Μὴ καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων, ἀδελφοί. ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἢ κρίνων τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καὶ κρίνει νόμον· εἰ δὲ νόμον κρίνεις, οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου ἀλλὰ κριτής.
Warning against Judging Another
11Do not speak evil against one another, brothers and sisters. Whoever speaks evil against another or judges another speaks evil against the law and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
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.
The Greek that is typically translated with a generic expressions such as “he who,” “whoever,” or “if anyone” in English is translated with the plural form (“they”) in Daga. “A literal translation of these conveys the idea that one specific unnamed individual is being discussed. Thus, for instance, in John 5:24 ‘he who hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life’ meant in Daga that there was one fortunate individual to whom it applied.”
See also love your neighbor as yourself.
Following are a number of back-translations of James 4:11:
The Greek that is translated in English as “Law” or “law” is translated in Mairasi as oro nasinggiei or “prohibited things” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Noongar with a capitalized form of the term for “words” (Warrinya) (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang).
In Yucateco the phrase that is used for “law” is “ordered-word” (for “commandment,” it is “spoken-word”) (source: Nida 1947, p. 198) and in Central Tarahumara it is “writing-command.” (wsource: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Do not speak evil against one another, brethren: it is clear that James is introducing something new here from the fact that instead of “adulteresses” and “double-minded” people he is now addressing brethren, a particular group. The expression speak evil against is a single verb in Greek, literally “to talk [someone] down” or “to speak against.” It is sometimes used of speaking against others behind their backs without giving them a chance to defend themselves, and therefore has acquired the meaning of “speaking evil against” or “slander.” In the New Testament it is sometimes listed as one of those vices and sins in the sense of false accusations (Rom 1.30; 1 Peter 2.1), and at other times it is used for harsh criticism or malicious accusation (2 Cor 12.20; 1 Peter 2.12; 3.16, “abused”). In the present context the verb is used in the sense of criticism or accusation made against others, and therefore it may be rendered as “criticize” (Good News Translation), “slander” (New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible), “disparage” (New English Bible; compare the noun phrase used by Barclay, “the habit of disparaging criticism”). A Handbook on the First Letter from Peter, page 51, provides a number of good alternative renderings for speak evil: “shoot people with words,” “harm others by whispering,” “spoil someone’s honor with evil words.” We can also render speak evil idiomatically as “put evil on others.” Contemporary English Version has a helpful alternative translation model for this clause: “Don’t say cruel things about others.” The word brethren refers to fellow believers and is meant to be inclusive. It may therefore be rendered as “friends” (Revised English Bible, referring to Christian friends), “fellow believers,” or “brothers and sisters” (New Revised Standard Version).
James goes on to define what he means by “speaking evil against” someone; the person who speaks evil against a brother is the one who judges him. In some languages it will be better style to begin the second sentence with “If you do [speak evil against]…” rather than translating literally He that …. It is obvious that James uses the two verbs speaks evil against and judges in the same sense, using the second to define the first. The person who speaks evil against a fellow believer is guilty of passing judgment on (or, condemning) that Christian brother or sister. Furthermore anyone who judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. What James is suggesting here is that slander is a form of passing judgment on a fellow Christian, and this is going beyond what is legitimate. The law demands that a believer love his fellow believer (see 2.8); but to slander a fellow believer is to condemn that believer, and is therefore to break the law—for in doing so he is denying the law’s authority and is setting himself above God’s authority. The offense against a fellow human being is an offense against God, who created that person (3.9). The law may refer to the Mosaic law, but in view of the reference to the “royal law” in 2.8, James is here probably referring to the same law—the “love command” of the Kingdom manifested in the teaching of Jesus (see the rendering of Barclay, “… is to disparage Christ’s law of love…”).
But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge: to judge the law is to pass judgment on it or criticize it as useless or unnecessary. The person who passes judgment on the law is therefore not a doer of the law. This person is someone who does not practice the law, but a judge. What James is arguing is this: to set yourself over against another person is to break the law of love that commands you to love your neighbor. For not keeping the law is to judge it to be invalid and to put yourself above and outside it. The violator, then, in effect puts himself into the position of being a judge. And to exercise the function of a judge is something forbidden by Jesus (Matt 7.1-5).
An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• My friends, do not say evil things about a fellow Christian. If you do, or if you criticize [or, condemn] another Christian, you are in fact condemning God’s law of love. And if you condemn this law you are really refusing to obey it and are putting yourself above it as if you were a judge.
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 .
Paragraph 4:11–12
In this paragraph, James wrote about not saying cruel words about one’s fellow Christians. If a person says cruel words about others, it means he is setting himself up as a judge over them.
4:11a
Brothers: James switched from calling his readers “adulterous people” to Brothers. This indicates that he wanted to:
(a) introduce a new subject, and
(b) show his love for his readers. He did this so that he could more strongly ask them to change their behavior.
The word Brothers means “Fellow believers.” Some other ways to translate this word are:
My friends (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Brothers and sisters (God’s Word)
This word also occurs in 1:2a and 3:12a–b.
do not slander one another: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as slander is more literally “speak against.” For example:
Do not speak against one another (NET Bible)
To “speak against” someone means “speak evil of someone” or “say cruel words about someone when he is not present.” It means “criticize someone in order to destroy that person’s reputation.”
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
don’t say cruel things about others (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
do not tell evil lies about each other (New Century Version)
-or-
Do not criticize one another (Good News Translation)
4:11b–e
In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 4:11b–e. For example:
11bAnyone who speaks against his brother, 11dspeaks against the law. 11cAnyone who judges his brother, 11ejudges the law.
-or-
11bIf anyone speaks against his brother, 11dhe speaks against the law. 11cIf anyone judges his brother, 11ehe judges the law.
4:11b
speaks against: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speaks against is the same verb that is translated as “slander” in 4:11a.
Some ways to translate this verb are:
• Use the same verb as in 4:11a. For example:
11astop slandering each other. 11bThose who slander (God’s Word)
• Use a synonym: For example:
11aDon’t speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. 11bIf you criticize each other (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
• Use a general verb. For example:
11aMy friends, don’t say cruel things about others! 11bIf you do… (Contemporary English Version)
his brother: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as his brother is literally “brother.” The pronoun his is not in Greek. Some ways to translate this word are:
another Christian (Good News Translation)
-or-
a fellow believer (NET Bible)
-or-
each other (New Living Translation (2004 Revision))
4:11c
or judges him: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as judges means “criticize/ accuse others of doing wrong in a mean or severe manner.” This does not refer to the kind of judging that a judge does in court. Nor does it imply that people are never to judge whether something is right or wrong.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
or if you condemn others (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
or harshly/severely accuses him of doing wrong
-or-
or criticizes/rebukes him in a mean/unkind manner
The same word and same idea occur in Matthew 7:1.
4:11d
speaks against the law: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as speaks against is the same as the word translated “slander” in 4:11a. Some ways to translate this phrase are:
speaks evil of the law
-or-
says evil words against the law
-or-
criticizes the law
The law demands that Christians love one another (2:8). If someone criticizes his fellow believer, he is not loving him. So he is not doing what the law demands. When someone does not do what the law says, he communicates by his actions that the law is not worthy of his respect and obedience. So it is as if he is speaking against the law. You may want to make this clear in your translation. For example:
it is as if he speaks evil of the law
the law: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the law refers to God’s law. In other words, it refers to everything that God has commanded his people to do in their lives.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
God’s Law (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
God’s teachings (God’s Word)
-or-
God’s rules
This word also occurs in 1:25a.
4:11e
judges it: The phrase judges it indicates that whenever you judge a brother, it is as if you are judging the law. This means that you are “finding fault” with certain laws and are deciding that you do not have to obey them. Specifically, you are not obeying the law that says that you should love your brother.
Some other ways to translate this word are:
it is as though he judges it
-or-
condemning God’s law (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
-or-
acts like the judge of the law
The same Greek word meaning judges occurs in 4:11c.
General Comment on 4:11b–e
In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit how judging one’s brother is the same as judging the law. For example:
11bAnyone who speaks against his brother 11cor judges him 11dspeaks against the law 11eand judges it because he has not kept the Scripture that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
4:11f
And: In Greek, this sentence has a conjunction that commonly indicates a change or contrast. Here James uses it to introduce a further stage in his discussion. One way to translate this conjunction is:
And (Contemporary English Version)
In some languages, it is natural to use a conjunction here. In other languages, no conjunction is necessary.
if you judge the law: In this verse and the following verse, the pronoun you is singular. By using the singular form, James addresses every person individually, and therefore very forcefully. Consider whether in your language a command spoken to every individual should be in the singular or plural form.
4:11g
you are not a practitioner of the law: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you are not a practitioner of the law literally says “you are not a doer of the law” (as in the Revised Standard Version). Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
then you are no longer one who obeys the Law (Good News Translation)
-or-
you are no longer a follower of the law (New Century Version)
4:11h
but a judge of it: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but a judge of it is literally “but a judge.” Being a “judge of the law” contrasts with being a “doer of the law” in 4:11g. A “judge of the law” is someone who has authority over the law. He decides which part of the law is worthy or necessary to obey and which part is not necessary.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
become a judge over it (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
but you are condemning it as if you were its judge
-or-
but you are acting as if you have the right to say/choose which laws should be obeyed
General Comment on 4:11f–h
In some languages, it is more natural to translate the three clauses of 4:11f–h as two clauses. For example:
But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it. (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)
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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.
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