1:11a
For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces a more detailed explanation of what was said in 1:10b. Do not translate this verse as if it were the reason for 1:10b. It further explains 1:10b, but it is not a reason. Some English versions do not translate this conjunction.
the sun rises with scorching heat: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as scorching heat refers to heat that is so great that it causes plants to die.
Some other ways to translate this clause are:
The sun rises with burning heat (New Century Version)
-or-
the sun becomes high and scorches
-or-
the sun becomes hot and burns
1:11b
and withers: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as withers means “dries up.” In Israel, the rainy period ends early in the year. After that, there are no more clouds, and the sun is so hot that flowers dry up and die quickly.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
causes to dry up
-or-
causes to die
-or-
kills
the plant: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as plant may refer to any plant with flowers on it.
1:11c
its flower: The word flower refers to the flower of the plant.
falls: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as falls refers to when a flower “drops” or “falls off” its stem to the ground. For example:
The flowers drop off (God’s Word)
-or-
the plants lose their blossoms
1:11d
its beauty is lost: The phrase its beauty is lost means that “the plant’s beauty is gone.”
In some languages, it is not possible to talk about something abstract like beauty being lost. If that is true in your language, you may be able to use an adjective form and say:
It is no longer beautiful at all.
-or-
what was lovely to look at is lost for ever (Revised English Bible)
is lost: This is a passive verb. It is the heat of the sun that destroys the beauty of the flowers. So there are at least two ways to translate this:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
is destroyed (New American Standard Bible)
• Use an active verb. For example:
the heat destroys its beauty
-or-
the sun causes it to lose its beauty
• Use an intransitive verb. For example:
its beauty is gone (New Century Version)
-or-
its beauty fades away (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
General Comment on 1:10b–11d
James was talking about wild flowers in general, not one specific blossom or plant. So in some languages, it may be natural to use plural forms. For example:
10b–11bRich people will disappear like wild flowers scorched by the burning heat of the sun. 11cThe flowers lose their blossoms, 11dand their beauty is destroyed. (Contemporary English Version)
1:11e
So too: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So too introduces an explanation of how rich people will fade away like flowers.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
So also (NET Bible)
-or-
The same thing will happen to (God’s Word)
the rich man: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as the rich man is the same as the phrase translated “the one who is rich” in 1:10a. There it referred to the rich brother/believer. James was probably still thinking of the rich brother/believer, but what he says is true of all rich people. You can translate this either as “rich brother/believer” or as “rich man/person.”
This phrase does not refer to one specific rich man. It refers to all rich people. To make this clear, it may be best to translate this with a plural. For example:
rich people (God’s Word)
will fade away: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will fade away refers to a plant withering and dying. James used this verb to show how rich people will fade away like wild flowers. They will die and lose all the things that made people admire them, just as a flower loses its beauty when it dies. After that, people do not pay attention to them any longer.
If it is not natural in your language to talk about a person “fading,” you can say:
will die (New Century Version)
-or-
will end up being nothing
1:11f
in the midst of his pursuits: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the midst of his pursuits here means, “while he is doing his normal activities.” James was probably thinking of the rich man’s daily business activities such as trading.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
while they are still taking care of business (New Century Version)
-or-
while he is busy working
-or-
while he is earning money
General Comment on 1:11e–f
In some languages, it will be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in this verse. For example:
11eIt will be the same with the rich person also. 11fWhile he is busy at his work, 11ehe will die.
© 2012 by SIL International®
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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.