1:17a

Every good and perfect gift: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Every good and perfect gift contains two words for gift. For example:

Every good gift and every perfect gift (English Standard Version)

The two words for “gift” are almost the same in meaning. James was probably quoting a piece of poetry or a proverb that repeated the phrase for emphasis.

There are two ways to translate this phrase:

• Use two different words. For example:

All generous giving and every perfect gift (NET Bible)
-or-
every good gift and every perfect present

• Use one word. For example:

Every good and perfect gift (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
everything that is good and perfect

perfect gift: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as perfect refers to something that is complete and full. It does not lack anything. (See the notes on 1:4b and 1:4c.) So a perfect gift is a gift that has no faults in it.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

faultless gift
-or-
everything that is perfect

is from above: The phrase is from above means that every good gift comes from God in heaven. In some languages, it may be necessary to say explicitly that God is the one who gives everything that is good and perfect. For example:

is from God (New Century Version)
-or-
comes from God above
-or-
is given by God

1:17b

the Father of the heavenly lights: The phrase the heavenly lights refers to the lights that are in the heavens: the sun, moon, and stars. God is called the Father of the heavenly lights because he created the heavenly lights. He is also called the Father of the heavenly lights because he has the nature of light, which is a symbol of goodness.

In some languages, Father may be totally unclear here. If that is the case in your language, you could translate it as “Creator.” For example:

God, the Creator of the heavenly lights. (Good News Translation)

the heavenly lights: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heavenly lights here refers to the sun, moon (see Genesis 1:16), and stars. In other words, this word refers to the things in the sky that give light.

Many languages do not have a general word that includes the sun, moon, and stars. If that is the case in your language, you could:

• Mention all three words separately. For example:

the sun, moon, and stars

• Use a phrase. For example:

the things which are in the sky and shine/give light

1:17c

with whom there is no change or shifting shadow: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as change or shifting shadow is a metaphor. James was contrasting the lights in the sky with God. The sun, moon, and stars change their position in the sky and cause shadows that also move. In contrast to this, God never changes. Use a word for shadow that does not only refer to the shadow of people. Also, be careful not to use a word for shadow that refers to the spirit of a person.

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• Keep the metaphor and make the meaning clear. For example:

who does not vary like the sun, moon, and stars or change like their shadows change
-or-
The Father doesn’t change like the shifting shadows produced by the sun and the moon. (God’s Word)

• Translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

God’s nature/ways never change.

no change or shifting shadow: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as change and shifting are similar in meaning. Both words were commonly used to describe the changing appearance and movement of the sun, moon, and stars. (There is a textual variant here. In place of “with whom there is not change or shadow of turning” some Greek manuscripts read “with whom there is not change which is of a turning/changing shadow.” The variant reading is followed by the Revised English Bible. Some other versions (God’s Word, New Century Version, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Jerusalem Bible) may also be following this reading. However, they may just be combining the two references to change in one expression. The general meaning of 1:17c is similar whichever reading is followed.)

If possible, use a word that you would naturally use to describe the “changes” of the sun, moon, and stars. To make it clear that James is contrasting God to the sun, moon, and stars, you could say:

who, unlike the sun, moon, and stars, does not change or move like shadows.

© 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.