1:7–8
Some English versions (Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, and New Century Version) combine 1:7–8. Other English versions follow the Greek more closely and separate the two verses. Compare the two models below.
7aThat man should not think 7bhe will receive anything from the Lord; 8ahe is a double-minded man, 8bunstable in all he does. (New International Version (2011 Revision))
7–8Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord. (New Century Version)
You should follow the model that is most natural in your language.
1:7
In Greek, 1:7 begins with a conjunction that the Revised Standard Version translates as “For.” The Berean Standard Bible has left this conjunction implicit. This word introduces a further basis for James’ command in 1:6b that a person should ask in faith without wavering. In other words, when someone asks God for something, he must believe and not waver (1:6c):
(a) because he who wavers is like a wave of the sea (1:6c)
(b) and because that man (who wavers) should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord (1:7a–b).
You should begin this verse in a way that your language uses naturally to introduce an additional basis for a command.
1:7a
That man: The phrase That man refers to a person who doubts. It does not refer to any specific person. The word man refers to a person of either gender, male or female. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
that person (NET Bible)
-or-
a person like that
should not expect: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as expect means “regard something as probably true,” or “think, assume, presume.” So the phrase should not think means that a person “should not assume” that something is true.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
must not expect (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
must not suppose (Revised Standard Version)
1:7b
to receive anything from the Lord: In some languages, it will be more natural to translate this clause by making the Lord the subject. For example:
the Lord will give him anything
the Lord: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Lord means “a master,” or “one who is in authority.” Here, the Lord refers to God the Father, since God is mentioned in 1:5b. (Also, Jesus generally taught that prayers should be addressed to the Father in his name (John 15:16; also Matthew 6:8, Matthew 7:11, 18:19). An exception is found in John 14:13–14 where Jesus says he will do whatever his disciples ask in his name. ) In some translations, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
he will receive anything from the Lord God
-or-
he will receive anything from God
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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.