SIL Translator’s Notes on James 2012 – Page 7

SIL Translator's Notes on James 5:10

Paragraph 5:10–11

James knew that some of his readers were suffering badly. He encouraged them to be patient like the prophets were. This is the second example of patience.

5:10a

Brothers: The word Brothers also occurs in 5:7a and 5:9a.

5:10b

as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets: James told his readers to remember the prophets of Old Testament days who endured suffering and were patient. His readers should follow the examples of these men. In other words, they should imitate their behavior.

Some other ways to translate this are:

let us imitate the prophets. They were patient when they suffered.
-or-
follow the example of the prophets…. They suffered many hard things, but they were patient. (New Century Version)
-or-
The prophets who patiently endured suffering long ago are a good example for you^(plur) to follow.

patience in affliction: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as patience in affliction is literally “suffering and patience” (as in the Revised Standard Version). Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

They were patient, even when they had to suffer. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
They suffered many hard things, but they were patient. (New Century Version)

patience: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as patience is related to the verb “be patient” in 5:7a,e and 5:8a. Use a word or expression that corresponds to what you used in those verses.

affliction: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as affliction here refers to suffering physical pain caused by others treating them badly. Some other ways to translate this word are:

hardship
-or-
persecution

take the prophets: The phrase take the prophets here means “think about the prophets” or “remember the prophets.” For example:

remember the prophets…. Take them as examples (Good News Translation)
-or-
follow the example of the prophets (New Century Version)

prophets: The word prophets refers to men who spoke on behalf of God. They told people what God revealed to them. God gave some prophets power to work miracles. These miracles helped people realize that God had sent the prophet.

Many prophets were persecuted and even killed, but they remained faithful to God despite their suffering.

Some ways to translate prophets are:

spokesmen for God
-or-
men who speak God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speakers

It is good to use a general term that does not focus only on foretelling the future. Although prophets did foretell the future, they also gave people other messages from God. They especially told them to stop sinning and to obey God.

When choosing a term for prophet, consider how you will distinguish prophet from other words which are similar in meaning such as “angel,” “apostle,” and “preacher.”

5:10c

who spoke in the name of the Lord: The phrase who spoke in the name of the Lord indicates that the prophets spoke with the Lord’s authority. They represented God. James was probably implying that this was the reason for the prophets’ suffering.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

who spoke in the name of the Lord (God’s Word)
-or-
who spoke what God made known to them
-or-
who spoke on behalf of the Lord
-or-
who spoke by the authority of the Lord

the Lord: Here the Lord refers to God, the one with supreme authority. Another way to translate this word is:

the Lord God

This word also occurs in 3:9a.

General Comment on 5:10a–c

In some languages, it may be helpful to change the order of the clauses in this verse. For example:

^10aBrothers, ^10bthink about the prophets. ^10cThey spoke in the name of the Lord, ^10band they were patient when they suffered because of it.
-or-
^10aMy fellow believers! ^10bRemember the prophets ^10cwho brought the Word of the Lord. ^10bThey were patient and withstood suffering. We should follow their example.

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.

SIL Translator's Notes on James 1:9

Paragraph 1:9–11

Even if a Christian has a low position in society, he can rejoice. He can rejoice because, in God’s opinion, he is in a high position. Similarly, a Christian who is rich should have God’s opinion about himself. Although rich people are generally given high status because of their riches, rich Christians should rather value a low position and humble attitude. They should remember that our lives on earth are short and that riches will not last.

The theme of section 1:2–11 is that Christians should continue to trust God/Jesus when they have various kinds of tests/trials. Poverty is a kind of trial. It is also the result of the trial of being persecuted. Riches too may be a kind of test of faith. They test whether the Christian will trust God or his money. And for rich Christians who had lost wealth and status because of their faith in Christ, they should think of this in a positive way.

1:9a

The brother: The word brother refers to any believer, whether male or female. Notice that although James used a singular noun, he was not referring to one person in particular. He was referring to poor believers in general. Consider whether it is more natural to use a singular or plural term here in your language.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

the believer (NET Bible)
-or-
fellow believers
-or-
Any of God’s people (Contemporary English Version)

The plural form of this same word occurs in 1:2a.

in humble circumstances: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in humble circumstances literally means “lowly” (as in the Revised Standard Version). It refers to someone who is in a low position in society and whom others consider to be unimportant. It includes the idea of such a person being poor. So the person in humble circumstances is contrasted to “the one who is rich” in 1:10a.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

who are poor (Good News Translation)
-or-
who is unimportant
-or-
who has a low status

1:9b

should exult: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as should exult usually means “boast.” In other words, it usually refers to talking about something that you are proud of. It can have either a positive or negative meaning.

Here it is clearly positive, and it refers to a way of thinking. Lowly, poor believers should “think very well of” or “highly value” their high position. This is because God thinks of them very highly and will reward them in the future.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

be glad (Good News Translation)
-or-
think well/highly of
-or-
highly value
-or-
rejoice (King James Version)

in his high position: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in his high position refers to his spiritual status as a Christian. Although other people may not consider a poor believer important, he is still important to God. This is what should give him pride and pleasure.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

that he is important to God
-or-
in his high status as a Christian
-or-
for God has honored them (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 2:15

2:15a

Suppose: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Suppose is literally “If” (as in the Revised Standard Version). This word introduces an example of faith without good deeds. Consider how your language naturally introduces an example. For example:

For example
-or-
For instance
-or-
If it happens

a brother or sister: The phrase a brother or sister refers to a male or female fellow-believer. Notice that James explicitly includes women here.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

A brother or sister in Christ (New Century Version)
-or-
a believer, whether a man or a woman (God’s Word)

2:15b

without clothes and daily food: The phrase daily food means that the person did not have enough food even for that day. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

needs…food (God’s Word)
-or-
lacks daily food (NET Bible)
-or-
with not enough food for the day (Revised English Bible)
-or-
don’t have enough to eat (Good News Translation)

without clothes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as without clothes here means “does not have enough clothes to keep him warm.”

In the Bible lands, it is often cold, especially at night, and one of the chief functions of a person’s clothes is to keep him warm. (See Exodus 22:26–27). It is clear from the phrase “keep warm” in 2:16 that this is what James has in mind.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

needs clothes (God’s Word)
-or-
is poorly clothed (NET Bible)
-or-
does not have enough clothes to keep warm

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 4:5

4:5a–c

Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to emphasize that his readers should not think that the Scripture says things without reason. In this rhetorical question, James used scripture to support his statement in 4:4. That statement is that friendship with the world cannot exist together with friendship with God.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As a rhetorical question. For example:

Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? (English Standard Version)
-or-
^5bThe scripture says, ^5c“He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us.” ^5aDo you^(plur) think that ^5bthe scripture says that without reason?

• As a statement. For example:

You^(plur) must not think that there is no truth in the scripture that says that God jealously desires the spirit that he placed in us.

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

4:5a

Or: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Or often occurs before a rhetorical question. It implies that the following sentence will support James’ statement in 4:4. Here this word is not used to indicate a choice between two options. It is perhaps for that reason that some English versions omit this word.

do you think: The clause do you think introduces a rhetorical question. It implies that the reader should not think that way. One way to translate this clause is to make the entire sentence a statement. For example:

you should certainly not think

Consider what form of question or statement will translate this naturally in your language.

4:5b

the Scripture says: In the clause the Scripture says, the word Scripture is personified. This means that Scripture is spoken of as if it were a person that says things. In some languages, it may be necessary to say that it is God who says these things. For example:

in Scripture, God says
-or-
God said in his book
-or-
it is written in God’s word

Usually in the New Testament, the words the Scripture says introduce a direct quote from the Old Testament. But here, the sentence that these words introduce does not match any Old Testament sentence very closely. Many commentators take the verse as two separate sentences. In this case the words “the scripture” might refer back to 3:4 or forward to the rest of 3:5.However, it is more natural to take the Greek words translated Scripture says as simply introducing what Scripture says. For this reason punctuating as one sentence, as in Berean Standard Bible, is recommended.) They say that it is not a quotation of the exact words of a verse in the Old Testament. (There are similar cases in John 7:38 and John 7:42.) Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

scripture teaches
-or-
in scripture God teaches

The word Scripture also occurs in 2:8b.

without reason: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as without reason means “for no purpose” or “in vain.” James used this word to indicate that the words of Scripture that follow are not useless or worthless words. They are true.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

in vain (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
for nothing (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
to no purpose (English Standard Version)
-or-
no truth (Good News Translation)

4:5c

the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Spirit He caused to dwell in us is ambiguous. In Greek, it is unclear whether:

(a) the spirit refers to the human spirit or the Holy Spirit

(b) the spirit is the subject or the object of the verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as yearns with envy

The main ways to interpret the phrase the Spirit are:

(1) It refers to the human spirit and is the object of the verb. According to this interpretation, God has strong feelings of jealousy for us. God will not tolerate his people loving the world. He wants their total loyalty.

According to this interpretation, this verse is connected with 4:4. It is a metaphor of God as the jealous husband who has an adulterous wife. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

He yearns jealously over the spirit which he has made to dwell in us.

(New International Version, 2011 edition, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version)

(2) It refers to the human spirit and is the subject of the verb. According to this interpretation, the human spirit that God made to live in us has strong envious desires. (Adamson (1976), pages 171–173; see also Adamson (1989), pages 330–333. Laws, page 178, takes it as a rhetorical question: “Does the spirit which he made to dwell in us long enviously?” with the implied answer that according to Scripture it does not, it longs for God.)

According to this interpretation, this verse is connected with 4:1–3. It continues to describe the evil desires that are in humans. For example, the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) says:

the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy

(New International Version (1984 Revision), Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, King James Version, New Living Translation (2004 Revision))

(3) It refers to the Holy Spirit and is the subject of the verb. According to this interpretation, the Holy Spirit that God sent to live in us his people feels strongly possessive of us. (Alford, page 315; Mayor, page 137; Hiebert, pages 255–257; Martin, pages 149–150. Also R. Buth, START 2, pages 11–12.) For example, the New Century Version says:

The Spirit that God made to live in us wants us for himself alone

(Berean Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation, 1996 edition, New Century Version)

(4) It refers to the Holy Spirit and is the object of the verb. According to this interpretation, God cares strongly about the Holy Spirit. For example, the Contemporary English Version says:

God truly cares about the Spirit he has put in us

(Contemporary English Version, New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This interpretation:

(a) works well grammatically. God is the subject of:

• ^4:5che caused to dwell in us

• ^4:6ahe gives more grace

So it is natural that God is also the subject of the verb envies intensely.

(b) fits well with James’ appeal for Christians to turn away from friendship with the world. We must not be friends with the world because:

• if we are friends with the world, we are enemies with God.

• God jealously desires us for himself. He does not want us to be like an adulterous wife.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

God jealously desires for himself the spirit that he placed in us.
-or-
God put the spirit into man to give him life. Because of that, he is jealous of what we do with our lives.

yearns with envy: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as yearns with envy is literally “desires with jealousy.” Here it describes God as a jealous God who desires that we belong to him alone. (Exodus 20:5 says, “I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.”) Be sure that the way you translate this phrase is an appropriate way to speak about a perfect God.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

he jealously desires
-or-
God strongly desires that this spirit must submit to him alone.
-or-
he wants us to love/worship only him like a jealous husband wants his wife to love only him.

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 1:20

1:20

for: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason that people should not get angry quickly. People should be slow to become angry (1:19d), for/because man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (1:20). Another way to show this connection is:

I say this because

See also the General Comment on 1:19–20 at the end of 1:20 for an example of another way to begin this verse.

man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the righteousness that God desires is literally “the righteousness of God” (as in the Revised Standard Version). There are at least two ways to interpret this phrase:

(1) It refers to the righteous behavior/action that God desires from his people. For example, the God’s Word says:

An angry person doesn’t do what God approves of.

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), New Century Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It refers to God’s own righteous purposes and justice. Human anger does not achieve the right things that God himself intends to do in his people and in the world. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

For human anger does not promote God’s justice.

(Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, 1996 edition, Revised English Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the great majority of commentators follow this interpretation.

The phrase man’s anger does not bring about… indicates that man’s anger seriously hinders the righteousness of God.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants (New Century Version)
-or-
Anger makes it very hard for you to live the righteous life that God approves.
-or-
an angry person does not do what is right in God’s eyes
-or-
human anger does not help someone do the good/right things that God wants him to do

man’s: The word man here refers to any human being. It refers to both men and women. It means a human being in contrast to God. Another way to translate this word is:

human

anger: In some languages, it may be necessary to express anger as a verb or verb phrase. For example:

when people are angry….
-or-
if you become angry….
-or-
being angry….

General Comment on 1:19–20

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of 1:19–20 and put the reason in 1:20 before the result in 1:19b–d. For example:

^19aMy beloved brothers, understand this: ²⁰man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires. ^19bThat is why everyone should be quick to listen, ^19cslow to speak ^19dand slow to anger.

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 2:26

2:26

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead: James concluded his discussion of faith and deeds by repeating the statement faith without deeds is dead. He had already made this statement in 2:17. Here, James used a simile to emphasize this statement.

In this simile, James compared faith without deeds to the body without the spirit. The way that they are similar is that both are dead and useless.

Some other ways to translate this simile are:

Just as a person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead! (New Century Version)
-or-
faith without action is as dead as a body without a soul (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
If someone believes/trusts but does not do good deeds, that belief/trust is as useless as a body that has no spirit.
-or-
If a person’s spirit has left his body, he cannot do any good deeds because the body has no life. In the same way, if someone believes but does not do any good deeds, his belief has no life.

2:26a

In Greek, this verse is connected to the previous verse with a conjunction. The Berean Standard Bible does not translate this conjunction. Here this conjunction introduces a simile that concludes this section.

Some other ways to indicate that 2:26 is the conclusion are:

So then (Good News Translation)
-or-
What we should understand here is this:
-or-
In conclusion

the body: The phrase the body refers to a human body.

without the spirit: The phrase the spirit here refers to the inner part of a person that continues to exist after the person has died.

is dead: If possible, translate the word dead with a word or phrase in your language that can refer to a body as well as to faith. For example:

has no life
-or-
is dead and useless

2:26b

without deeds: The phrase without deeds also occurs in 2:20b.

dead: The word dead here indicates that the person’s faith has no power to do anything and so is of no use. (Compare 2:17c where the word dead also occurs.) In some languages, the word faith cannot be spoken of as dead. If that is the case in your language, you can:

• Use a simile. For example:

as if dead
-or-
like a dead thing

• Explain the meaning of the word dead here. For example:

useless
-or-
powerless

Some other possible headings for this section are:

We must control our speech (Translator’s Handbook on James, page 100.)
-or-
Controlling the things we say (New Century Version)

Paragraph 3:1

This paragraph introduces this next section. James warned that it is a serious matter when a person becomes a teacher in the church.

3:1a

Not many of you should become teachers: In Greek, this sentence is literally “be not many teachers.” Many ambitious people wanted to have the honor of being a religious teacher. However, James told them that not all of them should be eager to become teachers.

Some other ways to translate this sentence are:

not many of you should become teachers in the church (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
we should not all try to become teachers (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
only a few of you should try to become teachers

Not many of you: The phrase Not many of you means “only some of you,” or “only a few of you.” Most of James’ readers should not try to become teachers.

teachers: The word teachers refers to those who had authority to teach in the church. They instructed other Christians in the meaning of what God had said in his word and how they should live.

Here the word teachers does not refer to a teacher in a school. This word refers only to people who teach the word of God and the good news about Jesus Christ. If many people in your area would confuse this and think of teachers of other subjects, then it may be necessary to make explicit what the teachers teach in this context. For example:

teachers in the church (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
people who teach the word of God
-or-
people who teach the Christian faith/belief

my brothers: The phrase my brothers refers to other believers in Christ to whom James was writing. In the time of James, all the teachers were men. So here, this phrase does not include women as it does in 1:2a, 1:16, 1:19a, 2:1a, 2:5a, and 2:14a.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

My fellow believers
-or-
My Christian friends
-or-
My relatives in Christ

Here James used the phrase my brothers to introduce the topic of the need for believers to control their speech. If you have another way in your language to introduce a change of topic, you may use it here.

Notice that the Berean Standard Bible places the phrase my brothers in the middle of 3:1. This follows the Greek text. In some languages, it may be more natural to place it at the beginning. For example:

My friends, not many of you should become teachers… (Revised English Bible)

This same phrase occurs in 1:2a.

3:1b

because you know that: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because you know that is literally “knowing that.” This phrase introduces the reason for the statement in 3:1a. In some languages, it will be natural to follow the example of the Berean Standard Bible.

Some other ways to translate the phrase “knowing that” are:

you know (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
Remember (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
you may be certain (Revised English Bible)

3:1c

we who teach: The word we refers to all teachers of God’s word. It includes James. It does not include all of James’ readers.

will be judged more strictly: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be judged more strictly means “will be examined and punished according to a stricter standard.” This refers to the day when God will judge all human beings. Teachers in the church will be judged more strictly than those who are not teachers. God will judge what they teach and how well their actions correspond to what they teach.

Here, the word judged does not refer to God judging unbelievers and condemning them eternally to hell.

Some ways to translate this are:

will be judged by a much higher standard (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
will be evaluated/assessed more strictly than those who are not teachers
-or-
will receive more severe punishment if we fail

The Berean Standard Bible uses a passive verb. Some ways to translate this word are:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

will be judged with greater strictness than others (Good News Translation)

• Use an active verb. For example:

God will judge us more strictly

• Translate judged as a noun. For example:

will receive more severe judgment

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 4:16

4:16a

As it is: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as As it is is more literally “But now” (as in the Good News Translation). This phrase introduces a description of how the traders usually behave. It also indicates a contrast. They should be saying, “If the Lord wills.” But instead of saying that, they are boasting.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

But now (Good News Translation)
-or-
But instead (Revised English Bible)
-or-
But in reality
-or-
But your words are not like that

you boast in your proud intentions: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you boast in your proud intentions is literally “you boast in your arrogances.” There are at least two ways to interpret the phrase “in your arrogances”:

(1) It is the object or content of the traders’ boasting. In other words, it is what the traders were boasting about. They were boasting about the certainty of their plans. They were boasting in their own ability to do things without any help from God. For example, the New International Version, 2011 edition says:

you boast in your arrogant schemes

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, 2011 edition, New Living Translation (2004 Revision), Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English (Commentators that support this interpretation are Ropes, page 280; Moo (1985), page 157; Martin, pages 167–168.))

(2) It is the second description of the traders and is parallel to boast. The traders were boasting and they were bragging. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

you boast and brag

(New International Version (1984 Revision), Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version (Commentators that support this interpretation are Alford, page 319; Huther, page 196; Adamson (1976), page 181; Laws, page 192; Davids (1982), page 173.))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). There are two reasons for this choice:

(a) The word “boast” occurs with the preposition “in” sixteen other places in the New Testament. In all these cases, the phrase that follows is the object of boasting. (As in ‘boast in/about one’s high position’ in James 1:9.)

(b) The noun “arrogances” is plural. This indicates that James was referring to the traders’ plans in 4:13b–e.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

you^(plur) boast about the plans that you think are so good
-or-
you speak so proudly of what you consider to be wise plans
-or-
you are bragging about what you will do

boast: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as boast refers to the traders proudly talking of their plans. They talked as if they did everything without God’s help. This word indicates how people talk when they are proud.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

are proud (Good News Translation)
-or-
brag (God’s Word)

4:16b

All such boasting is evil: The clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as All such boasting is evil refers to boasting about your plans. Boasting about your ability to do things without God’s help is evil.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

and it is wrong to be so proud (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
When people boast like that, it is wrong/bad.

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 2:5

Paragraph 2:5–7

In this paragraph, James wrote about two further reasons why Christians should not favor a rich person above a poor one. The reasons are:

(a) that God honors poor people, and

(b) that the enemies of Christ and the church are more likely to be rich people.

2:5a

Listen: James used the word Listen so that his readers would pay special attention to what he wrote next. Some other ways to translate Listen are:

Be attentive to what I am about to say
-or-
Please think about this

In your translation, use whatever a speaker of your language would say in order to encourage his listeners to focus their thoughts on the next words.

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.

For suggestions on translating this phrase, see the note in 1:16 where this same phrase occurs.

The Berean Standard Bible places the phrase my beloved brothers at the beginning of 2:5, right after the word “listen.” This follows the Greek text. In some languages, it may be more natural to place it before the word “listen.”

2:5b–e

Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?: This is a rhetorical question. James used this rhetorical question to emphasize that God had certainly chosen the people whom society regards as being poor. He chose them to be rich in faith.

Some ways to translate this emphasis are:

• As a rhetorical question. In some languages, it will be more natural to divide this long question into two questions. For example:

Do you not know that God has chosen those who are poor to be rich in faith? Do you not know that he has chosen them to obtain the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?
-or-
God has chosen those who are poor to be rich in faith, right? God has chosen them to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him, right?

• As a statement. For example:

God has certainly chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith. He has certainly chosen them to inherit the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him.
-or-
God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him. (Good News Translation)

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

2:5b

Has not God chosen the poor: The clause Has not God chosen the poor refers to the fact that most of the people whom God has chosen are poor. It does not mean that all poor people are rich in faith. In some languages, it is more natural to make that clear. For example:

God has often chosen those who are poor
-or-
It is those people who are poor…whom God has often chosen
-or-
God has certainly chosen more poor people than rich people

the poor of this world: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as poor of this world is literally “poor in the world” or possibly “poor to the world.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

poor in things and money
-or-
poor according to the way people think

In some languages, it may be possible to translate “poor in/to the world” simply as “poor.” Readers will understand that the poor have very little or no money, land, or possessions. They are poor according to the way that people think.

2:5c

to be rich in faith: The phrase rich in faith contrasts with “poor of this world” (2:5b). These people were actually rich because they had placed their faith in Christ and had the benefits of such faith. This is something of great value.

This phrase does not necessarily indicate that they had a lot of faith. It simply means that they had faith.

Some ways to translate this phrase are:

• Translate it literally using the word rich. For example:

to be rich in faith/believing
-or-
to rather be rich because they have faith

• Show that the word rich is used in a spiritual sense. For example:

to believe in Christ. When they believe, it may be said that they are rich.

• Use a word other than rich that fits better with faith. For example:

to instead have faith, which is truly valuable

in faith: The word faith refers here to faith in Jesus. If it is necessary to include an object for the verb “believe,” use “our Lord Jesus Christ” as in 2:1, or simply “Jesus Christ.” “Faith in Jesus” means to trust, to rely on, and to be committed to him.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

trust in our Lord Jesus Christ
-or-
reliance/dependence upon Jesus Christ
-or-
confidence in Jesus Christ

In some languages, it is more natural to translate the noun faith with a verb. Some ways to do this are:

relying/depending on Jesus
-or-
trusting in Jesus
-or-
believing in Jesus
-or-
trusting in and committing to Jesus
-or-
having confidence in Jesus

Your language may use an idiom for this meaning.

2:5d

to inherit the kingdom: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to inherit the kingdom is literally “to be heirs of the kingdom” (as in the Revised Standard Version). The “heirs” are God’s children, so they will receive all the blessings that God has promised to give to his people.

The phrase the kingdom refers to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God refers to God ruling and caring for his people as their king. It refers to the relationship that he has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that he rules over.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

to have a share/part in his kingdom
-or-
to be citizens/subjects of his kingdom
-or-
to receive the eternal blessings of his kingdom
-or-
to have the benefits of being a citizen of his kingdom
-or-
to be blessed by having him as their/our king

2:5e

He promised those who love Him: This clause describes the kingdom. In some languages, it will be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

God has promised this kingdom to those who love him.

promised: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as promised means “said or announced with certainty that he will do something.”

Some other ways to translate this word are:

said he would do
-or-
vowed
-or-
assured

those who love Him: The phrase those who love him refers to all believers. James is saying that poor believers are included in this group. Some other ways to translate this are:

to all those who love him
-or-
to everyone who loves him
-or-
to all of us who love him

The same words occur in 1:12d.

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

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on James 2012

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SIL Translator's Notes on James 1:9

SIL Translator's Notes on James 2:15

SIL Translator's Notes on James 4:5

SIL Translator's Notes on James 1:20

SIL Translator's Notes on James 2:26

SIL Translator's Notes on James 4:16

SIL Translator's Notes on James 2:5

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