Paragraph 1:26–27

In order to please God, a person must control his tongue, help others, and avoid sin.

1:26a

If anyone:

Some Greek manuscripts also have the phrase “among you” in 1:26. For example, the King James Version says, “If any man among you.” The majority of English versions do not include this phrase.
The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as If anyone can also be translated as “Anyone who.” The form of this Greek “if” clause indicates that James was referring to everyone who was like this. He was not uncertain whether there was anyone like this. So in some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural here. For example:

Those who
-or-
People who (New Century Version)
-or-
If you(plur)

considers himself religious: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as considers himself religious implies that the person falsely thinks that he is religious. He believes that he does things that please God, but he is wrong.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

thinks that he is religious
-or-
says that he is a religious person

religious: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as religious describes a person who seriously follows the rites and teachings of a religion. This might include prayer, worship with other people, and fasting.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

devoted to God
-or-
on God’s path
-or-
walks well with God
-or-
does God’s work/laws

1:26b

does not bridle his tongue: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as does not bridle his tongue refers to the way a person who rides a horse controls his horse with ropes or leather straps around the head. The ropes are called a bridle. (See the illustration below.) The act of controlling a horse by means of those ropes or straps is also called “bridle.” (For example, “He bridles his horse.”)

Here this word is a metaphor. James compared someone who is able to control his tongue to a horse that is bridled. They are similar in that both can be controlled. Some ways to translate this figure of speech are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

does not bridle his tongue (English Standard Version)

• Translate the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

can’t control your tongue (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
say things they should not say (New Century Version)

his tongue: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as his tongue is also a figure of speech. It refers to “the words that a person says” with his tongue.

Some other ways to translate this figure are:

his mouth
-or-
his words
-or-
what he says

1:26c

he deceives his heart: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as heart is frequently used in Greek to refer to a person’s thoughts. Some modern English versions translate this word as “himself.”

Another way to translate this phrase is:

he is fooling himself (God’s Word)
-or-
he is lying to himself
-or-
what he thinks about himself is wrong

A person deceives himself if he thinks that he is religious when, at the same time, he cannot control his tongue.

1:26d

and his religion is worthless:

In Greek, 1:26a–c is part of a complex clause that begins with “if.” This is followed by the consequence in 1:26d. The Revised Standard Version follows this grammatical structure:
^26aIf any one thinks he is religious^26band does not bridle his tongue^26cbut deceives himself,Consequence^26dthis man’s religion is vain. The New International Version (2011 Revision) and many other modern versions have transferred 1:26c (but deceives himself) to the consequence. One way to emphasize the consequence in 1:26d is to make it a separate sentence. For example, the God’s Word says:^26aIf a person thinks that he is religious^26bbut can’t control his tongue,^26che is fooling himself.^26dThat person’s religion is worthless.) The clause his religion is worthless indicates that all that he does to show that he is devoted to God is useless in God’s eyes. Another way to translate this is:

this person’s religious acts/practices are worth nothing
-or-
his religion is of no worth/use
-or-
his worship has no value

religion: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as religion refers to the worship of God or gods. It refers primarily to outward, external acts of piety or devotion.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

ceremonies to God
-or-
worship of God
-or-
piety toward God

This word also occurs in Acts 26:5.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

Paragraph 3:7–8

In this paragraph, James contrasted taming wild animals with taming the tongue.

3:7

In Greek, a conjunction connects 3:7 to the verses before it. Older English versions translate this conjunction as “For” (as in the Revised Standard Version). However, this verse is not giving a reason for something. This conjunction introduces some further thoughts on the dangers of the tongue. Most modern English versions do not use any connecting word here. If your language uses a word to introduce further thoughts on a topic, then you may want to use it here.

Some examples of how to translate this word are:

Furthermore
-or-
Moreover
-or-
In addition

3:7a

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea: In this verse, all living creatures are divided into four categories:

(a) animals

(b) birds

(c) reptiles

(d) creatures of the sea

Different languages divide living creatures in different ways. So it may not be possible to find exact words in your language for each of these four categories. In some languages, it is more natural to divide living creatures in some other way. For example:

wild animals, birds, snakes, and fish
-or-
animals that walk, animals that crawl, animals that fly, and animals that swim
-or-
every kind of moving thing, even birds and snakes

Some languages have only two or three categories. Use the divisions that are natural in your language.

animals: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as animals refers to certain four-footed animals that live on land. It could include the animals that people normally keep under their control like cows, sheep, goats, and dogs. However, the animals in focus here are those that normally live in the wild and that men go out to hunt. These are animals like deer, antelopes, wild pigs, and so on.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

wild animals (Good News Translation)
-or-
bush animals

birds: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as birds includes all kinds of birds. James may have wanted to include other flying things as well like bats, locusts, and other insects.

reptiles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reptiles refers to all creatures that move about close to the ground. This includes creatures that slide along the ground such as snakes. It also includes creatures that run close to the ground such as lizards.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

creatures that crawl on the ground (Revised English Bible)
-or-
snakes

creatures of the sea: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as creatures of the sea includes all creatures that live in water. This includes fish, whales, eels, crabs, and so on.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

creatures that…swim in the sea (Revised English Bible)
-or-
fish (Good News Translation)

3:7b

are being tamed and have been tamed: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tamed occurs twice in 3:7b. This verb is a general word that means “gained control” over a creature. “To gain control” over an animal is: (a) to tame it to be a pet, (b) to make it work for someone, (c) to stop it from eating crops, and even (d) to kill it and eat it. (F. Field, Notes on the Translation of the NT , pages 237–238. Mitton, pages 129–130, says, “[The Greek word] would represent also man’s power to destroy such animals as threatened human welfare, as well as to compel other animals to submit to domestic service.”) The English word “tamed” is perhaps too specific a word here. It covers only part of the meaning.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

subdued (Revised English Bible)
-or-
caused to be submissive
-or-
made to obey
-or-
controlled

The word tamed occurs twice, but the second time the tense is different. This is to make the point that taming creatures has always happened. Men are doing it today, and they have been doing it since the world began.

Both of these verbs are passive. There are at least two ways to translate them:

• Use passive verbs. For example:

can be subdued and have been subdued by man (Revised English Bible)

• Use active verbs. This may involve reordering 3:7a–b. For example:

People can tame every kind of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them. (New Century Version)

man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man means “mankind” or the “human race.” Here the focus is on all humans as a group.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

people
-or-
humans
-or-
human beings

General Comment on 3:7a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to put 3:7b before 3:7a. For example:

^7bHuman beings are subduing and have subdued ^7aall kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

5:6a

You have condemned and murdered the righteous: James accused the rich men of misusing their power in the law courts. Rich men were leaders among the people. They had friends who were judges. They used their power to oppress ordinary people even as far as having them condemned to death.

You have condemned: The word condemned means “declare/judge to be guilty (because he has done something wrong).” It can also imply “decide the punishment.” The rich men asked judges to do these things.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

You have judged guilty (New Century Version)
-or-
You^(plur) have caused innocent men to be declared guilty
-or-
You have made judges declare that innocent men have broken the law

murdered: The word murdered means “caused them to be killed.” This word refers to influencing a judge to condemn a person to die and then have him executed.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

punished by death
-or-
executed/killed

the righteous: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the righteous literally says “the righteous person.” Most commentators agree that this does not refer here to one individual person, but to righteous people in general who obey the laws.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

those who are not guilty
-or-
those who keep/follow God’s laws
-or-
people who do what is right/just
-or-
people who have done nothing wrong

5:6b

who did not resist you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as who did not resist you is literally “and he does not resist you.” James meant that the righteous people did not oppose the rich men while the rich men persecuted them. At no point did they attempt to resist or fight back.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

who do not resist you (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
They did not fight back.

resist: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as resist occurs also in 4:6 (“opposes”). It means actively resisting, not just a feeling of hatred.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

Paragraph 1:5–8

In this paragraph, James encouraged his readers to ask God to make them wise. They needed wisdom from God to know what to do while experiencing trials that test their faith. God will answer this prayer if they fully trust God when they pray. But if they do not fully trust him or if they have divided loyalty, God will not answer their prayers.

1:5a

Now if any of you lacks wisdom: This clause is in the form of an “if” statement, but James was not wondering if anyone lacked wisdom. He knew that all his readers needed wisdom in order to be successful in enduring trials (1:2).

If a literal translation of if would make your readers think that James did not know if anyone needed wisdom, you could say:

Those of you who need wisdom
-or-
He who does not have wisdom

lacks: The word lacks here indicates that a person does not have wisdom or does not have enough wisdom. He also realizes that he does not have it.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

do not have
-or-
need (Contemporary English Version)

wisdom: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wisdom refers to understanding what is right and good, and doing it. A person who has wisdom is one who chooses to behave the way God wants. He acts wisely. When he is tempted to behave in the wrong way, he resists.

In some languages, it may be necessary to translate this word as an adjective. For example:

If any of you is not wise enough
-or-
If any of you needs to become a wiser person
-or-
If any of you needs understanding to do what is right and good

1:5b

he should ask God: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he should ask is a command addressed to the person who needs wisdom. In order to obtain wisdom, a person must ask for it.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

let him ask God (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
must ask God (New Jerusalem Bible)

he: The pronoun he refers to any person who lacks wisdom. This is the person whom James referred to in 1:5a. Depending on how you have translated 1:5a, it may be necessary to use the pronoun “you” “we(incl)” or “they” rather than “he.” For example:

you should ask God (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they should ask God
-or-
we
(incl) should request God

1:5c

There are several ways to connect 1:5c to the rest of 1:5. See the General Comment on 1:5a–d at the end of 1:5d for some examples.

who gives generously to all without finding fault: This clause (The New International Version (2011 Revision) and other English versions translate this Greek participial phrase as a descriptive (or non-restrictive) relative clause.) describes the character of God. He generously gives good gifts to people, and he does not criticize them for asking. James said this to encourage people to ask for wisdom.

In some languages, it will be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

For God gives generously to all without finding fault.

It may be natural to begin a new sentence here because:

(a) 1:5a–d is a long sentence in both the Greek and the Berean Standard Bible, and it may be natural in your language to divide it into several shorter sentences.

(b) a clause beginning with the word “who” might imply that one God gives generously and another God does not give generously.

gives generously: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as generously means that God gives “without hesitation,” “freely,” and “unconditionally.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

gives without reserve
-or-
gives bountifully

If your language needs to say what God gives, you can say:

generously gives good things
-or-
abundantly gives what we need

to all: The word all here refers to all people.

without finding fault: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as without finding fault means “does not criticize, reproach, or blame.” God does not criticize those who ask him for wisdom, because he is pleased that they have come to him for help.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

without scolding (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
He will not resent your asking. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
won’t correct you for asking (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
He will not reprimand/criticize you when you ask

1:5d

it will be given to him: The word it refers to wisdom. The verb will be given is passive. God is the one who gives wisdom. So there are at least two ways to translate this phrase:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

wisdom will be given/granted him

• Use an active verb. For example:

he will give you wisdom (New Century Version)
-or-
God will cause him to become wise.

In some languages, “wisdom” is not something that “is given.” Some other ways to translate the word given are:

God will teach him to be wise
-or-
God will help him to be wise

General Comment on 1:5a–d

One of the challenges in translating 1:5 is to decide how to connect the “who” clause in 1:5c to the rest of the verse. Some possibilities are:

• Follow the Greek order, but begin a new sentence. For example:

^5aNow if any of you lacks wisdom, ^5bhe should ask God for it. ^5cGod gives generously to all without finding fault. ^5dSo if he asks for wisdom it will be given to him.

• Put 1:5c first. For example:

^5cGod gives generously to all without finding fault. ^5aSo, if you lack wisdom, ^5byou should ask God for some, 5dand he will give it to you.

• Put 1:5c last. For example:

^5aIf any of you need wisdom, ^5byou should ask God, ^5dand it will be given to you. ^5cGod is generous and won’t correct you for asking. (Contemporary English Version)

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

2:11a–b

“Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.”: The Greek phrases that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Do not commit adultery and Do not murder are commands. Here these commands are singular just as they are in the Old Testament in Hebrew. God gave these commands to each Israelite.

In some languages, people do not use a singular form to give a general command like this. Use whatever form is natural in your language for giving this type of general command. For example:

You^(plur) must not commit adultery. You^(plur) must not murder.
-or-
People must not commit adultery. People must not murder.

Also, in some languages, it may be more natural to use indirect speech here. For example:

The same God who told us to be faithful in marriage also told us not to murder. (Contemporary English Version)

2:11a

For: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as For introduces an example of the statement that James made in 2:10. That statement is, “If you break one law, you are guilty of breaking all the law.”

In some languages, a conjunction will not be necessary here.

He who said: The word He refers to God. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

For the same God who said (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
Because God said both

“Do not commit adultery,”: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as commit adultery refers to a man or woman having sexual relations with someone who is married to someone else. It also refers to a married person having sexual relations with anyone other than their spouse.

Many languages have hidden ways of saying adultery that are understood but do not embarrass people when it is read in public. For example:

do not behave immorally with one not your spouse
-or-
be faithful in marriage (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Do not have sexual relations with anyone who is not your spouse

The same word occurs in Matthew 5:27; Luke 18:20; and Romans 13:9.

2:11b

“Do not murder.”: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as murder means “kill someone deliberately.” Some ways to translate this phrase are:

Do not kill
-or-
Do not purposefully cause someone to die
-or-
Do not intentionally slay someone

2:11c–e

If you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker: James used an “if” clause to begin a specific example of his principle in 2:10. (The principle is that someone who breaks one point of the law breaks the entire law.) In some languages, it may be more natural to begin a specific example without using an “if” clause. For example:

^11cSomeone who does not commit adultery, ^11dbut commits murder, ^11eis still a lawbreaker.

2:11e

you have become a lawbreaker: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you have become could also be translated as “you are.” It emphasizes the person’s situation.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

you are a breaker of the law (Revised English Bible)
-or-
you are guilty of breaking God’s law
-or-
you are a person who does not obey God’s laws
-or-
you are a person who does not do what God says to do

General Comment on 2:11c–e

In some languages, it may be natural to reorder these verse parts as the Revised English Bible has done:

^11cIf you commit murder ^11eyou are a breaker of the law, ^11deven if you do not commit adultery as well.

General Comment on 2:10–11

In some languages, James’ explanation will be clearer if some clauses in 2:10 and 2:11 are reordered. His explanation may also be clearer if some information is made explicit. For example:

^10bAnyone who stumbles at just one point of the law ^10cis guilty of breaking all of it ^10aeven if he keeps the rest of the law. ^11dFor example, if someone commits murder ^11cbut never commits adultery, ^11ehe is a lawbreaker ^11bbecause God told us both not to murder and ^11anot to commit adultery. So that is why, when you show favoritism, you are breaking the law. You are not following God’s command to love your neighbor as yourself.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

3:18a–b

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness: This sentence is a proverb. It also contains a metaphor. There are at least two main issues to consider as you translate this verse.

Issue 1: How to translate naturally

This Greek sentence is more literally “the fruit/harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by the ones making peace.” It may be strange to speak of a harvest being sown. So it may be more natural to speak of sowing seeds that result in a harvest. For example:

And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

Issue 2: How to translate the metaphor

The words sow and raise a harvest are a metaphor. James compared the activity of sowing (seeds) and harvesting a crop to the activity of a peacemaker. These activities are similar in that certain actions naturally lead to certain results. Just as planting a crop leads to a harvest, promoting peace among the community of believers leads to righteous actions in that community.

Some ways to translate this metaphor are:

• Keep the metaphor. For example:

When peacemakers plant seeds of peace, they will harvest justice. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of goodness. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

• Change the metaphor to a simile. For example:

Peacemakers are like people who plant and then harvest a crop. When they make/promote peace, it results in righteous actions.

• Translate the meaning without using a metaphor. For example:

When people live peacefully and help others to be at peace, then the result is righteous actions in their lives and the lives of others.

3:18a

Peacemakers who sow in peace: The phrase who sow in peace describes all peacemakers. It does not indicate that some peacemakers sow in peace and others do not.

Some ways to make this clear are:

When people who are peacemakers sow in peace
-or-
Peacemakers, because they sow in peace

Peacemakers: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Peacemakers is literally “those who make peace” (as in the Revised Standard Version). It refers to people who:

(a) live in peace with other people, and

(b) help others to stop quarreling and live together peacefully.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

People who live peacefully and who help others to live together peacefully
-or-
People who live in peace and who help others stop quarreling
-or-
Those who are peaceful and who settle conflicts

who sow in peace: The way you translate the phrase in peace will depend on whether you keep the metaphor or translate the meaning. For example:

• If you keep the metaphor, the word peace here refers to that which is sown. For example:

The peace sown by peacemakers (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
When peacemakers plant seeds of peace (Contemporary English Version)

• If you translate the meaning, the phrase in peace refers to the manner or attitude in which peacemakers act. In other words, peacemakers do things in a manner or attitude that leads to peace between people. For example:

When people live peacefully and help others to be at peace
-or-
When people behave in a peaceable way

3:18b

reap the fruit of righteousness: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reap the fruit of righteousness is literally “a crop/harvest of righteousness.” It is a noun phrase. Some versions, like the Berean Standard Bible, translate it as a verb phrase. (Some other examples are below.)

The phrase the fruit of righteousness means “a harvest that consists of righteousness.” Right living that pleases God is the fruit or crop that is produced by wise people who sow peace.

The way you translate this phrase will depend on whether you keep the metaphor or translate the meaning. For example:

• If you keep the metaphor, you will translate the word harvest literally. For example:

reap a harvest of righteousness (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
they will harvest justice (Contemporary English Version)

• If you translate the meaning, you will translate the word fruit as “result” or “produce” or some similar word. For example:

then the result is righteous actions in their lives and the lives of others
-or-
it produces righteousness

righteousness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteousness means:

(a) actions that are right and good in God’s sight. Righteous actions will result when people live in peace with others and promote peace.

(b) acting in a right and fair way toward other people. Peaceful people who promote peace will reap justice in return.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

good acts/behavior
-or-
right deeds
-or-
goodness (Good News Translation)

Paragraph 4:1–3

In this paragraph, James discussed why Christian people quarrel with each other. He introduced this topic by means of a rhetorical question (4:1a). He then responded to his question, using another rhetorical question (4:1b). Christians quarrel because they selfishly desire things. In 4:2–3 he explained the answer in more detail.

4:1a

What causes conflicts and quarrels among you?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to introduce a new topic. He wanted his readers to think about what was causing people in the church to quarrel and fight with one another.

Some ways to introduce this new topic are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Where do all the fights and quarrels among you come from? (Good News Translation)

• As a command/imperative form to draw the readers’ attention to the new topic. For example:

Now consider what causes you^(plur) to fight…
-or-
Think about why you^(plur) fight….

• As a statement expressing James’ wish. For example:

I want you^(plur) to think about why you fight.

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this new topic.

What causes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as What causes is more literally “From where.” For example:

Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? (NET Bible)

The conflicts and quarrels come from inside people. So in some languages, it is more natural to say:

What causes…
-or-
Why do you fight and argue with each other? (Contemporary English Version)

conflicts and quarrels: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as conflicts and quarrels refer to serious conflicts. These words can refer to both physical fighting and verbal arguments.

Some other ways to translate these words are:

fights and arguments (New Century Version)
-or-
conflicts and disputes (New Revised Standard Version)

Notice the plural forms. This shows that these conflicts were happening frequently. James was not thinking of just one problem.

In some languages, it will be more natural to translate these nouns as verbs. For example:

you fight and quarrel so often

The words conflicts and quarrels are a doublet. This means that these two words mean almost the same thing. In some languages, both words can be translated by one word. For example:

Where do your frequent conflicts come from?

among you: The phrase among you indicates that James was talking about quarrels and disputes among Christian people.

4:1b–c

Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?: This is a rhetorical question. It is a response to the rhetorical question in 4:1a. James used this rhetorical question to emphasize that the fights and quarrels came from people’s evil desires.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
They come from your^(plur) desires that battle within you, right?

• As a statement. For example:

They come from the selfish desires that war within you. (New Century Version)

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

James was not informing his readers of something they did not know. He was reminding them of something they already knew.

4:1b

they: The pronoun they refers to the “fights and quarrels” in 4:1a.

come from: Use a verb that corresponds with the verb in 4:1a. For example, if you used the verb “come from” in 4:1a, you can use come from here. If you used the verb “causes” in 4:1a, you may want to use “caused” here. For example:

Aren’t they caused by…? (God’s Word)

the passions: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as passions here refers to wrong, selfish desires. These passions are desires for personal wealth, glory, and pleasure.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

selfish desires (God’s Word)
-or-
desires for pleasure (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it is more natural to translate the phrase the passions with a clause. For example:

you^(plur) selfishly desire to have
-or-
you^(plur) really want

4:1c

at war within you: The clause at war within you refers to your desires “which are constantly fighting within you.” (Good News Translation)

This clause is a figure of speech called personification. The word “passions” in 4:1b is the subject of the word war. It is as if the “passions” were people who could fight.

There are at least two ways to translate this personification:

• Keep the figure of speech. For example:

that fight to control you (God’s Word)

• Translate the meaning of the figure. For example:

that are opposed/contrary to what you should want
-or-
that are against your desire to do good

The text does not state against whom or against what the desires of the person are fighting. There are basically three interpretations:

(1) The desires in a person are fighting a war against his conscience or his soul. The struggle is inside him. (Interpretation (1) is supported by Mayor, page 129; Adamson (1976), page 166; Hiebert, page 244; Davids (1982), page 157; Moo (1985), page 139.)

(2) The desires in a person are fighting a war against other people as he tries to do what pleases God and not what pleases them. (Interpretation (2) is supported by Alford, page 312; Huther, page 127; Ropes, page 253; Martin, page 140.)

(3) The different desires in a person are fighting a war with each other inside the person. (Interpretation (3) is supported by Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English and by Laws, page 168.)

English versions do not say whom the desires are fighting. If you must be specific, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

within you: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as within you can also be translated as:

inside you (NET Bible)
-or-
in your^(plur) hearts
-or-
in your^(plur) souls/spirits

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

Paragraph 5:17–18

James supported his advice to pray by giving the example of Elijah. Elijah received miracles in answer to his prayers.

5:17

As an example of powerful prayer, James used the story of the prophet Elijah. (See 1 Kings chapters 17–18.) This story was well known to James’ readers. Elijah saw how the people of his country had turned to evil, and so he prayed that God would punish them by sending no rain on their land.

5:17a

Elijah: Elijah was a prophet who lived 900 years before James. In some languages, it may be more natural to make some of this information explicit. For example:

Elijah the prophet
-or-
Elijah the prophet of long ago

was a man: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man here means “human being.” For example:

was a human being (New Century Version)
-or-
was a mere human

just like us: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as just like us means “has the same kind of desires and feelings as we do.” The Jews thought of Elijah as an extraordinary person, so James reminded them that he was a normal human being.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

as we are (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
with a nature like ours (English Standard Version)
-or-
the same kind of person as we are (Good News Translation)

This word also occurs in Acts 14:15.

5:17b

He prayed earnestly: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as He prayed earnestly is literally “He prayed with prayer.” This double use of the word “pray” intensifies what James was saying. He meant that when Elijah prayed, he was sincere, serious, and eager to receive an answer. Use what is natural in your language to indicate this intensity of prayer. Use an idiom if that is appropriate. For example, some English idioms for this are:

He prayed hard
-or-
He prayed with his whole heart

5:17d

it did not rain on the land: The phrase on the land refers to the land of Israel. The drought that God sent did not affect the whole world, but only the land of Israel.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.

Paragraph 1:16–18

This paragraph gives more reasons that show why it is not God who tries to make people do evil. Everything good comes from God, and he never changes. So it is unthinkable that any bad thing could come from him. God wants to give us new life.

1:16

Do not be deceived: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Do not be deceived means “do not go astray” or “do not have false ideas.” We should not deceive ourselves into thinking that God is the one who tempts us to do evil.

This phrase is passive. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

don’t be misled (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
do not be fooled (New Century Version)
-or-
do not be deceived into thinking that God tempts us

• Use an expression that is not passive. For example:

do not deceive yourselves
-or-
do not have false/wrong ideas

This expression is used elsewhere in the New Testament to warn Christians against ideas that are dangerously wrong (1 Corinthians 6:9, 15:33; Galatians 6:7). (See also Luke 21:8; 1 John 3:7. See also Davids (1982), page 86; Martin, page 37, and see the note on the word “wander” in 5:19a.)

my beloved brothers: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as my beloved brothers refers to believers in Christ to whom James was writing. It refers to both men and women. The similar phrase “my brothers” occurs in 1:2a.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

my dear fellow believers
-or-
my dear brothers and sisters (NET Bible)
-or-
my beloved relatives/siblings in Christ
-or-
my beloved Christian friends

James used the term of address my beloved brothers to soften his command “Don’t be deceived.” You may have another way in your language to soften a command. If you do, you may be able to use it instead of the phrase my beloved brothers.

Notice that the Berean Standard Bible places the phrase my beloved brothers at the end of 1:16. This follows the Greek text. In some languages, it is more natural to place it at the beginning of 1:16 before the command or after 1:17. For example:

My dear brothers and sisters, do not be fooled about this. (New Century Version)

beloved: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as beloved is used because James was telling his fellow believers that he cared about them.

© 2012 by SIL International®

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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.