2:7a–b

Are they not the ones who blaspheme the noble name by which you have been called?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to emphasize that it was the rich people, not the poor, who were speaking against Christ.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Do they not blaspheme the good name of the one you belong to? (NET Bible)
-or-
They are the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong, right?

• As a statement. For example:

They are the ones who speak evil of that good name which has been given to you. (Good News Translation)

Translate this emphasis in a way that is natural in your language.

2:7a

blaspheme: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as blaspheme means “speaking evil of someone” or “insulting and saying bad things about someone.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

insulting
-or-
profaning
-or-
speaking evil against
-or-
disgracing

This same Greek word is also translated as “slandering” (as in the New International Version (2011 Revision)).

2:7b

the noble name by which you have been called: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the noble name by which you have been called is literally “the noble name that has been called upon/over you.” This “name that has been called over you” is the name that Jesus has given to you. Jesus gave his name to you to show that you belong to him. In other words, you/we are now in special relation to Jesus and part of his family.

The phrase the noble name refers to the name of Jesus Christ. His name is noble in the sense that it is a good, excellent, or honorable name. He is the one to whom James’ readers belong.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

the honorable/good name of Jesus, the one to whom you belong
-or-
the praiseworthy name of Jesus Christ. He is the one to whom you belong
-or-
the holy name of the one who is our master, Jesus Christ
-or-
the excellent name of Jesus Christ, whose people you became when you trusted in him

General Comment on 2:7a–b

In some languages, it is more natural to change the order of 2:7a and 2:7b. For example:

^7bYou belong to him who has a noble name. ^7aAre they not slandering his name?

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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.