YAC 1:12 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. Μακάριος
2. makarios
3. Blessed is
4. -
5. 31070
6. S····NMS
7. blessed ‹is›
8. blessed ‹is›
9. PS
10. Y60
11. 146620
1. ἄνθρωπος
2. anthrōpos
3. -
4. -
5. 4440
6. N····NMS
7. ˓the˒ man
8. ˓the˒ man
9. -
10. -
11. 146621
1. ἀνήρ
2. anēr
3. +the man
4. -
5. 4350
6. N····NMS
7. ˓the˒ man
8. ˓the˒ man
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146622
1. ὅς
2. hos
3. who
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····NMS
7. who
8. who
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146623
1. ὑπομένει
2. hupomenō
3. is enduring
4. enduring
5. 52780
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ enduring
8. ˓is˒ enduring
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146624
1. ὑπομένειν
2. hupomenō
3. -
4. -
5. 52780
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ enduring
8. ˓to_be˒ enduring
9. -
10. -
11. 146625
1. πειρασμόν
2. peirasmos
3. trial
4. -
5. 39860
6. N····AMS
7. trial
8. trial
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146626
1. ὅτι
2. hoti
3. because
4. because
5. 37540
6. C·······
7. because
8. because
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146627
1. δόκιμος
2. dokimos
3. approved
4. -
5. 13840
6. S····NMS
7. approved
8. approved
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146628
1. γενόμενος
2. ginomai
3. having become
4. -
5. 10960
6. VPAM·NMS
7. ˓having˒ become
8. ˓having˒ become
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146629
1. λήμψεται
2. lambanō
3. he will be receiving
4. receive
5. 29830
6. VIFM3··S
7. ˱he˲ ˓will_be˒ receiving
8. ˱he˲ ˓will_be˒ receiving
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146630
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146631
1. στέφανον
2. stefanos
3. crown
4. crown
5. 47350
6. N····AMS
7. crown
8. crown
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146632
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146633
1. ζωῆς
2. zōē
3. of life
4. life
5. 22220
6. N····GFS
7. ˱of˲ life
8. ˱of˲ life
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146634
1. ὅν
2. hos
3. that
4. -
5. 37390
6. R····AMS
7. that
8. that
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146635
1. ἐπηγγείλατο
2. epaŋgellō
3. he promised
4. promised
5. 18610
6. VIAM3··S
7. ˱he˲ promised
8. ˱he˲ promised
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146636
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. -
11. 146637
1. Κύριος
2. kurios
3. -
4. -
5. 29620
6. N····NMS
7. ˓the˒ master
8. ˓the˒ Lord
9. GN
10. -
11. 146638
1. τοῖς
2. ho
3. to the ones
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····DMP
7. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
8. ˱to˲ the ‹ones›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146639
1. ἀγαπῶσιν
2. agapaō
3. loving
4. -
5. 250
6. VPPA·DMP
7. loving
8. loving
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146640
1. αὐτόν
2. autos
3. him
4. him
5. 8460
6. R···3AMS
7. him
8. him
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146641

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:12–18: God does not tempt people to do evil

This section has an opening verse (1:12)Some commentators connect 1:12 to 1:2–11 (Hiebert, for example). Others see 1:12 as a kind of “hinge” that connects 1:2–11 to 1:12–18 (Moo (2000), pages 71–72; McCartney, page 100). They recognize that 1:2–3 and 1:12 form an inclusio, or verbal bracket to 1:2–12 through the repetition in both of three key words: trials (πειρασμοῖς/πειρασμόν), testing (δοκίμιον/δόκιμος), and endurance (ὑπομονήν/ὑπομένει). and two main paragraphs (1:13–15 and 1:16–18). In 1:12 James recalled 1:2–3 and that it was important to persevere in times of trial and temptation. The next paragraph, 1:13–15, points out that it is not God who tempts us but our own sinful desires, which eventually lead to death. Paragraph 1:16–18 reinforces this by saying that God gives only good gifts.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Christians should endure testing and temptations

Trials and temptations

Paragraph 1:12

In this paragraph, James reminded his readers that it is important to persevere when difficult situations test their faith.

1:12a

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,

¶ How blessed is that person who endures when he is tried/tested.
¶ Those who do not abandon their faith during trials/troubles are favored/fortunate,

Blessed: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Blessed means “in a good position” or “in an enviable/desirable situation.” In the Bible, the good situation results when God favors a person and does good to him. The person who perseveres when he is tried and tempted is in a good position.

This word does not primarily refer to a feeling. However, a person in this good situation will frequently have good feelings such as happiness and joy. Do not use a word that only refers to material prosperity or physical health.

Some other ways to translate this are:

Joyful/desirable/happy is the situation of the man

How good it is for the man

The person is favored/fortunate

See bless, meaning 1, in the Glossary. Refer also to your translation of Matthew 5:3–11, where this word is used in a similar way.

man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as man generally refers to a male. However, in this context, the word introduces a general statement that is true of everyone. In some languages, it may be natural to introduce this statement with a general word like “people” or with a pronoun like “you” or “they.” For example:

Blessed are people

Blessed are those

Blessed is anyone (NRSV)

God will bless you (CEV)

perseveres: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as perseveres means “continued effort to fulfill some purpose.” Someone who perseveres has the ability to face all kinds of troubles, difficulties, and sufferings with courage and faithfulness. He continues to work towards his goal. He does not run away or give up.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

endures (NET)

persists

don’t give up (CEV)

This verb corresponds to the noun in 1:3c that the BSB translates as “perseverance”. See the note there.

under trial: The Greek word that the BSB translates as trial refers to difficult situations that occur in a person’s life and test his faith. These can include both external problems like persecution and internal temptations from Satan.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

during troubles/difficulties

hardships/problems

when they are tested (GW)

when your faith is being tested (CEV)

This same word occurs in 1:2b.

1:12b

because when he has stood the test,

For when he has successfully completed/passed the test,
because when they have proved that their faith is real/genuine,

because: The conjunction because introduces the reason that the person who endures trials in 1:12a is blessed. He is blessed (1:12a) because he will receive the crown of life (1:12c). In some languages, it will be more natural to put the reason before 1:12a. See the General Comment on 1:12a–d at the end of 1:12d for an example.

when he has stood the test: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as when he has stood the test means “when he has passed the test.” When this person is persecuted because he believes in Jesus, he perseveres. He does not abandon his faith. In this way he passes the test. He shows that his faith is genuine.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

When they pass the test (GW)

when he has proven to be genuine (NET)

After they have proved their faith (NCV)

The word “test” here in 1:12b and the word “testing” in 1:3b come from related Greek words.

1:12c

he will receive the crown of life

he will receive a reward that is eternal life
God will give them their reward/prize. The reward is that God will cause them to live forever.

he will receive the crown of life: The word crown literally refers to a wreath of leaves that both the Greek and Roman cultures put on a person’s head in order to honor him.

Here the word crown is a metaphor. James was using this metaphor to refer to a “reward” or “prize” for passing a test. He was not saying that believers will receive an actual object on their heads such as a crown.

So the phrase the crown of life refers to the reward or prize. A person will receive this reward or prize if he perseveres in his faith when he is persecuted. That reward/prize is eternal life.

There are two ways to translate this metaphor:

Keep the metaphor. For example:
he will receive the crown of eternal life
Translate the meaning of the metaphor without keeping the figure of speech. For example:
he will receive in reward the life which God has promised (REB)
God will reward them with life forever (NCV)
God will give him a reward/prize. That reward is eternal life

life: The Greek word that the BSB translates as life here refers to eternal life with God. For example:

life forever (NCV)

life with God that never ends

1:12d

that God has promised to those who love Him.

that God promised to give to all those who love him.
He will do this just as he said that he would do to all of us^(incl) who love him.

God: Most of the earliest Greek manuscripts simply have the pronoun “he” here. Other Greek manuscripts have “God” or “Lord.” The meaning is the same. “He” refers to God. Most English versions supply the word “God” to make it clear who is meant. You may want to do this also.

has promised: The verb promised means “affirm that he would do something.” God said with certainty that he would give the crown of life to those who passed the test.

Some other ways to translate this verb are:

vowed/guaranteed that he would do

said that he would certainly do

to those who love Him: The phrase those who love Him refers to all believers. James was including himself and his readers among those who love Him. In some languages, it may be necessary to make this clear by using the word “us.” Some other ways to translate this are:

to all those/people who love him

to all of us^(incl) who love him

to everyone who loves him

General Comment on 1:12a–d

In some languages, it is more natural to put the reason (1:12b–d) before the result (1:12a). For example:

^12bWhen someone has stood the test, ^12che will receive the crown of life ^12dthat God has promised to those who love him. ^12aThat is why the man who perseveres under trial is blessed.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

μακάριος ἀνὴρ ὃς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μακάριος ἀνήρ ὅς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν ὅτι δόκιμος γενόμενος λήμψεται τόν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς ὅν ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

Blessed is indicates that God is giving favor to someone or that his situation is positive or good. Alternate translation: [The person who endures trial receives God’s favor] or [The person who endures trial is in a positive situation]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

ἀνὴρ

James is using the term man in a generic sense that includes both men and women. Alternate translation: [the person]

ὑπομένει πειρασμόν

˓is˒_enduring trial

Here, trial could mean one of two things. See the discussion of the word in the General Notes to this chapter. James may actually want his readers to hear both senses in this case, as this verse is making a transition from a discussion of testing into a discussion of temptation. (1) The word trial could mean the same thing as in [1:2–3](../01/02.md), where it describes the “testing” of “faith.” The reading of UST expresses this interpretation. (2) The word could refer to being tempted, that is, being led by one’s desires to do something wrong, which James discusses in the following verses. Alternate translation: [resists temptation]

δόκιμος γενόμενος

approved ˓having˒_become

How you translate this will depend on how you translate trial earlier in the sentence. (In your translation, you could also focus on the way that God approves of this person, as UST does.) Alternate translation: [once he has demonstrated his faithfulness] or [once he has demonstrated his obedience]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς

˱he˲_˓will_be˒_receiving (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μακάριος ἀνήρ ὅς ὑπομένει πειρασμόν ὅτι δόκιμος γενόμενος λήμψεται τόν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς ὅν ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

James is using the possessive form not to refer to a crown that belongs to life but to describe life as if it were a crown. Alternate translation: [he will receive the crown that is life]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς

James is using the image of a crown to indicate that God will honor this person. Alternate translation: [God will honor him by giving him life]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

λήμψεται τὸν στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς

James is likely not speaking of physical life but of spiritual life, that is, of living forever in the presence of God after physical death. Alternate translation: [God will honor that person by giving him everlasting life in his presence]

Note 6 topic: writing-pronouns

ὃν ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν

In this last clause in the verse, the words he and him refer to God, not to the person who endures trial. Alternate translation: [which God promised to those who love him]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 1:12

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 1:12–18: God does not tempt people to do evil

Paragraph 1:12

1:12a

1:12b

1:12c

1:12d

General Comment on 1:12a–d

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)