1:25
In Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, 1:25 is one long sentence. This sentence has many clauses, and some clauses repeat information. In some languages, it will not be natural to follow the Berean Standard Bible order and structure. For some ways to reorder this verse, see the General Comment on 1:25a–e at the end of 1:25e.
1:25a
But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But indicates a contrast. The contrast is between the person who only hears the word (1:23–24) and the person who hears the word and does it (1:25).
the one who: The Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the one who is in a general statement that applies to anyone. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a pronoun or a plural in such a statement. For example:
the person who (God’s Word)
-or-
the one who (NET Bible)
-or-
those who (New Century Version)
-or-
if you (Good News Translation)
looks intently: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as looks intently literally means “look/peer into.” Here it is used figuratively and means “investigate carefully.” (Some authorities (including F. Field, page 236, and F. J. A. Hort) think the component of carefulness is not present in the meaning of the verb. It seems, however, that examples can be quoted on both sides. In other words, the context shows whether carefulness is implied or not. ) It refers to determining what God’s word says by listening to someone else read it, asking questions, or reading it oneself.
Some other ways to translate this verb are:
thoroughly examines
-or-
carefully study (New Century Version)
-or-
carefully thinks about
-or-
listens very well
the perfect law: The phrase the perfect law refers to all the commandments in God’s word. It refers to the set of instructions and commands that God gave his people to live by. They are perfect. It does not just refer to the Ten Commandments or other laws in the Old Testament. It also includes Jesus’ teachings.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
God’s perfect law (New Century Version)
-or-
God’s perfect teachings (God’s Word)
-or-
God’s perfect rules
perfect: The word perfect means that God’s law is completely good. It has no unrighteous commands.
This same word occurs in 1:17a with similar meaning.
of freedom: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as of freedom describes what the perfect law does for people who obey it. It frees them from sin. (This interpretation is explicitly supported by the New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, and Huther, page 89. However, since the Greek literally just says, “the law of liberty,” some commentators interpret the phrase as “the law that a person obeys freely.” See Mayor, page 70; Mitton, pages 72–73. But the interpretation that the law sets a person free fits well with the teaching of the Psalms (see Psalm 119:32, “I will run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free,” and 119:45 “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts”) and other Jewish literature (for example, “you find no free man except him who occupies himself with the study of Torah,” Aboth 6:2b, cited in Martin, page 51).) In some languages it may be necessary to translate freedom as a verb. For example:
that makes us free (Revised English Bible)
-or-
that sets you free (Contemporary English Version)
In other languages, it may be necessary to provide an object. For example:
that frees people from sin
-or-
that frees people to do what God wants them to do
1:25b
and continues to do so: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as continues to do so indicates that the person continues to carefully investigate the law of God.
In some languages, it may be possible to translate this word as part of 1:25a. For example:
But the man who continues to look intently into the perfect law
-or-
But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
1:25c–d
not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer: In Greek, this is literally “being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work.” For example:
being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts (Revised Standard Version)
The words “hearer” and “doer” are the same words as in 1:22a and 1:22c. See the notes on 1:22a, 1:22c, and try to use the same expressions here that you did there.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
and do not simply listen and then forget it, but put it into practice (Good News Translation)
-or-
They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says (New Century Version)
-or-
not neglecting to do what they heard that they should do but doing it
If it is more natural in your language to first say what a person does and then say what he does not do, then you may want to reverse the order of these clauses. For example the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) says:
and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard
1:25c
not being a forgetful hearer: If you used a verb in 1:25a that means “look,” “read” or “study,” then it may not be natural to use the verb “heard” here. In such a case, you can say:
not forgetting what he read/studied
-or-
not forgetting what he saw in the law
-or-
not neglecting to do what he has learned
-or-
not forgetting what it says
Another way to translate this is to translate it without the negative. For example:
Remembering what he has heard
1:25d
but an effective doer: The clause effective doer refers to doing what the perfect law teaches. Some other ways to translate this clause are:
but doing what the law says/teaches
-or-
but keeping/obeying the law
1:25e
he will be blessed in what he does: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he will be blessed in what he does is literally “that one will be blessed in the doing of him/it.” The Greek pronoun can be translated as either “him” or “it.” As a result, there are two different ways to interpret the words “the doing of him/it”:
(1) The pronoun should be interpreted as “it” and refers to the law. So the words “the doing of it” refer to doing/keeping the law. According to this interpretation, God will bless a person because he keeps the law. For example, the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) says:
But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says…, then God will bless you for doing it.
(Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), New Century Version) (New International Version (2011 Revision), New American Standard Bible, King James Version, and NET Bible (which all say something similar to “will be blessed in what he does”) are somewhat ambiguous but the intended meaning may be “in what he does to keep/do the law.”)
(2) The pronoun should be interpreted as “him” and refers to the man in 1:25a. So the words “the doing of him” refer to the activities that the man does. According to this interpretation, God will bless the man in everything he does. For example, the New Jerusalem Bible says:
But anyone who looks steadily at the perfect law of freedom and keeps to it…will be blessed in every undertaking.
(New Jerusalem Bible, Good News Translation (The Good News Translation’s “you will be blessed by God in what you do” will probably be interpreted by most readers to mean “in whatever you do.” It is also possible to understand “in what you do” to refer to what was just said about putting the law into practice.), Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) because this is the most natural meaning of the phrase “the doing of it” in this context. These words refer to the same action as the words “doing it” in 1:25d. In other words, it means doing what the law says.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
he will be blessed because he does/keeps the law
-or-
he will be blessed through/by doing it
-or-
Those who do this will be made happy (New Century Version)
In some languages, it may not be natural to translate the clause in what he does because it repeats information in 1:25d. If that is true in your language, you may leave this clause implicit. For example:
he will be blessed
will be blessed: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blessed means that the person is in a good position or situation. In other words, because he is doing what the law commands, all will be well with him. He will be blessed in the sense that God will think well of him.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
God will bless him
-or-
how good it will be for that kind of person
-or-
a person like that will be favored/fortunate
This does not mean that he will necessarily be comfortable or successful from a human point of view.
This same word occurs in 1:12.
General Comment on 1:25a–e
In Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, 1:25 is one, long sentence. In some languages, it may be natural to divide this long sentence into several sentences. For example:
25aBut the truly happy people are those who carefully study God’s perfect law that makes people free, 25band they continue to study it. 25cThey do not forget what they heard, 25dbut they obey what God’s teaching says. 25eThose who do this will be made happy. (New Century Version)
It may also be natural to change the order of some of the clauses. For example:
25a–bBut if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—25dand if you do what it says 25cand don’t forget what you heard, 25ethen God will bless you for doing it. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
The law is complete and frees us(incl) from sin. So if we study it carefully, and remember to always obey it, God will bless us.
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