judge vs. condemn

The Greek terms krino and katakrino/katadikazo that are translated as “judge” and “condemn” respectively in English are translated with only one term in Kutu (tagusa). (Source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)

See also do not condemn.

complete verse (James 2:12)

Following are a number of back-translations of James 2:12:

  • Uma: “That’s why we must be careful in our words and our behavior. For we here are ones whose cases will be tried [lit., sat-upon] by the Law of the Lord that [or: who] frees mankind from sin.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “God will judge us (incl.) in the future whether we (incl.) followed/obeyed his law which can make us (incl.) free. Therefore be careful whatever you say or do.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “There is a different law which can set us free so that we might not sin, and this is the law which God will use to judge us in the future. And because of this it is necessary that we look carefully to our words and our actions so that we might not break that law.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Therefore be-careful-about all that you say and do, because God will in-the-future judge you according to the law which sets-people -free from sin.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But because God is gracious/merciful, he has also commanded as to how we can be saved from sin. Well since we will be judged in harmony with this law of his, it’s necessary that you be very careful with your nature/ways and manner-of-speaking that you too are gracious/merciful.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Speak all words that are good. Do that which God approves. Because you know that you will be judged with the new law which God determined to be followed by the people who have been saved.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on James 2:12

James now proceeds to draw a conclusion by shifting from the example of the Law of Moses back to the Law of Christ (verses 8 and 9). However, continuity with the two previous verses is maintained, as can be seen from the reference to judgment, which is an important element in the idea of “guilty” or “liability” in verse 10.

So speak and so act: obviously the author wishes to press his point with a strong conclusion. He does so by repeating the same adverb So and a pair of imperatives. The word So here has the force of “in every respect” or “in such a way.” The imperatives speak and act are both in the present tense, suggesting continual or habitual action; thus “You must keep on speaking and acting in every respect as….” This will be a helpful model in some languages, but in others one of the following models may be used: “What you say and what you do must be just like the words and actions of people who…” or “The words you speak and the things you do must show that you know that you are people who….”

The readers should speak and act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. In Greek are to be is a participle that can mean something about to happen, focusing on its nearness; or it can mean something that is bound to happen, emphasizing the certainty of it. Perhaps we may translate “like those people who know that they will be judged” or “… that God will judge them.” The two components, however, do not have to be mutually exclusive. Here it means the future judgment, which is sure to happen, with focus more on the certainty. The verb to be judged is a present infinitive, but it is clear that there is both an instrument and the agent of judgment. The instrument of judgment is the law, and the agent who exercises judgment is God. God judges according to the law of liberty, the gospel (or, “the law that sets us free”).

To be judged means that God will decide whether people are guilty or innocent under the law of liberty. An alternative way to express this sentence, then, is “Speak and act like people for whom God will use the law of liberty to decide whether they are guilty or innocent,” or “God will decide whether we are guilty or innocent on the basis of the law of liberty [or, the law that sets us free], so we should speak and act accordingly [or, according to that law].” In some languages, though, there will be colorful expressions for the idea of “judge”; for example, “cut the affairs [or, words],” and we may express this sentence as “Speak and act like people whose affairs [or, words] will be cut by God using the law that sets us free.”

The expression the law of liberty has already appeared and been discussed in 1.25, and so the meaning is clear. One observation may be added, however, even if it does not make any difference in some languages. Even though no definite article is used, there is no need to render the expression indefinitely as “a law of freedom” (Knox) or “a law which makes them free” (Revised English Bible). The law of liberty may sound too abstract and even ambiguous in some languages. Here the form of the phrase “A of B” is to be understood as “A does B,” and therefore it may best be rendered as “the law that sets us free” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version) or “the law that makes people free.”

The exact meaning of the preposition under is debated. Some have interpreted it as the atmosphere or context of the law of liberty within which someone is judged. Others take the preposition to mean “according to” (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch), indicating that the law of liberty is the norm or standard by which a person’s actions are measured and judged. A closely related interpretation is the rendering of the preposition as under (so also Revised English Bible). The majority of translations, however, noting the same usage in Rom 2.12, render it as “by.” In this case the law of liberty is liable to be understood as the agent rather than the instrument of judgment. For this reason it is better to take as a translation model something like “God will use the law [or, the words of the law] that sets people free, to decide whether they are guilty or innocent.” In some languages, however, these distinctions are of no real concern, since no clear and fast distinction can be made between the senses “according to” and “by.”

This final sentence, as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty, will be extremely difficult to translate meaningfully in many languages. Many translators will need to restructure the sentence drastically; for example, “just like people who will be judged by what is written in the Law that sets people free,” or in languages that do not use the passive voice, “just like people who know that God will judge them [or, decide their guilt or innocence] using the Law that frees people.”

Alternative translation models for this verse include:
• You must speak and act like people who know that God is judging them on the basis of the Law that frees people.
• Your words and actions must be like the words and actions of people who are aware that God will decide whether they are guilty or innocent by using the Law [or, the words of the Law] that frees people.

Quoted with permission from Loh, I-Jin and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Letter from James. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on James 2:12

Paragraph 2:12–13

In this paragraph, James warned his readers that God will judge all people based on how they act toward others. He requires his people to be merciful to others. This is a conclusion to 2:1–11.

In some languages, it will be natural to begin this paragraph with a conjunction indicating that it is a conclusion. For example:

So (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
Therefore

2:12a

Speak and act: The verbs Speak and act refer to normal, everyday conversation and behavior. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

Talk and behave
-or-
So whatever you say or whatever you do (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
-or-
In everything you say and do (New Century Version)

as those who are going to be judged: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as those who are going to be judged indicates that people will be judged. A future judgment is certain to happen. The word as does not mean that people should just behave “as if” judgment were going to happen.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

like people who will be judged (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
remember that you will be judged (New Century Version)
-or-
because you are going to be judged

those who are going to be judged: This is a passive verb phrase. There are at least two ways to translate it:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

people who will be judged (Contemporary English Version)

• Use an active verb. For example:

people whom God will judge

be judged: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as be judged is a legal word. It describes the work of a judge in court. A judge:

(a) examines and considers the evidence

(b) pronounces the person innocent or guilty

(c) decides the punishment (if the person is guilty)

In this verse, God is the judge, and the focus is probably on (a) and (b) above. God will evaluate whether each person has kept his law. On that basis, he will decide whether the person is innocent or guilty. (Many commentators (see, for example, Lenski, pages 574–575; McCartney, page 150; Mitton, pages 95–96; Moo (2000), pages 116 and 118) in looking at the wider context of Scripture take the position that this judgment does not lead directly to a verdict of guilt or innocence before God based on the law. Rather obedience to the law is evidence that someone has been shown grace. Their actions and particularly their actions of grace and mercy to all people demonstrate that they are truly saved.) Those who have obeyed his law, in particular the law which says to love your neighbor (2:8), will be judged to be righteous. Those who have not obeyed his law will be judged to be guilty.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

be examined/evaluated
-or-
God will consider the evidence and decide whether they are innocent or guilty

2:12b

by the law: The phrase by the law indicates that the law is the standard by which, or according to which, God will judge us.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

according to the law
-or-
using the law

As in 1:25, the word law refers to the complete set of instructions and commands from God. It does not refer to just one law. So in some languages, it is more natural to use the plural “laws” here. For example:

by laws (God’s Word)

that gives freedom: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as that gives freedom describes what the law does for people who obey it. It sets them free from sin.

Some other ways to translate the expression the law that gives freedom are:

the law that sets us/you free
-or-
the law that makes people free (New Century Version)
-or-
the law that frees people from sin

In some languages, it may be natural to translate this phrase as a separate sentence. For example:

12aSpeak and act as those who are going to be judged 12bby the law. This law gives freedom to do what God wants us to do.

See the note “of freedom” in 1:25a, where the same Greek expression occurs.

General Comment on 2:12a–b

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

12aYou are going to be judged 12baccording to the law that gives freedom. 12aSo be careful to speak and act appropriately.
-or-
12bGod will use the law that gives freedom 12ato decide whether we are innocent or guilty. Therefore, speak and act well.

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