OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 2:19

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / reduplicaition

σὺ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἷς ἐστιν ὁ Θεός

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Σύ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἱς ἐστίν ὁ Θεός Καλῶς ποιεῖς καί τά δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καί φρίσσουσιν)

The verb translated believe comes from the same root as the word translated “faith.” It may be helpful to your readers to show in your translation that James is continuing to speak to the same person as in the previous verse. Alternate translation: [You have faith that God is one]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

σὺ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἷς ἐστιν ὁ Θεός

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Σύ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἱς ἐστίν ὁ Θεός Καλῶς ποιεῖς καί τά δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καί φρίσσουσιν)

As Part 1 of the General Introduction to James explains, the people to whom James was writing were believers in Jesus who had a Jewish background. As a result, they would have known that he was referring here to the essential Jewish affirmation, “Listen, Israel, Yahweh our God is one.” Moses says this in [Deuteronomy 6:4](../deu/06/04.md). If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [You believe the essential teaching of Moses that there is one God]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / irony

καλῶς ποιεῖς; καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καὶ φρίσσουσιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Σύ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἱς ἐστίν ὁ Θεός Καλῶς ποιεῖς καί τά δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καί φρίσσουσιν)

When James says You do well, he is saying the opposite of what he really means. He grants that believing in one God is a good thing in itself, but he is actually saying that by itself, it is the kind of faith without works that cannot save a person. He proves this by observing that the demons, who are not saved, also believe that there is one God, and this makes them tremble. Alternate translation: [You may think that is a good thing to do. But the demons also believe in one God, and they tremble]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καὶ φρίσσουσιν

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Σύ πιστεύεις ὅτι εἱς ἐστίν ὁ Θεός Καλῶς ποιεῖς καί τά δαιμόνια πιστεύουσιν καί φρίσσουσιν)

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state explicitly why the demons tremble at the thought of God. Alternate translation: [The demons also believe in one God, and they tremble, knowing that God is going to punish them]