YAC 2:5 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. Ἀκούσατε
2. akouō
3. Hear
4. -
5. 1910
6. VMAA2··P
7. hear
8. hear
9. S
10. Y60
11. 146984
1. ἀδελφοί
2. adelfos
3. brothers
4. brothers sisters
5. 800
6. N····VMP
7. brothers
8. brothers
9. -
10. Y60; F147012; F147022; F147040; F147044; F147061; F147064; F147066; F147067; F147107; F147109; F147112; F147118; F147121; F147126; F147127
11. 146985
1. μού
2. egō
3. of me
4. my
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146986
1. ἀγαπητοί
2. agapētos
3. beloved
4. -
5. 270
6. A····VMP
7. beloved
8. beloved
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146987
1. οὐχ
2. ou
3. not
4. didn't
5. 37560
6. T·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146988
1. ὁ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146989
1. Θεός
2. theos
3. god
4. God
5. 23160
6. N····NMS
7. god
8. God
9. GN
10. Y60; Person=God
11. 146990
1. ἐξελέξατο
2. eklegō
3. chose
4. chose
5. 15860
6. VIAM3··S
7. chose
8. chose
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146991
1. τούς
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146992
1. πτωχούς
2. ptōχos
3. poor
4. -
5. 44340
6. S····AMP
7. poor
8. poor
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146993
1. τῷ
2. ho
3. in the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····DMS
7. ˱in˲ the
8. ˱in˲ the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146994
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. -
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. -
11. 146995
1. κόσμῳ
2. kosmos
3. world
4. world
5. 28890
6. N····DMS
7. world
8. world
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146996
1. κόσμου
2. kosmos
3. -
4. -
5. 28890
6. N····GMS
7. world
8. world
9. -
10. -
11. 146997
1. τούτου
2. houtos
3. -
4. -
5. 37780
6. E····GMS
7. ˱of˲ this
8. ˱of˲ this
9. -
10. -
11. 146998
1. πλουσίους
2. plousios
3. rich
4. -
5. 41450
6. S····AMP
7. rich
8. rich
9. -
10. Y60
11. 146999
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147000
1. πίστει
2. pistis
3. faith to be
4. faith
5. 41020
6. N····DFS
7. faith ‹to_be›
8. faith ‹to_be›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147001
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147002
1. κληρονόμους
2. klēronomos
3. heirs
4. -
5. 28180
6. N····AMP
7. heirs
8. heirs
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147003
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147004
1. ἐπαγγελίας
2. epaŋgelia
3. -
4. -
5. 18600
6. N····GFS
7. promise
8. promise
9. -
10. -
11. 147005
1. βασιλείας
2. basileia
3. kingdom
4. kingdom
5. 9320
6. N····GFS
7. kingdom
8. kingdom
9. -
10. Y60; F147007
11. 147006
1. ἧς
2. hos
3. which
4. which
5. 37390
6. R····GFS
7. which
8. which
9. -
10. Y60; R147006
11. 147007
1. ἐπηγγείλατο
2. epaŋgellō
3. he promised
4. promises
5. 18610
6. VIAM3··S
7. ˱he˲ promised
8. ˱he˲ promised
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147008
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. 147009
1. ἀγαπῶσιν
2. agapaō
3. loving
4. -
5. 250
6. VPPA·DMP
7. loving
8. loving
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147010
1. αὐτόν
2. autos
3. him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3AMS
7. him
8. him
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147011

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–13: Believers must avoid favoritism

The theme of this section is that Christians should not treat rich people better than poor people. They should treat everyone with kindness. This is one of the marks of a truly godly person.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Show mercy and honor to poor people and thereby fulfill the royal law of love

Obey the law of love by treating poor people with mercy and honor

Do not discriminate against poor people

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:

that God honors poor people, and
that the enemies of Christ and the church are more likely to be rich people.

2:5a

Listen, my beloved brothers:

¶ My dear brothers and sisters, listen^(plur)!
¶ Be^(plur) attentive, my beloved fellow believers!

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

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 BSB 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 BSB 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?
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.
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. (GNT)

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

2:5b

Has not God chosen the poor of this world

Did not God choose people who are poor in the things of this world
God often chooses people whom others regard as being poor
God has certainly chosen poor people

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

It is those people who are poor…whom God has often chosen

God has certainly chosen more poor people than rich people

the poor of this world: The phrase that the BSB translates as poor of this world is literally “poor in the world” or possibly “poor to the world.”The grammatical dative τῷ κόσμῳ can be understood in various ways including as: a) a locative identifying the place where they are poor, b) an ethical dative (also called dative of interest), poor in the opinion of the world, or c) a dative of respect, poor in regard to the things of the world. This means that they had little of the things that the people (especially unbelievers) considered valuable. They had little land, money, and other possessions.There are differences of interpretation represented in the versions and discussed in commentaries. It could mean poor with reference to worldly things (McCartney, page 141) or poor in the eyes of the world (the majority of commentators). We felt the difference is subtle and both are true: these poor were in reality poor in terms of material possessions and they were considered poor.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

poor in things and money

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

to be rich in believing
to be rich in faith, right?
to trust/believe in Christ. When they trust, it may be said that they have real riches.

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
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

reliance/dependence upon Jesus Christ

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

trusting in Jesus

believing in Jesus

trusting in and committing to Jesus

having confidence in Jesus

Your language may use an idiom for this meaning.

See believe, meaning 2, in the Glossary.

2:5d

and to inherit the kingdom

and to obtain his kingdom
He has chosen poor people to possess the kingdom
He has also chosen them to receive the benefits of his ruling them.

to inherit the kingdom: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as to inherit the kingdom is literally “to be heirs of the kingdom” (as in the RSV). 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

to be citizens/subjects of his kingdom

to receive the eternal blessings of his kingdom

to have the benefits of being a citizen of his kingdom

to be blessed by having him as their/our king

2:5e

He promised those who love Him?

that he promised to all those who love him?
that he promised to the people who love him, right?
God promised that he would give these benefits/blessings to all of us^(incl) who love him.

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 BSB 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

vowed

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

to everyone who loves him

to all of us who love him

The same words occur in 1:12d.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

ἀκούσατε

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀκούσατε ἀδελφοί μού ἀγαπητοί οὐχ ὁ Θεός ἐξελέξατο τούς πτωχούς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καί κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

James uses this expression to emphasize what he is about to say. Alternate translation: [Pay attention to this]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί

brothers (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀκούσατε ἀδελφοί μού ἀγαπητοί οὐχ ὁ Θεός ἐξελέξατο τούς πτωχούς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καί κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

See how you translated this phrase in [1:16](../01/16.md). Alternate translation: [my dear fellow believers]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

οὐχ ὁ Θεὸς ἐξελέξατο τοὺς πτωχοὺς τῷ κόσμῳ, πλουσίους ἐν πίστει, καὶ κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν?

not ¬the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἀκούσατε ἀδελφοί μού ἀγαπητοί οὐχ ὁ Θεός ἐξελέξατο τούς πτωχούς τῷ κόσμῳ πλουσίους ἐν πίστει καί κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς ἐπηγγείλατο τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν)

James is using the question form as a teaching tool. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question by translating his words as a statement. Alternate translation: [God has chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him.]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

τοὺς πτωχοὺς

James is using the adjective poor as a noun to refer to a group of people. Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate this word with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: [people who are poor]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

τῷ κόσμῳ

˱in˲_the world

James is using the term world in a different sense than in 1:27. Here it refers to the world that we live in, and so it indicates ordinary life. Alternate translation: [in this life]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πλουσίους ἐν πίστει

rich in faith_‹to_be›

James speaks of having much faith as if that made a person wealthy. Alternate translation: [to have strong faith]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

πλουσίους ἐν πίστει

rich in faith_‹to_be›

Your language may require you to specify the object of faith. Alternate translation: [to have strong faith in Jesus]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς

heirs ˱of˲_the kingdom which

James speaks of the people to whom God has promised the kingdom as if they were going to inherit wealth from a family member. Alternate translation: [participants in the kingdom that]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

κληρονόμους τῆς βασιλείας ἧς

heirs ˱of˲_the kingdom which

If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea behind the abstract noun kingdom with a verb such as “rule.” Alternate translation: [to enjoy advantages when God rules, as]

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) 2:5

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