳ

James is using the term world in a different sense than in 1:27. Here it refers to the world that we live in, and so it indicates ordinary life. Alternate translation: “in this life” (See: Metonymy)

πλουσίους ἐν πίστει

James speaks figuratively of having much faith as if that made a person wealthy. Alternate translation: “to have strong faith” (See: Metaphor)

πλουσίους ἐν πίστει

Your language may require you to specify the object of faith. Alternate translation: “to have strong faith in Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς

James speaks figuratively of the people to whom God has promised the kingdom as if they were going to inherit wealth from a family member. Alternate translation: “participants in the kingdom that” (See: Metaphor)

κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun kingdom, you could express the idea behind it with a verb such as “rule.” Alternate translation: “to enjoy advantages when God rules, as” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 2:6

ἠτιμάσατε τὸν πτωχόν

What James means by this is clear from the example he gives in 2:2-3. Alternate translation: “you have treated people who are poor much worse than you have treated people who are rich”

τὸν πτωχόν

James is using the adjective poor as a noun to refer to a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “people who are poor” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια

The word that is translated themselves here is the same word that is translated they in the next verse. It is effectively the subject of a new independent clause, so you could translate this as two sentences. Alternate translation: “Do not the rich overpower you? Do they not drag you into court” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “It is the rich who overpower you and drag you into court themselves!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν, καὶ αὐτοὶ ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια?

James is implying that rich people do not deserve to be treated better by the believers to whom he is writing, since rich people have actually treated them badly. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “People who are rich do not deserve to have you treat them better than others. They are the ones who overpower you and drag you into court themselves!” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

οἱ πλούσιοι

James is using the adjective rich as a noun to refer to a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “people who are rich” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

οὐχ οἱ πλούσιοι καταδυναστεύουσιν ὑμῶν

Alternate translation: “Is it not the rich who oppress you”

ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια

James is speaking figuratively of the rich as if they would physically drag the poor into court. Alternate translation: “force you to go to court” (See: Metaphor)

ἕλκουσιν ὑμᾶς εἰς κριτήρια

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly why rich people were taking poor people to court. Alternate translation: “force you to go to court so that they can exploit you through lawsuits” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 2:7

οὐκ αὐτοὶ βλασφημοῦσιν τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “They are the ones who blaspheme the good name that has been called upon you!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

οὐκ αὐτοὶ βλασφημοῦσιν τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα

The word blaspheme can have a technical sense. It can describe a human being wrongly denying that something is divine. But the word can also have the general sense of “insult,” and that is probably the sense in which James is using it here. (However, by insulting the name of Jesus, these rich people were also guilty of blasphemy in the technical sense, since Jesus is divine and his name should be honored.) Alternate translation: “Do they not insult the good name”

τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα

James is referring figuratively to the name of Jesus by association with the way that it is good. Alternate translation: “the name of Jesus” (See: Metonymy)

τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “by which you are called” or “by which you are known” (See: Idiom)

τὸ ἐπικληθὲν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “by which people call you” (See: Active or Passive)

James 2:8

εἰ μέντοι

James is using these words to introduce a contrast with what he said in 2:6, “you have dishonored the poor,” meaning “you have treated rich people much better than you have treated poor people.” Alternate translation: “But if, instead of favoring rich people” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

τελεῖτε

The verb fulfill comes from the same root as the adjective “perfect” that James uses several times earlier in this letter. It means to make something accomplish its purpose or reach its goal. Alternate translation: “you completely obey”

νόμον…βασιλικὸν

There are two possible reasons for why James describes the law that he quotes here from Leviticus 19:18 as royal. (1) When Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom of God, he said that this law was one of two that summed up all of the other laws and guided life in the kingdom of God. (The other law was to love God with all of one’s heart, soul, mind, and strength.) Alternate translation: “the law that guides life in the kingdom of God” (2) James may say that this law is royal because God, the true king, gave it to people. Alternate translation: “God’s law” (See: Metonymy)

ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν

Here the law of Moses is using a future statement to give a command. Alternate translation: “You are to love your neighbor as you love yourself” (See: Statements — Other Uses)

ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σου ὡς σεαυτόν

The words you and yourself are singular in this quotation because, even though Moses gave this law to the Israelites as a group, each individual person was expected to obey it. So in your translation, use the singular forms of “you” and “yourself” if your language marks that distinction. (See: Singular Pronouns that refer to Groups)

τὸν πλησίον σου

This is an idiom. It does not mean only someone who lives nearby. Alternate translation: “other people” or “anyone you encounter” (See: Idiom)

καλῶς ποιεῖτε

Alternate translation: “you are doing what God wants you to do”

James 2:9

προσωπολημπτεῖτε

Your language may require you to specify the object of favor. Alternate translation: “you favor the rich” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ὡς παραβάται

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “and the law convicts you as transgressors” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐλεγχόμενοι ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ὡς παραβάται

James is speaking figuratively of the law as if it were a human judge. Alternate translation: “and you are guilty of breaking God’s law” (See: Personification)

James 2:10

γὰρ

James is giving the reason for the statement he made in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “The reason why showing favoritism makes a person guilty of breaking God’s law is that” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ὅστις…τηρήσῃ

Here, keep is an idiom that means “obey.” Alternate translation: “whoever might obey” (See: Idiom)

πταίσῃ δὲ ἐν ἑνί

James speaks figuratively of a person disobeying a commandment as if he would stumble, that is, trip and lose his balance while walking. Alternate translation: “but disobey one thing” (See: Metaphor)

πταίσῃ δὲ ἐν ἑνί

James is using the adjective one as a noun to refer to one commandment of the law. (ULT adds the term thing to show this.) Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate the term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “but disobey one commandment” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

πάντων ἔνοχος

Alternate translation: “guilty of breaking the entire law”

πάντων ἔνοχος

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly why James says that this is true. Alternate translation: “guilty of breaking the entire law, because God gave the entire law to show people how he wanted them to live, and if you break one part of it, you are not living in that way” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 2:11

γὰρ

James is giving the reason for the statement he made in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “The reason why breaking one law makes a person guilty of breaking every law is that” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ὁ…εἰπών

James is referring implicitly to God, who spoke the commandments quoted in this verse when he gave the law to Moses. Alternate translation: “God who said” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

μὴ μοιχεύσῃς…μὴ φονεύσῃς…οὐ μοιχεύεις…φονεύεις…γέγονας

The implied “you” in the two commandments that James quotes in this verse is singular because, even though Moses gave these laws to the Israelites as a group, each individual person was expected to obey them. The word you is also singular in the rest of the verse because James is carrying forward that usage from the commandments. So in your translation, use the singular form of “you” if your language marks that distinction. (See: Singular Pronouns that refer to Groups)

James 2:12

οὕτως λαλεῖτε, καὶ οὕτως ποιεῖτε

The implied “you” in these imperatives is plural. James returns here to the plural usage that he follows in most of his letter. So in your translation, use the plural form of “you” if your language marks that distinction and if it reflects it in imperatives. Alternate translation: “Speak and act in this way” (See: Forms of You)

μέλλοντες κρίνεσθαι

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who will do the action. Alternate translation: “people whom God is going to judge” (See: Active or Passive)

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

As in 1:25, James is using the possessive form to describe a law that brings freedom. Alternate translation: “the law that brings freedom” (See: Possession)

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun freedom, you could translate the idea behind it with an adjective such as “free.” Alternate translation: “the law that sets people free” (See: Abstract Nouns)

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what the law gives people the freedom to do. Alternate translation: “the law that sets people free to obey God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

νόμου ἐλευθερίας

In this context, it appears that when James speaks of the law of freedom, he is referring to the commandment that he quoted in 2:8, “You will love your neighbor as yourself.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express this explicitly and explain how this law sets people free. Alternate translation: “the law to love one’s neighbor, which sets people free to obey God by giving them a principle to follow in all of their actions” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 2:13

γὰρ

James is giving the reason why people should be guided in their actions by the principle of loving others, as he said in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “You should follow the principle of loving others because” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἡ γὰρ κρίσις ἀνέλεος τῷ μὴ ποιήσαντι ἔλεος

James is using the word judgment figuratively to represent God, the one who judges. Alternate translation: “when God judges people, he will not be merciful to people who have not shown mercy to others” (See: Metonymy)

ἡ γὰρ κρίσις ἀνέλεος τῷ μὴ ποιήσαντι ἔλεος

James is speaking figuratively of judgment as if it were a living thing that could act in a merciless way. Alternate translation: “When God judges people, he will not be merciful to people who have not shown mercy to others” (See: Personification)

τῷ μὴ ποιήσαντι ἔλεος

The word translated mercy can also refer to compassion. Since James is referring in this context to following the command to love others, that is likely what it means here. Alternate translation: “those who have not acted compassionately towards others”

κατακαυχᾶται ἔλεος κρίσεως

There is an implied contrast between this sentence and the statement in the previous sentence that “judgment is merciless.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that contrast explicitly at the start of this sentence with a word such as “however.” Alternate translation: “However, mercy boasts against judgment” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

κατακαυχᾶται ἔλεος κρίσεως

James is speaking figuratively of mercy and judgment as if they were living things that could fight a contest against one another. He is also speaking figuratively of mercy as if it could boast after defeating judgment in such a contest. James is continuing to describe how God will judge people. Alternate translation: “However, God will show mercy when he judges people who have acted compassionately towards others” (See: Personification)

James 2:14

τί τὸ ὄφελος, ἀδελφοί μου, ἐὰν πίστιν λέγῃ τις, ἔχειν ἔργα, δὲ μὴ ἔχῃ?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “It does no good, my brothers, for someone to say he has faith if he does not have works.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τί τὸ ὄφελος

This is an idiom. Your language may have a comparable expression that you can use here. Alternate translation: “What good would it do” (See: Idiom)

ἀδελφοί μου

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

ἐὰν πίστιν λέγῃ τις, ἔχειν ἔργα, δὲ μὴ ἔχῃ

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “if someone said he believed in God but he did not do what God wanted him to do” (See: Abstract Nouns)

μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν

In context, James is clearly asking not about faith in general, but about faith that is not demonstrated in works. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “That kind of faith is not able to save him, is it” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν

The first word of this sentence in Greek is a negative word that can be used to turn a statement into a question that expects a negative answer. ULT shows this by adding “is it?” Your language may have other ways of asking a question that expects a negative answer, for example, by changing the word order of a positive statement. Alternate translation: “Is that kind of faith able to save him” (See: Double Negatives)

μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “That kind of faith is certainly not able to save him!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ δύναται ἡ πίστις σῶσαι αὐτόν?

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun faith, you could express the ideas behind it with a verb such as “believe.” Alternate translation: “Will merely believing in God save him?” (See: Abstract Nouns)

σῶσαι αὐτόν

Your language may require you to specify what this kind of faith cannot save a person from. Alternate translation: “save him from God’s judgment”

James 2:15

ἐὰν

James is using a hypothetical situation to teach. He begins to describe the condition in this verse. He describes the rest of the condition and the result in the next verse. Alternate translation: “Suppose” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἀδελφὴ

As everywhere else in the book, the term brother refers to a fellow believer. In every other instance, the term can mean either a man or a woman. But in this verse James uses brother to mean a believer who is a man and sister to mean a believer who is a woman. If your language has both masculine and the feminine forms of the word you have been using to translate “brother,” you can use them both here. Otherwise, you can use an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “another man or woman who believes in Jesus” (See: Metaphor)

γυμνοὶ

Unclothed can mean “naked,” and if a Bible translation already exists in your area, it may say that. But in this context, the word actually refers to lacking adequate clothes. Alternate translation: “badly clothed”

James 2:16

δέ

James is continuing to describe the condition of the hypothetical situation that he is using to teach. Alternate translation: “and suppose that” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

αὐτοῖς…αὐτοῖς

Even though in the previous verse James spoke in the singular of “a brother or sister,” he now speaks of needy people generally in the plural, saying them. If this might be confusing for your readers, you could use the singular in this verse as well. Alternate translation: “to him or her … him or her” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

θερμαίνεσθε καὶ χορτάζεσθε

The person who would say this to people in need would be speaking figuratively of clothing by association with the way its keeps people warm and figuratively of food by association with the way it satisfies people. Alternate translation: “have adequate clothing and enough food” (See: Metonymy)

θερμαίνεσθε

Alternate translation: “stay warm”

χορτάζεσθε

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an equivalent expression that uses an active verbal form. Alternate translation: “have enough food to satisfy you” (See: Active or Passive)

δὲ

James is continuing to describe the hypothetical situation that he is using to teach. Alternate translation: “but also suppose that” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

μὴ δῶτε

At the beginning of this verse, James speaks in the third-person singular of one of you. But he now speaks of believers generally in the second-person plural, saying you, to indicate how the community as a whole might respond to this situation. If this might be confusing for your readers, you could use the third-person singular here as well. Alternate translation: “he does not give” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

τὰ ἐπιτήδεια

James is using the adjective necessary in the plural as a noun. (ULT adds things to show this.) Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate the term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “the things that are necessary” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

τοῦ σώματος

James is speaking figuratively of meeting physical needs that also have an emotional and spiritual dimension by association with the way that these are needs of the human body. Alternate translation: “for people to be warm and well-fed” (See: Metonymy)

τί τὸ ὄφελος?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. See how you translated the similar expression in 2:14. Alternate translation: “that does no good!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

τί τὸ ὄφελος?

This is the result of the hypothetical situation that James has been using to teach. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “Then that does no good!” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

James 2:17

ἡ πίστις, ἐὰν μὴ ἔχῃ ἔργα, νεκρά ἐστιν καθ’ ἑαυτήν

James is speaking figuratively of faith as if it would be a living thing if it had works but not be alive if it did not have them. Alternate translation: “a person’s faith is not genuine by itself; he must express it through works” (See: Personification)

ἡ πίστις, ἐὰν μὴ ἔχῃ ἔργα, νεκρά ἐστιν καθ’ ἑαυτήν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “if a person says he believes in God but he does not do what God wants him to do, then he does not really believe in God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 2:18

ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ τις, σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις, κἀγὼ ἔργα ἔχω

See the discussion of this sentence in the General Notes to this chapter. You may want to turn the direct quotation into an indirect quotation to help your readers understand that the you who is being addressed is the same “one of you” as in 2:16 and that when James says I, he is referring to himself. Alternate translation: “But someone may tell you that you have faith and I have works” (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)

ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ τις, σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις, κἀγὼ ἔργα ἔχω

See the discussion of this sentence in the General Notes to this chapter. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate more explicitly what this statement means. (UST explains the implications even further than is suggested here.) Alternate translation: “But someone may try to reassure you that you nevertheless have faith, while I, James, have works” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἀλλ’ ἐρεῖ τις

James is using a hypothetical situation to teach. This expression introduces the condition of the hypothetical situation. (As Part 1 of the General Introduction to James explains, in the style of speakers of this time, James is anticipating an objection that someone might make and saying how he would respond to it.) Alternate translation: “But suppose someone said to you” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

σὺ πίστιν ἔχεις

Here, you is singular because James is illustrating how someone might address one individual. James himself then addresses that same individual in the rest of this verse and in verses 19-22. So if your language marks the distinction, use the singular form of “you” in your translation from here through verse 22. (See: Forms of ‘You’ — Singular)

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων, κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

It may be helpful to make this sentence a direct quotation after an introduction to show that it is what James would say in response to the hypothetical objection. Alternate translation: “Then I would say to you, ‘Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith from works’” (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων, κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

This is the result of the hypothetical situation that James has been describing. Alternate translation: “Then I would say to you, ‘Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith from works’” (See: Hypothetical Situations)

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων

James is using the imperative show me to challenge the hypothetical “you” and make him realize that he really cannot do what James is telling him to do. Alternate translation: “You cannot show me your faith without works” (See: Imperatives — Other Uses)

δεῖξόν μοι τὴν πίστιν σου χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “You cannot show me that you truly believe in God if you are not doing what God wants you to do” (See: Abstract Nouns)

κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

James is using a future statement to indicate something he is capable of doing. Alternate translation: “but I can show you my faith from works” (See: Statements — Other Uses)

κἀγώ σοι δείξω ἐκ τῶν ἔργων μου τὴν πίστιν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “but by doing what God wants me to do, I can show you that I truly believe in God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 2:19

σὺ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἷς ἐστιν ὁ Θεός

The verb translated believe comes from the same root as the word translated “faith.” It may be helpful to your readers to show in your translation that James is continuing to speak to the same person as in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “You have faith that God is one”

σὺ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἷς ἐστιν ὁ Θεός

As Part 1 of the General Introduction to James explains, the people to whom James was writing were believers in Jesus who had a Jewish background. As a result, they would have known that he was referring here to the essential Jewish affirmation, “Listen, Israel, Yahweh our God is one.” Moses says this in Deuteronomy 6:4. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “You believe the essential teaching of Moses that there is one God”

καλῶς ποιεῖς; καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καὶ φρίσσουσιν

When James says you do well, he is saying the opposite of what he really means. He grants that believing in one God is a good thing in itself, but he is actually saying that by itself, it is the kind of faith without works that cannot save a person. He proves this by observing that the demons, who are not saved, also believe that there is one God, and this makes them tremble. Alternate translation: “You may think that is a good thing to do. But the demons also believe in one God, and they tremble” (See: Irony)

καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καὶ φρίσσουσιν

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly why the demons tremble at the thought of God. Alternate translation: “The demons also believe in one God, and they tremble, knowing that God is going to punish them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 2:20

θέλεις δὲ γνῶναι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ, ὅτι ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “But I can show you, O foolish man, that faith without works is idle.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

θέλεις…γνῶναι

This is an idiom. It means “I can show you” by suggesting implicitly, “If you really want to know, I can show you.” Alternate translation as a statement: “I can show you” (See: Idiom)

ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ

James is addressing this hypothetical man in the vocative after an exclamation. If your language has a vocative case, it would be appropriate to use it here. If not, you could express the meaning in another way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: “you foolish man”

ὦ ἄνθρωπε κενέ

James is using the term man in a generic sense that could mean any person, male or female. Alternate translation: “you foolish person” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν

James is speaking figuratively of faith as if it were a living thing that would be lazily doing nothing if it did not have works. Alternate translation: “a person’s faith is useless if he does not express it through works” or “a person’s faith is unproductive if he does not express it through works” (See: Personification)

ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “it is useless for a person to say that he believes in God if he does not do what God wants him to do” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν

See the discussion of textual issues at the end of the General Notes to this chapter to decide whether to use this reading in your translation or a different reading, “faith without works is dead.” The note below discusses a translation issue in that reading, for those who decide to use it. (See: Textual Variants)

ἡ πίστις χωρὶς τῶν ἔργων ἀργή ἐστιν

If the reading “faith without works is dead” is accurate, then James is speaking figuratively of faith as if it would be alive if it had works but it would not be alive if it did not have them. Alternate translation: “a person’s faith is not genuine if he does not express it through works” (See: Personification)

James 2:21

Ἀβραὰμ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, ἀνενέγκας Ἰσαὰκ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “Abraham our father was justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Ἀβραὰμ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, ἀνενέγκας Ἰσαὰκ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον?

James assumes that his readers will know that he is referring to a story recorded in the book of Genesis. In that story, God tells Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice, but God does not really want Abraham to do that. Rather, God wants Abraham to demonstrate his faith and obedience by showing that he is willing to do it. God ultimately stops Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac. You could indicate this explicitly if it would be helpful to your readers, particularly if they would not know the story and if they would think that Abraham actually did offer his son as a sacrifice. Alternate translation, as a statement: “Abraham our father was justified by works when he demonstrated that he was willing to obey God even if that meant offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice, although God did not actually want him to do that and God stopped him from doing it” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ἀβραὰμ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη

See the discussion in Part 2 of the General Introduction to James about how a person is justified before God. James is not saying that Abraham did something that made God consider him righteous. Rather, as James will explain in more detail in the next two verses, God had previously declared Abraham to be righteous because Abraham believed in him. What Abraham did subsequently, when he proved that he was willing to obey God, demonstrated that his faith was genuine. You could indicate this explicitly if it would be helpful to your readers, particularly if they might misunderstand and think that Abraham did something that made God consider him righteous. Alternate translation, as a statement: “God declared Abraham our father to be righteous because what he did demonstrated that he genuinely believed in God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ἀβραὰμ ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν οὐκ…ἐδικαιώθη

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation, as a statement: “God justified Abraham our father” or “God declared Abraham our father to be righteous” (See: Active or Passive)

Ἀβραὰμ…Ἰσαὰκ

These are the names of two men. (See: How to Translate Names)

ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν

James is using the term father figuratively to mean “ancestor.” Alternate translation: “Abraham our ancestor” (See: Metaphor)

ὁ πατὴρ ἡμῶν

James is Jewish, descended from Abraham, and the people to whom he is writing also come from a Jewish background, so the word our would be inclusive, if your language marks that distinction. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

James 2:22

βλέπεις

Here, to see figuratively represents to understand. Alternate translation: “So you should understand” (See: Metaphor)

ἡ πίστις συνήργει τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἔργων ἡ πίστις ἐτελειώθη

James is speaking figuratively of faith and works as if they were living things that could work together and help each other. Alternate translation: “Abraham was strengthened to do these works by his faith, and doing these works made his faith even stronger” (See: Personification)

ἡ πίστις συνήργει τοῖς ἔργοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἔργων ἡ πίστις ἐτελειώθη

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “Abraham did these things because he believed in God, and because he did these things, he believed in God even more” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐκ τῶν ἔργων ἡ πίστις ἐτελειώθη

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “his works perfected his faith” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐκ τῶν ἔργων ἡ πίστις ἐτελειώθη

The verb perfected comes from the same root as the adjective “perfect” that James uses several times earlier in this letter. The verb refers similarly to something developing to the point where it is fully suited to its purpose. Alternate translation: “what he did helped his faith become fully mature”

James 2:23

ἐπληρώθη ἡ Γραφὴ

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “this fulfilled the scripture” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐπίστευσεν δὲ Ἀβραὰμ τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐλογίσθη αὐτῷ εἰς δικαιοσύνην

This is a quotation from Genesis 15:6. James assumes that his readers will know that it refers to how Abraham responded to God’s promise that even though he and his wife were old and had no children, he would have as many descendants as the stars in the sky. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could give an explicit indication of this. Alternate translation: “Abraham believed God’s promise that he would have many descendants, and so God considered Abraham to be in a right relationship with him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

φίλος Θεοῦ ἐκλήθη

James assumes that his readers will know that in Isaiah 41:8, God refers to the Israelites as “the offspring of Abraham my friend” and that in 2 Chronicles 20:7, in a prayer to God, King Jehoshaphat refers to the Israelites as “the descendants of Abraham your friend.” If it would be helpful to your readers, you could give an explicit indication of this. Alternate translation: “he was called a friend of God in later scriptures” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

φίλος Θεοῦ ἐκλήθη

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form, and you can state who did the action. Alternate translation: “God, speaking through Isaiah, later called him his friend, and in prayer King Jehoshaphat also described him as God’s friend” (See: Active or Passive)

James 2:24

ὁρᾶτε

Here, to see figuratively represents to understand. Alternate translation: “So you should understand” (See: Metaphor)

ὁρᾶτε

James returns here to the plural usage that he follows in most of the letter. So in your translation, use the plural form of “you” if your language marks that distinction. Other languages may have other ways of indicating the shift back to plural here. Alternate translation: “So all of you should understand” (See: Forms of You)

ἄνθρωπος

James is using the term man in a generic sense that could mean any person, male or female. Alternate translation: “a person” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

δικαιοῦται

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “becomes right with God” or “comes to have a right relationship with God” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐξ ἔργων…καὶ οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως μόνον

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “by what he does and not just by what he believes” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐξ ἔργων…καὶ οὐκ ἐκ πίστεως μόνον

See the discussion in Part 2 of the General Introduction to James about how a person is justified before God. James is not saying that we need to add works to our faith in order to be justified. Rather, James is speaking of works that are an expression and proof of the saving faith that a person already has. You could indicate this explicitly if it would be helpful to your readers, particularly if they might misunderstand and think that James is saying that we have to add works to our faith in order for God to consider us righteous. Alternate translation: “by what he does as an expression of what he believes, and not just by what he believes” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 2:25

ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἐδικαιώθη, ὑποδεξαμένη τοὺς ἀγγέλους, καὶ ἑτέρᾳ ὁδῷ ἐκβαλοῦσα?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “Rahab the prostitute was also justified similarly from works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them away by another road.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ὁμοίως…καὶ Ῥαὰβ ἡ πόρνη οὐκ…ἐδικαιώθη

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who did the action. Alternate translation: “did not God similarly justify Rahab the prostitute” or “did not God similarly declare Rahab the prostitute to be righteous” (See: Active or Passive)

ὁμοίως

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what similarly means in this context. Alternate translation: “in the same way as Abraham,” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Ῥαὰβ

Rahab is the name of a woman. (See: How to Translate Names)

ἐξ ἔργων

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun works, you could express the idea behind it with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “by what she did” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ὑποδεξαμένη τοὺς ἀγγέλους, καὶ ἑτέρᾳ ὁδῷ ἐκβαλοῦσα

James assumes that his readers will know that he is referring to the episode recorded in the book of Joshua in which Joshua sent two spies to explore the land of Canaan. Rahab provided safety and shelter for these spies in her home, and she then sent them away safely by a route that their pursuers would not have expected them to take. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could give an explicit indication of this. Alternate translation: “when she provided shelter and safety in her home for the spies whom Joshua sent to explore the land of Canaan and when she sent these spies safely away by a route that their pursuers would not have expected them to take” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐκβαλοῦσα

Since there were two messengers, the pronoun them would be in the dual, if your language uses that form. (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

James 2:26

γὰρ

James is using this word to introduce a general principle that can be deduced from the argument he has been making since 2:14 that faith needs to be expressed in works. He does not say For, which often means “because,” to indicate that God justified Abraham and Rahab for this reason. Rather, he is using the word For in order to bring his argument to its conclusion. Alternate translation: “These specific cases confirm the general principle that” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

τὸ σῶμα χωρὶς πνεύματος νεκρόν ἐστιν

The word translated spirit can also mean “breath.” Alternate translation: “a body that does not have the breath of life in it is dead”

ἡ πίστις χωρὶς ἔργων νεκρά ἐστιν

James is speaking figuratively of faith as if it would be a living thing if it had works but not be alive if it did not have them. Alternate translation: “a person’s faith is not genuine if he does not express it through works” (See: Personification)

ἡ πίστις χωρὶς ἔργων νεκρά ἐστιν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns faith and works, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “if a person says he believes in God but he does not do what God wants him to do, then he does not really believe in God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 3

James 3 General Notes

Structure and formatting

1. The need for self-control in speech (3:1-12)
2. Worldy wisdom and heavenly wisdom contrasted (3:13-18)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Metaphors

In this chapter, James uses many illustrations from everyday life to teach his readers how to live in a way that pleases God. He speaks about horses in 3:3, ships in 3:4, forest fires in 3:5, animal taming in 3:7, springs of water in 3:11, and fruit trees in 3:12. (See: Metaphor)

James 3:1

μὴ πολλοὶ διδάσκαλοι γίνεσθε

Alternate translation: “Not many of you should become teachers”

ἀδελφοί μου

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

εἰδότες ὅτι

Alternate translation: “since you know that”

μεῖζον κρίμα λημψόμεθα

James is speaking of himself and other teachers but not of his readers, so the pronoun we is exclusive here. Alternate translation: “we who teach will receive greater judgment” (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

μεῖζον κρίμα λημψόμεθα

By greater judgment, James means that God will judge people who teach his word more strictly than he will judge other people. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate explicitly why that is true. Alternate translation: “God will judge us who teach his word more strictly than he will judge other people, because our teaching greatly influences what other people believe and how they live” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 3:2

γὰρ

James is using For to introduce the reason why most of his readers should not become teachers, not the reason why God will judge teachers more strictly. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain this reason more fully as a separate sentence, as UST does. (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

πολλὰ…πταίομεν ἅπαντες

James is using the adjective much as an adverb. Alternate translation: “we all stumble in many ways”

πολλὰ…πταίομεν ἅπαντες

James is now speaking of himself and other teachers and also of his readers and people in general, so the pronoun we is inclusive here. Alternate translation: “everyone stumbles in many ways” (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

πολλὰ…πταίομεν ἅπαντες…ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει

As in 2:10, James is speaking figuratively of people sinning as if they would stumble, that is, trip and lose their balance while walking. Alternate translation: “we all sin in many ways … does not sin in word” (See: Metaphor)

εἴ τις ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει

James is using the term word figuratively to mean what people say by using words. Alternate translation: “If anyone does not sin in what he says” or “If anyone does not say things that are wrong” (See: Metonymy)

οὗτος τέλειος ἀνήρ

As in 1:4 and several other places earlier in this letter, the term perfect refers to something that has developed to the point where it is fully suited to its purpose. Alternate translation: “he is a spiritually mature person”

δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα

As in 1:26, James speaks figuratively of a person being able to bridle himself as if that person were controlling a horse with a bridle. Alternate translation: “able to control his whole body” (See: Metaphor)

δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα

James speaks figuratively of a person’s body to mean all of that person, including his actions and behavior. Alternate translation: “able to control everything he does” (See: Synecdoche)

James 3:3

δὲ

James uses Now to introduce background information in the form of an illustration that will help his readers understand what he wants to teach them. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could translate the word with a phrase that shows that James is going to offer an illustration, as UST does. (See: Connect — Background Information)

τῶν ἵππων τοὺς χαλινοὺς εἰς τὰ στόματα βάλλομεν

Horses are large animals that are used in many cultures to transport people and goods. Bits are small pieces of metal that are placed into horses’ mouths to control where they go. If your readers would not be familiar with horses and bits, in your translation you could use the name of another animal and a different device, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “we put pegs into the noses of camels” or “we use small devices on the bodies of large animals” (See: Translate Unknowns)

εἰς τὸ πείθεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἡμῖν

Alternate translation: “so that they will obey us”

καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν μετάγομεν

James means that by using a bit, people can turn the body of a horse in whatever direction they want. James is figuratively using the action of turning a horse to mean guiding or controlling it in general. Alternate translation: “this enables us to guide their whole body” or “this enables us to control their whole body” (See: Metonymy)

ὅλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτῶν

Since James speaks of horses in the plural, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of body. Alternate translation: “their whole bodies”

James 3:4

ἰδοὺ, καὶ τὰ πλοῖα

The term behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Though it literally means “look” or “see,” the term can be used figuratively to mean giving notice and attention, and that is how James is using it here. Alternate translation: “Also consider the case of ships” (See: Metaphor)

πλοῖα…πηδαλίου

Ships are large vessels that are used to transport people or goods by water. A rudder is a flat device attached to the back of a ship that is used to steer it. If your readers would not be familiar with what ships are and what a rudder is, in your translation you could use the name of another transportation vehicle and a different device, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “trucks … steering wheel” or “large vehicles … steering device” (See: Translate Unknowns)

τηλικαῦτα ὄντα, καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα

It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “Even though they are so large and driven by strong winds”

τηλικαῦτα ὄντα, καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Even though they are so large and strong winds drive them” (See: Active or Passive)

μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

James is figuratively using the action of turning a ship to mean guiding or controlling the ship in general. (For example, a person might turn a ship in order to keep it upright, not just to direct it to a certain place.) Alternate translation: “it is controlled by the smallest rudder” or “it is guided by the smallest rudder” (See: Metonymy)

μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “the smallest rudder turns it” (See: Active or Passive)

μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

Since James speaks of ships in the plural, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural in this clause as well. Alternate translation: “they are turned by the smallest rudders” or “the smallest rudders turn them”

ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

James says smallest, using the superlative form of the adjective “small,” to express a meaning of the adjective in its positive form. Your language may use superlative forms in the same way. If not, you can translate this using the positive form. Alternate translation: “a very small rudder”

ὅπου ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται

James speaks of the inclination of the person steering a boat as if it were a living thing that desired to go in one direction or another. Alternate translation: “in whatever direction the one steering the boat wants it to go” (See: Personification)

James 3:5

οὕτως καὶ

James uses the words thus also to introduce a simile or comparison between the human tongue and the small items he discussed in the previous two verses, a horse’s bit and a ship’s rudder. Alternate translation: “In the same way” or “Likewise” (See: Simile)

μικρὸν μέλος

Alternate translation: “a part of the body”

καὶ

Here, but introduces a contrast between the small size of the tongue and the great things that people use their tongues in speech to boast about. (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

μεγάλα αὐχεῖ

James is saying figuratively that the tongue is a living thing that boasts. Alternate translation: “with it people boast great things” (See: Personification)

μεγάλα αὐχεῖ

James is using the adjective great in the plural as a noun. (ULT adds things to show this.) Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate the term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “with it people boast that they have done great things” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

ἰδοὺ

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Alternate translation: “Consider” (See: Metaphor)

ἰδοὺ

The implication is that James is offering his readers a further analogy. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Consider as a further example” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἡλίκον πῦρ, ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει

A forest is a place where there are many trees. If your readers would not be familiar with what a forest is, you could use a different illustration that would be familiar to them of an area that could be destroyed by fire, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “how a small fire can quickly spread and burn much grassland” or “how a small fire can quickly spread and burn everything in a large area” (See: Translate Unknowns)

James 3:6

καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα πῦρ

James is using the tongue figuratively to represent what people say, by association with the way the tongue is used for speech. Alternate translation: “What we say is also a fire” (See: Metonymy)

καὶ ἡ γλῶσσα πῦρ

James is using fire as an analogy for the destructive effects of what people say. Alternate translation: “What we say can also be very destructive” (See: Metaphor)

ὁ κόσμος τῆς ἀδικίας

This is an idiom. The sense is that all the unrighteousness in the world could be expressed in what someone said. Alternate translation: “a vast source of unrighteousness” (See: Idiom)

τῆς ἀδικίας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun unrighteousness, you could express the idea behind it with an equivalent expression. In this context, the term refers to wrong things that people say. Alternate translation: “of sinful sayings” (See: Abstract Nouns)

καθίσταται ἐν

If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could express this with an active verbal form. Alternate translation: “is in the middle of” (See: Active or Passive)

τοῖς μέλεσιν ἡμῶν

Alternate translation: “the other parts of our body”

σπιλοῦσα ὅλον τὸ σῶμα

James speaks figuratively of the effects of speech as if a person’s tongue were staining his body. Alternate translation: “making the whole body impure” (See: Metaphor)

σπιλοῦσα ὅλον τὸ σῶμα

James is figuratively using the body to represent the entire person, since he is saying in this verse that bad speech has morally corrupting effects. Alternate translation: “making the whole person morally corrupt” (See: Metaphor)

φλογίζουσα τὸν τροχὸν τῆς γενέσεως

The course of existence is an idiom that could refer to: (1) a person’s entire life, from birth to death. Alternate translation: “setting a person’s entire life on fire” (2) succeeding generations. Alternate translation: “setting on fire one generation of people after another” (See: Idiom)

φλογίζουσα τὸν τροχὸν τῆς γενέσεως

James is speaking figuratively of the destructive effects of bad speech as if they were setting a person’s life on fire. Alternate translation: “causing destruction throughout a person’s entire life” (See: Metaphor)

φλογιζομένη ὑπὸ τῆς Γεέννης

If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could express this with an active verbal form. Alternate translation: “Gehenna sets it on fire” (See: Active or Passive)

φλογιζομένη ὑπὸ τῆς Γεέννης

James continues to speak figuratively of the destructive effects of bad speech as if they were fire. Alternate translation: “its destructive effects come from Gehenna” (See: Metaphor)

τῆς Γεέννης

Gehenna is the Greek name for a place, the Valley of Hinnom just outside Jerusalem. (See: How to Translate Names)

τῆς Γεέννης

James is figuratively using the name of this place, where refuse was thrown and fires burned continually, to mean hell. Alternate translation: “hell” (See: Metaphor)

τῆς Γεέννης

Since hell, as a location, would not be able to influence people’s speech and conduct, James is likely using the name Gehenna figuratively to mean the devil by association. Alternate translation: “the devil” (See: Metaphor)

James 3:7

γὰρ

James uses For to introduce background information in the form of an illustration that will help his readers understand what he wants to teach them. Alternate translation: “Now” (See: Connect — Background Information)

πᾶσα…φύσις θηρίων τε καὶ πετεινῶν, ἑρπετῶν τε καὶ ἐναλίων, δαμάζεται καὶ δεδάμασται

Here, every is a generalization for emphasis. Alternate translation: “many different kinds of beasts, birds, reptiles, and marine animals are being tamed and have been tamed” (See: Hyperbole)

πᾶσα γὰρ φύσις θηρίων τε καὶ πετεινῶν, ἑρπετῶν τε καὶ ἐναλίων

If you retain the generalization in your translation, it might be more natural in your language to use the singular for the creatures on this list. Alternate translation: “every kind of beast, bird, reptile, and marine animal”

πᾶσα γὰρ φύσις θηρίων τε καὶ πετεινῶν, ἑρπετῶν τε καὶ ἐναλίων

James is figuratively using various categories of creatures to mean every creature. Alternate translation: “every kind of creature that exists” (See: Merism)

ἐναλίων

James is using the adjective marine in the plural as a noun. (ULT adds animals to show this.) Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate the term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “sea creatures” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

δαμάζεται καὶ δεδάμασται τῇ φύσει τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation (place the phrase right after “For”): “the human kind is taming and has tamed” (See: Active or Passive)

δαμάζεται καὶ δεδάμασται τῇ φύσει τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ

James says both is being tamed and has been tamed for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand these phrases, you could combine them. Alternate translation (place the phrase right after “For”): “the human kind is in the process of taming” (See: Doublet)

τῇ φύσει τῇ ἀνθρωπίνῃ

Alternate translation: “by people”

James 3:8

οὐδεὶς…ἀνθρώπων

James is using the term men in a generic sense that includes all people. Alternate translation: “no human being” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

δαμάσαι

By analogy with the animals he discussed in the previous verse, James is using the word tame to mean “control.” Alternate translation: “to control” (See: Metaphor)

τὴν…γλῶσσαν

James is using the tongue figuratively to represent what people say, by association with the way the tongue is used for speech. Alternate translation: “what he says” (See: Metonymy)

ἀκατάστατον κακόν

James is using the adjective evil as a noun. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “an unsettled evil thing” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

ἀκατάστατον κακόν

In this context, the word unsettled means “restless.” James is speaking figuratively of the tongue as if it were a living thing that could never rest because it always had to be saying bad things. It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: “We are constantly saying evil things” (See: Personification)

μεστὴ ἰοῦ θανατηφόρου

James is using deadly poison as an analogy for the destructive effects of what people say. Alternate translation (continuing a new sentence): “and what we say has very destructive effects” (See: Metaphor)

James 3:9

ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν…καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα

The pronoun it refers to the tongue. Alternate translation: “With our tongue we bless … and with our tongue we curse” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

ἐν αὐτῇ εὐλογοῦμεν…καὶ ἐν αὐτῇ καταρώμεθα

James is using the tongue figuratively to represent what people say, by association with the way the tongue is used for speech. Alternate translation: “We use our tongue in speech to bless … and we use our tongue in speech to curse” or “By what we say, we bless … and by what we say, we curse” (See: Metonymy)

εὐλογοῦμεν

In this context, bless does not mean to confer a blessing on someone, as a superior would to an inferior. Rather, it means to say good things about someone. Alternate translation: “we say good things about”

τὸν Κύριον καὶ Πατέρα

James is not talking about two different people. He is expressing a single idea by using two nouns connected with and. The noun Father further identifies the Lord. Alternate translation: “the Lord our Father” (See: Hendiadys)

Πατέρα

Father is an important title for God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

τοὺς ἀνθρώπους

James is using the term men in a generic sense that includes all people. Alternate translation: “people” (See: When Masculine Words Include Women)

τοὺς καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν Θεοῦ γεγονότας

James means implicitly that God created people in his own likeness. Alternate translation: “whom God made according to his own likeness” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 3:10

ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος ἐξέρχεται εὐλογία καὶ κατάρα

James is using the mouth figuratively to represent what people say, by association with the way the mouth is used for speech. Alternate translation: “The same person speaks blessing and cursing” (See: Metonymy)

ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ στόματος ἐξέρχεται εὐλογία καὶ κατάρα

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns blessing and cursing, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “The same person says things to bless God and to curse people” (See: Abstract Nouns)

εὐλογία

See how you translated the word “bless” in 3:9. You may wish to use a similar translation here. Alternate translation: “good sayings”

οὐ χρή, ἀδελφοί μου, ταῦτα οὕτως γίνεσθαι

James is speaking idiomatically here. Alternate translation: “My brothers, things like this should not happen” (See: Idiom)

ἀδελφοί μου

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

James 3:11

μήτι ἡ πηγὴ ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς ὀπῆς βρύει τὸ γλυκὺ καὶ τὸ πικρόν

The first word of this sentence in Greek is a negative word that can be used to turn a statement into a question that expects a negative answer. ULT shows this by adding “does it?” Your language may have other ways of asking a question that expects a negative answer, for example, by changing the word order of a positive statement. Alternate translation: “Does a spring gush the sweet and the bitter from the same opening” (See: Double Negatives)

μήτι ἡ πηγὴ ἐκ τῆς αὐτῆς ὀπῆς βρύει τὸ γλυκὺ καὶ τὸ πικρόν?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “A spring does not gush the sweet and the bitter from the same opening!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἡ πηγὴ

In this context, the term spring refers to a spring of water, that is, a source of water that comes up from the ground. Alternate translation: “A spring of water”

τὸ γλυκὺ καὶ τὸ πικρόν

James is using the adjectives sweet and bitter as nouns to refer to types of water. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate these with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “sweet water and bitter water” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

James 3:12

μὴ δύναται, ἀδελφοί μου, συκῆ ἐλαίας ποιῆσαι

The first word of this sentence in Greek is a negative word that can be used to turn a statement into a question that expects a negative answer. ULT shows this by adding “is it?” Your language may have other ways of asking a question that expects a negative answer, for example, by changing the word order of a positive statement. Alternate translation: “Is a fig tree able to make olives” (See: Double Negatives)

μὴ δύναται, ἀδελφοί μου, συκῆ ἐλαίας ποιῆσαι

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “A fig tree is not able to make olives” (See: Rhetorical Question)

μὴ δύναται, ἀδελφοί μου, συκῆ ἐλαίας ποιῆσαι

A fig tree is a tree that produces small, sweet fruit. Olives also grow on trees, so they are technically fruit, but they are oily and pungent. If your readers would not be familiar with these kinds of fruit, you could use two other contrasting kinds of fruit as examples, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation (as a statement): “One kind of tree is not able to produce fruit that would grow on a different kind of tree” (See: Translate Unknowns)

ἀδελφοί μου

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

ἢ ἄμπελος σῦκα

James is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from earlier in the sentence. Alternate translation: “or is a grapevine able to make figs” (See: Ellipsis)

ἢ ἄμπελος σῦκα

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement if you also translated the question in the earlier part of the sentence as a statement. Alternate translation: “and a grapevine is not able to make figs” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἢ ἄμπελος σῦκα

A grapevine is a woody vine that produces small, juicy fruit. This fruit is quite different from figs. If your readers would not be familiar with these kinds of fruit, you could use two other contrasting kinds of fruit as examples, or you could use a general expression. If you already used a general expression earlier in the verse, you could restate it here as a separate sentence for emphasis. Alternate translation: “No, a tree is not able to do that” (See: Translate Unknowns)

οὔτε ἁλυκὸν γλυκὺ ποιῆσαι ὕδωρ

James concludes his teaching about speech with this final example. It may be helpful after this example to restate the implications of all the examples that James has given in this verse and in the previous verse, as UST does. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

οὔτε ἁλυκὸν γλυκὺ ποιῆσαι ὕδωρ

James is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from earlier in the verse. Alternate translation: “And something that is salty is not able to produce sweet water” (See: Ellipsis)

ἁλυκὸν

James is using the adjective salty as a noun. Since James is speaking of something that can make or produce water, he is likely speaking of a spring. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “a saline spring” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

James 3:13

τίς σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων ἐν ὑμῖν? δειξάτω

James is not looking for information. He is using the question form to express a condition. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate this as a conditional statement. Alternate translation: “If anyone is wise and understanding among you, let him show” (See: Rhetorical Question)

σοφὸς καὶ ἐπιστήμων

The words wise and understanding mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could translate them with a single expression. Alternate translation: “truly wise” (See: Doublet)

δειξάτω ἐκ τῆς καλῆς ἀναστροφῆς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns works, conduct, humility, and wisdom, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “Let him show by conducting himself well, and by being humble as a wise person should be, that he does what God wants him to do” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐν πραΰτητι σοφίας

James is using the possessive form to describe humility that comes from wisdom. Alternate translation: “in the humility that comes from wisdom” or “with the humble attitude that comes from being wise” (See: Possession)

James 3:14

ζῆλον πικρὸν ἔχετε, καὶ ἐριθείαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν

James is using the heart figuratively to represent the thoughts and emotions. Alternate translation: “you have bitterly envious and ambitious thoughts and feelings” (See: Metaphor)

ζῆλον πικρὸν ἔχετε, καὶ ἐριθείαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns jealousy and ambition, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “in your heart you resent what other people have and you want to be more successful than anyone else” (See: Abstract Nouns)

τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμῶν

Since you and your are plural in this verse, if you retain the metaphor heart in your translation, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural form of that word. Alternate translation: “your hearts”

μὴ κατακαυχᾶσθε καὶ ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας

Since James says in the previous verse that someone who is truly wise will be humble, he could be saying here that if someone claims to be wise but is jealous and ambitious, he is showing that he is actually not wise. Alternate translation: “then do not boast that you are wise, because that would not be true” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun truth, you could express the idea behind it with an adjective such as “true.” Alternate translation: “tell lies that are not true” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ψεύδεσθε κατὰ τῆς ἀληθείας

In your language, it might seem that this phrase expresses unnecessary extra information. If so, you could express the same meaning in a different way. Alternate translation: “say things that are not true” (See: Making Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information Explicit)

James 3:15

αὕτη

This refers to the “bitter jealousy and ambition” that James describes in the previous verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “This bitter jealousy and ambition” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἡ σοφία

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun wisdom, you could express the idea behind it with an adjective such as “wise.” Alternate translation: “the wise way of living” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἄνωθεν κατερχομένη

James says from above, meaning “from heaven,” as a spatial metaphor that means “from God.” Alternate translation: “that comes from God” or “that God teaches” (See: Metaphor)

ἐπίγειος

The word earthly refers to the values and behavior of people who do not honor God. James uses the word by association with the way such people live on earth without regard for the values and behavior that are characteristic of heaven. Alternate translation: “not honoring to God” (See: Metonymy)

ψυχική

James is figuratively using one part of the human being, the soul, as opposed to another part, the spirit, to mean “unspiritual.” The sense could be either that this behavior has no regard for spiritual things or that it does not come from the Holy Spirit. Alternate translation: “unspiritual” (See: Metonymy)

δαιμονιώδης

Alternate translation: “from demons” or “like the behavior of demons”

James 3:16

γὰρ

James is giving the reason for the statement he made in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “It is clear that this is not godly wisdom, because” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ὅπου…ζῆλος καὶ ἐριθεία, ἐκεῖ ἀκαταστασία καὶ πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns envy, ambition, and unsettledness, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “when people are envious and ambitious, this causes them to act in disorderly and evil ways” (See: Abstract Nouns)

πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα

Here, every is a generalization for emphasis. Alternate translation: “many kinds of wicked deeds” (See: Hyperbole)

James 3:17

ἡ…σοφία

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun wisdom, you could express the idea behind it with an adjective such as “wise.” Alternate translation: “the wise way of living” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἄνωθεν

See how you translated this in 3:15. Alternate translation: “that comes from God” or “that God teaches” (See: Metaphor)

καρπῶν ἀγαθῶν

James speaks figuratively of good fruits to mean kind things that people do for others as a result of having wisdom from God. Alternate translation: “good deeds” (See: Metaphor)

ἀνυπόκριτος

Alternate translation: “not hypocritical” or “honest” or “truthful”

James 3:18

καρπὸς…δικαιοσύνης ἐν εἰρήνῃ σπείρεται, τοῖς ποιοῦσιν εἰρήνην

James speaks figuratively of those who make peace as if they were sowing seeds, and of righteousness as if it were fruit that grew from those seeds. Alternate translation: “those who work in peace to make peace produce righteousness” (See: Metaphor)

καρπὸς…δικαιοσύνης ἐν εἰρήνῃ σπείρεται, τοῖς ποιοῦσιν εἰρήνην

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns righteousness and peace, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “those who work peacefully to help people live together peacefully are helping those people to live in the right way” (See: Abstract Nouns)

καρπὸς…δικαιοσύνης ἐν εἰρήνῃ σπείρεται, τοῖς ποιοῦσιν εἰρήνην

If you decide to retain the metaphor of sowing, you could express it with an active verbal form, if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: “those who make peace sow the fruit of righteousness in peace” (See: Active or Passive)

James 4

James 4 General Notes

Structure and formatting

1. Worldly desires and the sin and conflict they cause (4:1-12)
2. A warning against boasting about tomorrow (4:13-17)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Adultery

Writers in the Bible often speak of adultery as a metaphor for people who say they love God but do things that God hates. James uses the same metaphor in 4:4. (See: Metaphor and godly, godliness, ungodly, godless, ungodliness, godlessness)

James 4:1

πόθεν πόλεμοι καὶ πόθεν μάχαι ἐν ὑμῖν

The word translated whence means “from where.” Your language may have a similar word that you can use in your translation. Otherwise, you can express the same meaning in a way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Where do wars and battles among you come from”

πόθεν πόλεμοι καὶ πόθεν μάχαι ἐν ὑμῖν

James is using the terms wars and battles figuratively. Alternate translation: “Where do the conflicts and disputes that you are having come from” (See: Metaphor)

πόθεν πόλεμοι καὶ πόθεν μάχαι ἐν ὑμῖν?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “I will tell you where the conflicts and disputes that you are having come from.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

πόθεν πόλεμοι καὶ πόθεν μάχαι ἐν ὑμῖν?

The words wars and battles mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could translate them with a single expression. Alternate translation (as a statement): “I will tell you where the continual conflicts that you are having come from.” (See: Doublet)

οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν ἐκ τῶν ἡδονῶν ὑμῶν, τῶν στρατευομένων ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ὑμῶν?

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. Alternate translation: “This is where they come from: from your lusts, which fight in your members.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

οὐκ ἐντεῦθεν

The word translated hence means “from here.” Your language may have a similar word that you can use in your translation. Otherwise, you can express the same meaning in a way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Do they not come from here”

τῶν ἡδονῶν ὑμῶν, τῶν στρατευομένων ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ὑμῶν

As in 3:6, members means “parts of the body.” This could mean: (1) the phrase in your members indicates the location of the lusts that James is describing. He could be saying that the outward fights between members of the community have their origin in inward lusts that lead people to fight for what they want, as he describes in the next verse. If so, he is using the parts of the body figuratively to represent a person’s thoughts and emotions. Alternate translation: “the lusts inside of you that fight” (2) the word translated in means “among.” The sense would then be that these lusts fight against one part of the person after another, seeking to gain control of the whole person. Since the lusts would actually be gaining control over non-physical aspects of a person, such as his will and values, James would once again be using the physical parts of the body figuratively to express his meaning. Alternate translation: “your lusts, which fight to control you” (3) James is speaking figuratively of the community of believers as if it were a body and of individual believers as if they were parts of that body. Alternate translation: “your lusts, which fight against other believers” (See: Metaphor)

τῶν ἡδονῶν ὑμῶν, τῶν στρατευομένων ἐν τοῖς μέλεσιν ὑμῶν

In all of the cases that the previous note discusses, James would be speaking figuratively of lusts as if they were living things that could fight. Alternate translation: “the lusts inside of you that cause you to fight to get what you want” of “your lusts, which cause you to value and choose certain things in order to gratify them” or “your lusts, which cause you to fight against other believers” (See: Personification)

James 4:2

ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε; φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν

In both of these sentences, James is using the word translated and to introduce a contrast between the first and second clauses. Alternate translation: “You covet, but you do not have. You kill and envy, but you are not able to obtain” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε; φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν

Your language may require you to specify the objects of have and obtain. Alternate translation: “You covet, but you do not have what you covet. You kill and envy, but you are not able to obtain the things that you envy”

ἐπιθυμεῖτε καὶ οὐκ ἔχετε; φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε, καὶ οὐ δύνασθε ἐπιτυχεῖν

These two sentences mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “You desperately want things that other people have, but you cannot get them” (See: Parallelism)

φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε

James probably does not mean the word kill literally. Rather, this could mean: (1) James is using the word in a figurative and spiritual sense to mean “hate.” This usage would reflect the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus said that the meaning of the commandment “do not kill” also applied to being angry with others and insulting them (Matthew 5:21-22). The apostle John wrote that “everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). Alternate translation: “You hate and envy” (2) James is describing someone wanting something so badly that he would almost kill to get it. Alternate translation: “You envy almost to the point of murder” (See: Metaphor)

φονεύετε καὶ ζηλοῦτε

James is expressing a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word kill describes how his readers envy what others have. Alternate translation: “you envy hatefully” of “you envy murderously” (See: Hendiadys)

μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε

As in 4:1, James is using the terms battle and war figuratively. Alternate translation: “You engage in disputes and conflicts” (See: Metaphor)

μάχεσθε καὶ πολεμεῖτε

The words battle and war mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could translate them with a single expression. Alternate translation: “You have continual conflicts” (See: Doublet)

οὐκ ἔχετε, διὰ τὸ μὴ αἰτεῖσθαι ὑμᾶς

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could express more fully what this means. Alternate translation: “You do not get what you want because you do not ask God for it” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 4:3

αἰτεῖτε καὶ οὐ λαμβάνετε

James is using the word translated and to introduce a contrast between these two clauses. Alternate translation: “You ask but you do not receive” (See: Connect — Contrast Relationship)

κακῶς αἰτεῖσθε

James does not mean that his readers are asking for things in the wrong way. He means that they are asking for the wrong reason. Alternate translation: “you are asking for the wrong reason”

ἵνα ἐν ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ὑμῶν δαπανήσητε

James says figuratively that his readers would spend what they acquired on their lusts. Alternate translation: “so that you can gratify your sinful desires” (See: Metaphor)

James 4:4

μοιχαλίδες

James is addressing his readers in the vocative. If your language has a vocative case, it would be appropriate to use it here. If not, you could express the meaning in another way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: “You adulteresses”

μοιχαλίδες

James is figuratively describing his readers as married women who have sexual relations with men who are not their husbands. This metaphor is used many places in the Bible to represent unfaithfulness to God. Alternate translation: “You are not being faithful to God” (See: Metaphor)

οὐκ οἴδατε ὅτι ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου, ἔχθρα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν?

James is using the question form for emphasis and as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “Certainly you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου, ἔχθρα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns friendship and enmity, you could express the ideas behind them with the concrete nouns “friend” and “enemy.” Alternate translation: “if you are a friend of the world, you are an enemy of God” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου

As in 1:27, James is using the term world figuratively to mean the system of values shared by people who do not honor God. Alternate translation: “friendship with an ungodly value system” (See: Metonymy)

ἡ φιλία τοῦ κόσμου

James is speaking figuratively of this ungodly value system as if it were a person with whom someone could be friends. Alternate translation: “living by an ungodly value system” (See: Personification)

ἔχθρα τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν

James probably does not consider that his readers have literally become sworn enemies of God. He is using the term enmity figuratively to describe how opposed the worldly value system is to the way God wants people to live. Alternate translation: “is contrary to what God wants” (See: Metaphor)

φίλος εἶναι τοῦ κόσμου

See how you translated the term world earlier in this verse. Alternate translation: “to be a friend of an ungodly value system” (See: Metonymy)

φίλος εἶναι τοῦ κόσμου

James speaks figuratively again of the ungodly value system as if it were a person with whom someone could be friends. Alternate translation: “to live by an ungodly value system” (See: Personification)

καθίσταται

If your readers would misunderstand this passive verb, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “makes himself” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐχθρὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ

See how you translated the similar expression earlier in this verse. Alternate translation: “someone who lives in a way contrary to what God wants” (See: Metaphor)

James 4:5

ἢ δοκεῖτε ὅτι κενῶς ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement. (In this context, the term vainly means “for no good reason,” not “in a conceited way.”) Alternate translation: “There is a good reason why the Scripture says” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει

James is describing the general teaching of the Bible, not referring to a specific passage. In cases like this, your language might use the plural instead of the singular. Alternate translation: “the Scriptures say”

ἡ Γραφὴ λέγει

James is speaking figuratively of the Bible as if it could speak on its own. Alternate translation: “it is written in the Scriptures” or “we can read in the Scriptures” (See: Personification)

πρὸς φθόνον ἐπιποθεῖ τὸ Πνεῦμα ὃ κατῴκισεν ἐν ἡμῖν

Here, Spirit could mean: (1) the Holy Spirit, who could be the subject of the verb longs. The idea of the Spirit being jealous would fit with the adultery metaphor in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “The Spirit whom God has caused to live in us longs for us to live faithfully to God” (2) the Holy Spirit, who could be the object of the verb longs, in which case God would be the subject of that verb. This interpretation would also fit with the adultery metaphor. Alternate translation: “God longs jealously for us to live by the Spirit whom he has caused to live in us” (3) the human spirit, in which case the statement would be repeating what James said in 4:2 about people coveting and envying. Alternate translation: “The spirit that God has caused to live in us longs jealously for things that it does not have”

ὃ κατῴκισεν ἐν ἡμῖν

Whatever the interpretation of the entire sentence, the pronoun he in this clause refers to God. Alternate translation: “whom God caused to live in us” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

James 4:6

μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν

In light of what he says in the previous two verses, James is drawing a contrast between what God might be expected to do and what God actually does. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state the contrast more explicitly. Alternate translation: “But even though God is jealous if we are friends with the world, he does not reject us. Instead, he gives us even more grace to be friends with him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

μείζονα δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν

The pronoun he refers to God. Alternate translation: “But God gives greater grace” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

μείζονα…χάριν

The comparative greater refers to quantity rather than to size. Alternate translation: “even more grace”

διὸ λέγει

The pronoun it refers to the Scripture, the antecedent from the previous verse. Even though James is now quoting a specific passage, Proverbs 3:34, rather than a general teaching, the reference is to the Bible as a whole. Alternate translation: “Therefore the Scripture says” or “Therefore the Scriptures say” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

λέγει

James is speaking figuratively of the Bible as if it could speak on its own. Alternate translation: “it is written in the Scriptures” or “we can read in the Scriptures” (See: Personification)

ὑπερηφάνοις…ταπεινοῖς

James is using the adjectives proud and humble as nouns to refer to types of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate these with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “proud people … humble people” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

James 4:7

ὑποτάγητε οὖν

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Submit, therefore” (See: Active or Passive)

ὑποτάγητε οὖν

James is giving the reason for the result he described in the previous verse. Alternate translation: “Because God gives grace to the humble, be submitted” or “Because God gives grace to the humble, submit” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἀντίστητε δὲ τῷ διαβόλῳ, καὶ φεύξεται ἀφ’ ὑμῶν

James is using the word translated and to describe a result. Alternate translation: “But resist the devil. If you do, then he will flee from you” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἀντίστητε…τῷ διαβόλῳ

Alternate translation: “resolve not to do what the devil wants”

φεύξεται ἀφ’ ὑμῶν

James is speaking figuratively of the devil as if he would run away from a believer who resisted him after humbling himself before God. Alternate translation: “he will stop trying to get you to do what he wants” (See: Metaphor)

James 4:8

ἐγγίσατε τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐγγιεῖ ὑμῖν

James is using the word translated and to describe a result. Alternate translation: “If you come near to God, then he will come near to you” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἐγγίσατε τῷ Θεῷ, καὶ ἐγγιεῖ ὑμῖν

James is using a spatial metaphor to describe two people in a good relationship as if they were near to one another. Alternate translation: “Do your part to have a good relationship with God, and you will find that God also wants to have a good relationship with you” (See: Metaphor)

καθαρίσατε χεῖρας

James is using the image of washing hands to describe a person removing sin from his life. Alternate translation: “Stop sinning” (See: Metaphor)

καθαρίσατε χεῖρας

James is using the word hands figuratively to mean actions, by association with the way people use their hands to do things. Alternate translation: “Stop doing things that are wrong” (See: Metonymy)

ἁμαρτωλοί

James is addressing his readers in the vocative. If your language has a vocative case, it would be appropriate to use it here. If not, you could express the meaning in another way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: “you sinners”

ἁγνίσατε καρδίας

James says hearts figuratively to mean people’s thoughts and desires. Alternate translation: “purify your thoughts and desires” (See: Metaphor)

ἁγνίσατε καρδίας

The term purify refers to a ceremonial cleansing that allows a person to participate in religious activities. James is speaking figuratively as if his readers’ hearts could be cleansed in this way. Alternate translation: “make sure you are not thinking or desiring anything wrong” (See: Metaphor)

δίψυχοι

James is using the adjective double-minded as a noun to refer to a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “double-minded people” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

δίψυχοι

James is addressing his readers in the vocative. If your language has a vocative case, it would be appropriate to use it here. If not, you could express the meaning in another way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: “you double-minded people”

δίψυχοι

See how you translated the same expression in 1:8. James is speaking figuratively of his readers as if they had two minds, with one mind deciding to do one thing and the other mind deciding to do something else. Alternate translation: “you people who cannot decide whether to obey God or not” (See: Metaphor)

James 4:9

ταλαιπωρήσατε, καὶ πενθήσατε, καὶ κλαύσατε

These three verbs have similar meanings. James is using them together to emphasize how sorry his readers should be. Alternate translation: “Be extremely sorry” (See: Doublet)

ταλαιπωρήσατε, καὶ πενθήσατε, καὶ κλαύσατε

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what James is telling his readers to be sorry for. Alternate translation: “Be extremely sorry for not obeying God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὁ γέλως ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ εἰς κατήφειαν

In the second part of this sentence, James leaves out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the first part of the sentence. Alternate translation: “Let your laughter be changed into mourning, and let your joy be changed into gloom” (See: Ellipsis)

ὁ γέλως ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ εἰς κατήφειαν

If your readers would misunderstand this sentence, you could express this with active verbal forms. Alternate translation: “Let your laughter become mourning, and let your joy become gloom” (See: Active or Passive)

ὁ γέλως ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ εἰς κατήφειαν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns laughter, mourning, joy, and gloom, you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “Stop laughing and be sad. Stop being joyful and be gloomy” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ὁ γέλως ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ εἰς κατήφειαν

These two clauses mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “Stop being so carefree and show genuine sorrow” (See: Parallelism)

ὁ γέλως ὑμῶν εἰς πένθος μετατραπήτω, καὶ ἡ χαρὰ εἰς κατήφειαν

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly why James is telling his readers to show such sorrow. Alternate translation: “Stop being so carefree and show genuine sorrow for your sin” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 4:10

ταπεινώθητε ἐνώπιον Κυρίου, καὶ ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς

James is using the word translated and to describe a result. Alternate translation: “If you are humbled before the Lord, then he will lift you up” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ταπεινώθητε

If your readers would misunderstand this passive verb, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Humble yourselves” (See: Active or Passive)

ἐνώπιον Κυρίου

The word before means “in front of” or “in the presence of” another person. While in one sense God is present everywhere, the believers to whom James is writing are not in the direct physical presence of God, so he likely means this expression in a figurative sense. He is referring to the attitude they should have towards God. Alternate translation: “in your attitude towards God” (See: Metaphor)

ὑψώσει ὑμᾶς

James is speaking figuratively as if his readers would humbly kneel down or bow down in front of God to show their repentance and as if God would have them stand up to show that he accepted them. Alternate translation: “he will show that he accepts you” (See: Metaphor)

James 4:11

μὴ καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων

Alternate translation: “Do not say bad things about one another”

ἀδελφοί…ἀδελφοῦ…τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers … a fellow believer … his fellow believer” (See: Metaphor)

καταλαλεῖ νόμου καὶ κρίνει νόμον

By the law, James means the same thing that he calls the “royal law” in 2:8 and the “law of freedom” in 1:25 and 2:12. That is, he means the commandment “you will love your neighbor as yourself.” James is teaching his readers that by saying or assuming that their fellow believers were doing wrong things, they were not following this commandment and they were treating the commandment as if it were not important to follow. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. See how you translated the term “neighbor” in 2:8. Alternate translation: “contradicts the law that says to love other people as oneself and judges that law to be unimportant” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

εἰ…νόμον κρίνεις, οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου

The word you is singular in these two cases because even though James is addressing a group of people, he is describing an individual situation. (See: Singular Pronouns that refer to Groups)

οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου, ἀλλὰ κριτής

In the second phrase, James is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the first phrase. Alternate translation: “you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of the law” (See: Ellipsis)

οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου, ἀλλὰ κριτής

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state more explicitly what this means. See how you translated the similar phrase at the end of the previous sentence. Alternate translation: “instead of loving other people, you are saying that it is not important to love them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 4:12

εἷς ἐστιν νομοθέτης καὶ κριτής

Alternate translation: “The lawgiver and judge are the same person”

ὁ δυνάμενος σῶσαι καὶ ἀπολέσαι

James uses this phrase, which identifies God by two of his attributes, to clarify whom he means by the lawgiver and judge. Alternate translation: “God, who is able to save and to destroy” (See: Distinguishing Versus Informing or Reminding)

σὺ δὲ τίς εἶ, ὁ κρίνων τὸν πλησίον?

James is using the question form to challenge and teach his readers. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “But you have no right to judge a neighbor!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

σὺ δὲ τίς εἶ

For emphasis, James includes the pronoun you even though it is not required with the verb. If your language does not ordinarily require pronouns with verbs but it can include them for emphasis, it would be appropriate to use that construction here in your translation. Other languages may be able to convey this emphasis in other ways, such as by repeating the pronoun. Alternate translation: “But you, who are you” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

σὺ…τίς εἶ

As in the previous verse, James is using the singular form of you because even though he is addressing a group of people, he is describing an individual situation. (See: Singular Pronouns that refer to Groups)

τὸν πλησίον

See how you translated the term “neighbor” in 2:8. Alternate translation: “another person”

James 4:13

ἄγε νῦν

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “Now listen” (See: Idiom)

οἱ λέγοντες

James is addressing his readers in the vocative. If your language has a vocative case, it would be appropriate to use it here. If not, you could express the meaning in another way that would be natural in your language. (If you use the word “you,” it would be plural, since James is addressing a group of people.) Alternate translation: “you who say”

πορευσόμεθα

These people are speaking only of themselves, so the pronoun we is exclusive here. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

τήνδε τὴν πόλιν

This is an idiom. No specific city is intended. Your language may have a comparable idiom that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: “such-and-such a city” (See: Idiom)

ποιήσομεν ἐκεῖ ἐνιαυτὸν

This is another idiom. Alternate translation: “stay there for a year” (See: Idiom)

κερδήσομεν

Alternate translation: “make a profit”

James 4:14

οἵτινες οὐκ ἐπίστασθε τὸ τῆς αὔριον, ποία ἡ ζωὴ ὑμῶν?

James is using the question form to challenge and teach his readers. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate his words as a statement or an exclamation. Alternate translation: “You do not know what will happen tomorrow, and you may not even be alive then!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

ἀτμὶς γάρ ἐστε, ἡ πρὸς ὀλίγον φαινομένη, ἔπειτα καὶ ἀφανιζομένη

James is speaking figuratively of his readers as if they were a mist that forms briefly in the morning but then quickly dissipates when the sun rises. In your translation you could explain the meaning of this image, or you could represent it as a simile, as UST does. Alternate translation: “For you will only be alive for a short time, and then you will die” (See: Metaphor)

James 4:15

καὶ ζήσομεν καὶ ποιήσομεν

James is using a construction that puts the word “and” before two things that would both be the case, more literally “and we will live and we will do.” Your language may have a similar construction that you can use here. If not, it may not be necessary for you to translate the first occurrence of “and,” which ULT represents as both. (The term both in ULT does not mean “the two of us.”) Alternate translation: “we will live and we will do”

καὶ ζήσομεν καὶ ποιήσομεν

These people would be speaking only of themselves, so the pronoun we is exclusive. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

τοῦτο ἢ ἐκεῖνο

This is an idiom. No specific actions are intended. Your language may have a comparable idiom that you can use in your translation. Alternate translation: “such-and-such” (See: Idiom)

James 4:16

καυχᾶσθε ἐν ταῖς ἀλαζονίαις ὑμῶν. πᾶσα καύχησις τοιαύτη πονηρά ἐστιν

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract nouns pretensions and boasting (the second occurrence of the word in ULT), you could express the ideas behind them with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “you are boasting about what you presume you will be able to do. It is always wrong to boast like that” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 4:17

εἰδότι οὖν καλὸν ποιεῖν, καὶ μὴ ποιοῦντι, ἁμαρτία αὐτῷ ἐστιν

James is using the word therefore to describe a further inference rather than a conclusion. He is saying that if it is wrong to plan to do things without knowing whether God wants you to do them, then it is also wrong not to do things that you do know God wants. Alternate translation: “From this we can also recognize that if someone does know what God wants him to do but he does not do it, then he is also sinning”

James 5

James 5 General Notes

Structure and formatting

1. Rebuke of rich people (5:1-6)
2. Waiting patiently for the Lord’s return (5:7-11)
3. Oaths forbidden (5:12)
4. Prayer, forgiveness, and healing (5:13-18)
5. Restoration of a sinner (5:19-20)

Special concepts in this chapter

Living for eternity

The first section of this chapter, which is a warning to rich people, contrasts living for things of this world, which will not last, with living for things that will last for eternity. The second section of the chapter is related to that first section. In it, James stresses that it is important to live with the expectation that Jesus will return soon. (See: eternity, everlasting, eternal, forever)

Oaths

In 5:12, James tells his readers not to swear any oaths. However, biblical scholars are divided over whether James intends to teach literally that all oaths are wrong. Some scholars believe that some oaths are permissible and that James is emphasizing how Christians should have integrity in what they say.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Elijah

The illustration that James gives from the life of the prophet Elijah in 5:17-18 may be difficult for your readers to appreciate if the books of 1 and 2 Kings have not yet been translated. See the first note to 5:17 for a suggestion about how to help your readers understand this illustration better.

James 5:1

ἄγε νῦν

This is an idiom. See how you translated it in 4:13. Alternate translation: “Now listen” (See: Idiom)

οἱ πλούσιοι

James is addressing these people in the vocative. If your language has a vocative case, it would be appropriate to use it here. If not, you could express the meaning in another way that would be natural in your language. (If you use the word “you,” it would be plural, since James is addressing a group of people.) Alternate translation: “you who are rich”

οἱ πλούσιοι

James is using the adjective rich as a noun to refer to a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “you people who are rich” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

οἱ πλούσιοι

James is most likely addressing believers who are rich, or at least rich people who were attending assemblies of believers, rather than unbelievers who are rich or rich people in general. (This letter was meant to be read aloud in those assemblies, and James notes in 1:10 that some of the believers were rich.) If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. Alternate translation: “you believers who are rich” or “you rich people who say you want to follow Jesus” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐπὶ ταῖς ταλαιπωρίαις ὑμῶν ταῖς ἐπερχομέναις

Your language may similarly speak of something that is going to happen in the future as if it were coming. If it does not, you can express this in another way. Alternate translation: “because of the miseries you will soon experience”

ἐπὶ ταῖς ταλαιπωρίαις ὑμῶν ταῖς ἐπερχομέναις

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun miseries, you could express the idea behind it with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “because many bad things are going to happen to you soon” (See: Abstract Nouns)

James 5:2

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could combine 5:2 and 5:3 into a verse bridge. You could put the last sentence of 5:3 first, followed by all of 5:2 and then the rest of 5:3. This would allow you to address several translation issues that are discussed in the notes to this verse and the next verse. (See: Verse Bridges)

ὁ πλοῦτος ὑμῶν σέσηπεν, καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ὑμῶν σητόβρωτα γέγονεν

James is using the past tense to refer to things that will happen in the future. If your readers would misunderstand this sentence, you could use the future tense in your translation. Alternate translation: “Your wealth is going to rot and your clothes are going to be eaten by moths” (See: Predictive Past)

ὁ πλοῦτος ὑμῶν σέσηπεν, καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ὑμῶν σητόβρωτα γέγονεν

In these two clauses and in the first clause in the next verse (“your gold and silver have been tarnished”), James is figuratively using certain things that these rich people own to mean everything that they own. If you create a verse bridge, you can combine all of these clauses into a single sentence that expresses this meaning. (You would need to begin a new sentence right afterwards.) Alternate translation: “Everything of value that you own is going to be ruined” (See: Synecdoche)

ὁ πλοῦτος ὑμῶν σέσηπεν, καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ὑμῶν σητόβρωτα γέγονεν

Depending on the meaning of the statement “you have stored up in the last days” in the next verse (see the note to that statement), James may be saying figuratively that the wealth and expensive clothing of the rich have become worthless. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly, as UST does. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὁ πλοῦτος ὑμῶν σέσηπεν, καὶ τὰ ἱμάτια ὑμῶν σητόβρωτα γέγονεν

If you decide to indicate explicitly that James is saying that the wealth and expensive clothing of the rich have become worthless, you could do that by expressing his past-for-future statement as a simile, as UST does. (See: Simile)

James 5:3

ὁ χρυσὸς ὑμῶν καὶ ὁ ἄργυρος κατίωται

James is using the past tense to refer to something that will happen in the future. If your readers would misunderstand this phrase, you could use the future tense in your translation. Alternate translation: “Your gold and silver are going to be tarnished” (See: Predictive Past)

ὁ χρυσὸς ὑμῶν καὶ ὁ ἄργυρος κατίωται

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “Your gold and silver have tarnished” or “Your gold and silver are going to tarnish” (See: Active or Passive)

ὁ χρυσὸς ὑμῶν καὶ ὁ ἄργυρος κατίωται

Depending on the meaning of the statement “you have stored up in the last days” (see the first note to that statement below), James may be saying figuratively that the gold and silver of the rich have become worthless. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly, as UST does. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὁ χρυσὸς ὑμῶν καὶ ὁ ἄργυρος κατίωται

If you decide to indicate explicitly that James is saying that the gold and silver of the rich have become worthless, you could do that by expressing his past-for-future statement as a simile, as UST does. (See: Simile)

καὶ ὁ ἰὸς αὐτῶν εἰς μαρτύριον ὑμῖν ἔσται

If you created a verse bridge and you also combined the statement “your gold and silver have been tarnished” with the two clauses in 5:2, it would be helpful to begin a new sentence here and to use a general expression that would apply to everything that these rich people own. Alternate translation: “The ruins of your possessions will be for a testimony against you” or “The ruins of your possessions will testify against you”

ὁ ἰὸς αὐτῶν εἰς μαρτύριον ὑμῖν ἔσται

James is speaking figuratively of this rust as if it would be presented as evidence in a case against the rich people. Alternate translation: “the rust on your gold and silver will show that you did the wrong thing” (See: Metaphor)

ὁ ἰὸς αὐτῶν εἰς μαρτύριον ὑμῖν ἔσται

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what wrong thing these rich people have done, as evidenced by this rust. Alternate translation: “the rust of your gold and silver will show that you have done the wrong thing by devoting yourselves to accumulating wealth rather than to helping other people” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

φάγεται τὰς σάρκας ὑμῶν ὡς πῦρ

James is using the word flesh to mean the human body, by association with the way the body is made of flesh. Alternate translation: “it will eat your bodies” (See: Metonymy)

φάγεται τὰς σάρκας ὑμῶν ὡς πῦρ

James is saying figuratively that this rust will corrode and consume the owners of the gold and silver that it is also corroding. Alternate translation: “it will consume you” or “it will ruin you” (See: Metaphor)

ὡς πῦρ

It may be helpful to express the meaning of this simile more fully. Alternate translation: “just as fire consumes everything that it burns” or “just as fire ruins everything that it burns” (See: Simile)

ἐθησαυρίσατε ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly what these rich people have stored up and why it was wrong for them to do that. This could mean: (1) they have accumulated riches in the last days, that is, in the time just before Jesus returns. That would be wrong because once Jesus returns, earthly riches will no longer have any value. Instead of trying to get more and more wealth, these people should have been helping others with what they had. Alternate translation: “Instead of helping others, you have wrongly stored up wealth at a time when earthly riches are about to lose all of their value” (2) by their wrongdoing, such as he describes in 5:4-6, these rich people have stored up punishment for themselves. Alternate translation: “God is just about to punish wrongdoers, and you have given God many reasons to punish you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ἐθησαυρίσατε ἐν ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις

If the first interpretation of this statement in the note just above is correct, then James is giving the reason for the results that he describes in the previous verse and in the earlier part of this verse. If you created a verse bridge as described in the first note to 5:2, you could put this reason before the result by placing this statement first in that bridge. (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “the time just before Jesus returns” (See: Idiom)

James 5:4

ἰδοὺ, ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. It may be helpful to express its meaning as a separate sentence here. Alternate translation: “Consider this! The pay of the workers” (See: Metaphor)

ὁ μισθὸς τῶν ἐργατῶν, τῶν ἀμησάντων τὰς χώρας ὑμῶν, ὁ ἀφυστερημένος ἀφ’ ὑμῶν, κράζει

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express it with an active form. When James says from you, he does not mean that this payment has been withheld from the rich owners of these fields. He is saying that it was due from them, but they have not paid it to their workers. Alternate translation: “the pay that you have withheld from the workers who reaped your fields is crying out” (See: Active or Passive)

κράζει

James is speaking figuratively of this pay as if it were a living thing that could cry out. Alternate translation: “is obvious evidence that you have done wrong” (See: Personification)

αἱ βοαὶ τῶν θερισάντων, εἰς τὰ ὦτα Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ εἰσελήλυθαν

James is speaking figuratively of the ears of the Lord to mean his hearing. Alternate translation: “the Lord of Sabaoth has heard the cries of the harvesting ones” (See: Metonymy)

Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ

James assumes that his readers will know that he is speaking of God by a name by which he is often known in the Old Testament. The Hebrew term Sabaoth means “military forces.” Alternate translation: “God, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Κυρίου Σαβαὼθ

James may be speaking figuratively of God’s almighty power by association with the way that God has all the armies of heaven at his command. Alternate translation: “God, the Lord Almighty” (See: Metonymy)

James 5:5

ἐτρυφήσατε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. καὶ ἐσπαταλήσατε

These two phrases mean similar things. James is using them together for emphasis. If your readers would misunderstand this connection, you could combine them. Alternate translation: “You have indulged yourselves with earthly luxuries” (See: Parallelism)

ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς

James is speaking figuratively of these rich people as if they were cattle that had been fed luxuriously on grain so they would become fattened for slaughter as banqueting food. In this case the banquet is not a positive image, as it often is elsewhere when it describes God’s future reign. Alternate translation: “Your self-indulgence has made you subject to harsh judgment” (See: Metaphor)

ἐθρέψατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς

James is speaking figuratively of the heart as the center of human desire. Alternate translation: “You have indulged your desires” (See: Metaphor)

ἐν ἡμέρᾳ

James is using the term day figuratively to refer to a particular time. Alternate translation: “at a time” (See: Idiom)

ἐν ἡμέρᾳ σφαγῆς

James is using the idea of slaughter figuratively to refer to God’s judgment. Alternate translation: “at a time when God is about to judge everyone for what they have done” (See: Metaphor)

James 5:6

κατεδικάσατε, ἐφονεύσατε τὸν δίκαιον

James probably does not mean that these rich people have done these things personally. He is likely referring to the kind of actions he described in 2:6, where he told how rich people “overpower” the poor by taking them to court. He may mean that the rich people have gotten the courts to condemn innocent people and in some cases even to execute them. He could also mean that the rich people have gotten the courts to decide lawsuits in their favor and that as a result, some poor people have died because of the great poverty this caused them. James would be speaking figuratively of the rich people as the ones who did these actions, using them to represent all the people who were involved. Alternate translation: “You have gotten the courts to condemn and even execute innocent people” or “You have gotten the courts to decide lawsuits in your favor and, as a result, innocent people have died from poverty” (See: Synecdoche)

τὸν δίκαιον

James is using the adjective righteous as a noun to refer to a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “the righteous person” or “the innocent person” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

τὸν δίκαιον

The expression the righteous refers to righteous people in general, not to one specific person. Alternate translation: “righteous people” or “innocent people” (See: Generic Noun Phrases)

οὐκ ἀντιτάσσεται ὑμῖν

This could mean: (1) the innocent people are not able to resist what the rich people are doing. Alternate translation: “He is not able to resist you” (2) the innocent people wanted a peaceful resolution and were not fighting back. Alternate translation: “You have done this even though the innocent person wanted a peaceful resolution” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

οὐκ ἀντιτάσσεται ὑμῖν

In light of everything that James says in 5:1-6, the implications are that even though these innocent people are not able to defend themselves, God will defend them by judging and punishing these rich people. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly, as UST does. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 5:7

οὖν

James uses Therefore to introduce a description of what his readers should do as a result of what he has just said about rich people. He is referring specifically to what he said about God’s judgment being imminent. Alternate translation: “Because you know that God will soon judge the people who are oppressing you” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

ἕως τῆς παρουσίας τοῦ Κυρίου

James is referring to Jesus by a respectful title. Alternate translation: “until Jesus returns” or “until the Lord Jesus returns”

ἰδοὺ,

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. James is using the word here to introduce an analogy, as he makes clear at the start of the next verse. So it may be helpful to express the meaning of behold as a separate sentence. Alternate translation: “Consider this.” (See: Metaphor)

ὁ γεωργὸς ἐκδέχεται

The expression the farmer refers to farmers in general, not to one specific farmer. Alternate translation: “a farmer awaits” or “farmers await” (See: Generic Noun Phrases)

τὸν τίμιον καρπὸν τῆς γῆς

James uses the word fruit in a broad sense to mean things that plants produce that are good for food. He does not mean only the kind of fruit that grows on trees and vines. Alternate translation: “the valuable crops that grow from the earth”

μακροθυμῶν ἐπ’ αὐτῷ ἕως λάβῃ

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could specify what the pronoun it refers to in each of these cases. Alternate translation: “waiting patiently for this fruit until the earth receives” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

πρόϊμον καὶ ὄψιμον

James is using the adjectives early and late as nouns to refer to types of rain. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate these with equivalent expressions. Alternate translation: “the rain that comes early in the growing season and the rain that comes late in the growing season” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

πρόϊμον καὶ ὄψιμον

If it would be helpful to your readers, particularly if they would not be familiar with rainfed agriculture, you could state why these farmers needed to wait for rain to fall on their crops. UST models one way to do this. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 5:8

μακροθυμήσατε καὶ ὑμεῖς

Here James makes clear that what he said about farmers in the previous verse was an analogy for his readers. Alternate translation: “You should also wait patiently, just as a farmer does”

στηρίξατε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν

James is using the heart figuratively to represent the will. Alternate translation: “Stay committed” (See: Metaphor)

ἡ παρουσία τοῦ Κυρίου ἤγγικεν

James is referring to Jesus by a respectful title. (By near he means near in time. This is not a spatial metaphor.) Alternate translation: “Jesus will return soon” or “the Lord Jesus will return soon”

James 5:9

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ κριθῆτε

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: “God may not judge you” (See: Active or Passive)

ἰδοὺ, ὁ κριτὴς

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Alternate translation: “Be aware that the judge” (See: Metaphor)

ὁ κριτὴς πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν ἕστηκεν

James is figuratively comparing Jesus to a judge who is just about to walk into a courtroom. Alternate translation: “Jesus will soon return and judge everyone for what they have done” (See: Metaphor)

James 5:10

ὑπόδειγμα λάβετε, ἀδελφοί, τῆς κακοπαθίας

Alternate translation: “Take as your example, brothers, the suffering”

ἀδελφοί

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

τῆς κακοπαθίας καὶ τῆς μακροθυμίας, τοὺς προφήτας

James is expressing a single idea by using two words connected with and. The word patience describes how the prophets endured suffering. Alternate translation: “of the patient suffering of the prophets” or “of how patiently the prophets suffered” (See: Hendiadys)

ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Κυρίου

James is figuratively using the name of the Lord to mean his person and authority. Alternate translation: “on behalf of the Lord” or “with the authority of the Lord” (See: Metonymy)

James 5:11

ἰδοὺ

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Alternate translation: “Indeed” (See: Metaphor)

τὴν ὑπομονὴν Ἰὼβ ἠκούσατε

James assumes that his readers will know the story of Job from the Scriptures. If your readers might not be familiar with his story, you could describe it in more detail. Alternate translation: “You know from the Scriptures how a man named Job who lived long ago patiently endured great suffering” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

τὸ τέλος Κυρίου εἴδετε

James is continuing to refer to the story of Job. Here, end could mean: (1) purpose. In that case, James would be using the term seen figuratively to mean “recognized.” Alternate translation: “you have recognized the purpose that the Lord had for Job’s sufferings” (2) final result. In that case, James would be using the term seen figuratively to mean “learned.” Alternate translation: “you have learned from the Scriptures how the Lord helped Job in the end” (See: Metaphor)

ὅτι πολύσπλαγχνός ἐστιν ὁ Κύριος καὶ οἰκτίρμων

Here, that could mean: (1) “for” and introduce a reason. James may be giving the reason why God was pursuing a good purpose even in Job’s sufferings or why God helped Job in the end. Alternate translation: “for the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (2) something further that James’ readers would have learned from the story of Job. Alternate translation: “and you have realized from this story that the Lord is greatly compassionate and merciful” (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

James 5:12

πρὸ πάντων

James is using a spatial metaphor to emphasize the importance of what he is about to say. Your language may use a different spatial metaphor. Alternate translation: “above all” (See: Metaphor)

ἀδελφοί μου

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “my fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

μὴ ὀμνύετε

Here, to swear means to guarantee, by appealing to something that is considered to be certain and reliable, that a statement is true or that an action will be performed. Alternate translation: “do not make an oath” or “do not make a vow”

ἤτω…ὑμῶν τὸ ναὶ, ναὶ, καὶ τὸ οὒ, οὔ

In the second phrase, James is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the first phrase. Alternate translation: “let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and let your ‘No’ be ‘No’” (See: Ellipsis)

ἤτω…ὑμῶν τὸ ναὶ, ναὶ, καὶ τὸ οὒ, οὔ

Alternate translation: “simply give your word, without making an oath”

ἵνα μὴ ὑπὸ κρίσιν πέσητε

James is speaking figuratively of judgment as something that a person might fall under. Alternate translation: “so that you will not be judged” (See: Metaphor)

ἵνα μὴ ὑπὸ κρίσιν πέσητε

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state more explicitly what this means. Alternate translation: “so that God will not have to judge and punish you for breaking your oath” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

James 5:13

κακοπαθεῖ τις ἐν ὑμῖν? προσευχέσθω

James is not looking for information. He is using the question form to state a condition, and he describes the result in a short sentence right after the question. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate the question and that sentence together as a single statement. Alternate translation: “If anyone among you is suffering hardship, then he should pray” (See: Rhetorical Question)

εὐθυμεῖ τις? ψαλλέτω

James is again using the question form to state a condition and describing the result in a following sentence. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate the question and that sentence together as a single statement. Alternate translation: “If anyone is cheerful, then he should sing praise” (See: Rhetorical Question)

James 5:14

ἀσθενεῖ τις ἐν ὑμῖν? προσκαλεσάσθω τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους τῆς ἐκκλησίας, καὶ προσευξάσθωσαν

Once again James is using the question form to state a condition and describing the result in a following sentence. If your readers would misunderstand this question, you could translate the question and that sentence together as a single statement. Alternate translation: “If anyone among you sick, then he should summon the elders of the church and they should pray” (See: Rhetorical Question)

προσευξάσθωσαν ἐπ’ αὐτὸν, ἀλείψαντες αὐτὸν ἐλαίῳ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου

It is unclear whether James means that the prayer or the anointing is to be done in the name of the Lord. Alternate translation: “let them pray over him in the name of the Lord after they have anointed him with oil” or “let them anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and then pray for him”

προσευξάσθωσαν ἐπ’ αὐτὸν

James is using a spatial metaphor to indicate that the sick person is the beneficiary of the elders’ prayers. Alternate translation: “pray for him” (See: Metaphor)

ἀλείψαντες αὐτὸν ἐλαίῳ

In the biblical culture, anointing people with oil was a way of consecrating them to God, but it was also a medical treatment. Since James is talking about a person who is sick, he seems to speak of the oil at least in part for its medical value. So he may be telling believers to do what they can practically to help the sick person recover, in addition to praying for him. If your readers would not recognize that the medical benefits were one reason why James says to anoint the sick person with oil, you could include an explanation in your translation or in a note, or you could translate this with a general expression. Alternate translation: “having done what they can to help him practically” (See: Translate Unknowns)

ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου

James is figuratively using the name of the Lord to mean his person and authority. Alternate translation: “on behalf of the Lord” or “with the authority of the Lord” (See: Metonymy)

James 5:15

ἡ εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως σώσει τὸν κάμνοντα

James is using the possessive form to describe prayer that is characterized by faith. Alternate translation: “the prayer that is offered in faith will save the sick” (See: Possession)

ἡ εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως σώσει τὸν κάμνοντα

James is using the word translated save in one of its senses to mean “heal.” (He uses a more specific word to mean “healed” in the next verse.) Alternate translation: “the prayer that is offered in faith will heal the sick” (See: Possession)

ἡ εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως σώσει τὸν κάμνοντα

James is using the adjective sick as a noun in order to indicate a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “the prayer that is offered in faith will heal the sick person” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

ἡ εὐχὴ τῆς πίστεως σώσει τὸν κάμνοντα

James is speaking figuratively of this prayer as if it would heal the sick person itself. Alternate translation: “in answer to this prayer that is offered in faith, God will heal the sick person” (See: Personification)

ἐγερεῖ αὐτὸν ὁ Κύριος

James is speaking figuratively of the sick person’s restoration to health by association with the way that the person will get up out of bed when he recovers. Alternate translation: “the Lord will make him well” or “the Lord will enable him to resume his regular activities” (See: Metonymy)

ἀφεθήσεται αὐτῷ

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who will do the action. Alternate translation: “God will forgive him” (See: Active or Passive)

James 5:16

οὖν

James uses Therefore to introduce something that believers should do as a result of what he said in the previous verse. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain in more detail what he means, as UST does. (See: Connect — Reason-and-Result Relationship)

ἰαθῆτε

If your readers would misunderstand this passive verb, you could express this with an active form, and you could state who would do the action. Alternate translation: “God may heal you” (See: Active or Passive)

πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη

The term working has the sense of an adverb rather than an adjective. Alternate translation: “The prayer of the righteous is very strong as it is working” or “The prayer of the righteous is very strong in its effects”

πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη

James is using the adjective righteous as a noun in order to indicate a type of person. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you can translate this with an equivalent expression. Alternate translation: “The working prayer of a person who is righteous is very strong” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη

James is speaking figuratively of prayer as if it were a living thing that was very strong by itself. Alternate translation: “When a person who is righteous prays, God does very powerful things in response” (See: Personification)

James 5:17

Ἠλείας

James assumes that his readers will know from the Scriptures about this episode in Elijah’s life. If your readers might not be familiar with it, you could describe it in more detail. Alternate translation: “You know from the Scriptures how a prophet named Elijah who lived long ago” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

ὁμοιοπαθὴς ἡμῖν

This expression means that Elijah had the same feelings as any other human being. In context, James is indicating specifically that he too had the kind of feelings that make it difficult for people to pray. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “who had the same doubts and fears that we all do” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

προσευχῇ προσηύξατο

To indicate that Elijah prayed intensely, James is using an indirect object with a verb that comes from the same root. If your language uses a similar construction, it would be appropriate to have it here in your translation. But if this construction would seem to express unnecessary extra information in your language, you could express this emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: “he prayed intensely” (See: Making Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information Explicit)

James 5:18

πάλιν προσηύξατο

The pronoun he refers to Elijah. Alternate translation: “Elijah prayed again” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

ὁ οὐρανὸς ὑετὸν ἔδωκεν

In this context, the heaven means “the sky.” James is speaking figuratively of the sky as if it were a living thing that gave rain. Alternate translation: “rain fell from the sky” (See: Personification)

ἡ γῆ ἐβλάστησεν τὸν καρπὸν αὐτῆς

James is speaking figuratively of the earth as if it were a living thing that produced fruit. As in 5:7, James is using the word fruit in a broad sense to mean things that plants produce that are good for food. He does not mean only the kind of fruit that grows on trees and vines. Alternate translation: “crops grew from the ground” (See: Personification)

James 5:19

ἀδελφοί μου

See how you translated the term brothers in 1:2. Alternate translation: “My fellow believers” (See: Metaphor)

ἐάν τις ἐν ὑμῖν πλανηθῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας

As in 1:16, James is speaking figuratively as if a deceptive guide may have led one of his readers in the wrong direction. Alternate translation: “if anyone among you may have been deceived regarding the truth” (See: Metaphor)

ἐάν τις ἐν ὑμῖν πλανηθῇ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀληθείας

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express this with an active form. Alternate translation: “if someone may have deceived anyone among you regarding the truth” (See: Active or Passive)

τῆς ἀληθείας

If your readers would misunderstand the abstract noun truth, you could express the idea behind it with an adjective such as “true.” Alternate translation: “what is true” (See: Abstract Nouns)

ἐπιστρέψῃ τις αὐτόν

James is continuing the metaphor of someone guiding a person in the right direction. Alternate translation: “someone corrects him” or “someone shows him what is actually true” (See: Metaphor)

James 5:20

γινωσκέτω

The pronoun him refers to the person who corrects another believer who has been deceived. Alternate translation: “the person who corrects the deceived believer should know” (See: Pronouns — When to Use Them)

ὁ ἐπιστρέψας ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐκ πλάνης ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ

James is using the possessive form to describe a way or path that is characterized by wandering. Alternate translation: “the one who turns back a sinner who has wandered away” (See: Possession)

ὁ ἐπιστρέψας ἁμαρτωλὸν ἐκ πλάνης ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ

The expressions turns back and wandering continue the metaphor of someone guiding a person in the right direction. Alternate translation: “anyone who corrects a sinner who has stopped doing what God wants” (See: Metaphor)

σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου

James is speaking figuratively as if this person’s actions would save the sinner’s soul from death. But James means by association that God will use those actions to persuade the sinner to repent and be saved. Alternate translation: “will be an instrument of God’s work to save the sinner’s soul from death” (See: Metonymy)

σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου

James seems to be speaking not of literal, physical death but of spiritual death, that is, of eternal separation from God. Alternate translation: “from spiritual death” (as in UST) or “from eternal separation from God” (See: Metaphor)

σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου

However, some interpreters believe that James actually is speaking of literal, physical death. They believe he is saying that a person who stops his sinful lifestyle will not experience physical death as a consequence of his sin. In that case, James would be using one part of a person, his soul, to mean all of the person. Alternate translation: “will keep him from dying” (See: Synecdoche)

καλύψει πλῆθος ἁμαρτιῶν

James is speaking figuratively of one person’s sins as if they were objects that another person could cover so that God would not see them. He means that by helping a sinner to repent, another believer can help that sinner to be forgiven. Alternate translation: “will help him to be forgiven” (See: Metaphor)