YAC 3:2 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. πολλά
2. pollos
3. in many ways
4. ways
5. 41830
6. S····ANP
7. ˱in˲ many ‹ways›
8. ˱in˲ many ‹ways›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147398
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y60
11. 147399
1. πταίομεν
2. ptaiō
3. we are stumbling
4. -
5. 44170
6. VIPA1··P
7. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ stumbling
8. ˱we˲ ˓are˒ stumbling
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147400
1. ἅπαντες
2. hapas
3. all
4. entire
5. 5370
6. S····NMP
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y60; R146458; R147391; R147389
11. 147401
1. Εἰ
2. ei
3. If
4. -
5. 14870
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. S
10. Y60
11. 147402
1. τὶς
2. tis
3. anyone
4. someone
5. 51000
6. R····NMS
7. anyone
8. anyone
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147403
1. ἐν
2. en
3. in
4. -
5. 17220
6. P·······
7. in
8. in
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147404
1. λόγῳ
2. logos
3. ^his message
4. -
5. 30560
6. N····DMS
7. ˓his˒ message
8. ˓his˒ word
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147405
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. not
4. -
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147406
1. πταίει
2. ptaiō
3. is stumbling
4. -
5. 44170
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ stumbling
8. ˓is˒ stumbling
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147407
1. οὗτος
2. houtos
3. this
4. -
5. 37780
6. R····NMS
7. this
8. this
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147408
1. τέλειος
2. teleios
3. +a perfect
4. perfect
5. 50460
6. A····NMS
7. ˓a˒ perfect
8. ˓a˒ perfect
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147409
1. ἀνήρ
2. anēr
3. man is
4. -
5. 4350
6. N····NMS
7. man ‹is›
8. man ‹is›
9. -
10. Y60; F147413
11. 147410
1. δυνάμενος
2. dunamai
3. -
4. -
5. 14100
6. VPPM·NMS
7. being_able
8. being_able
9. -
10. -
11. 147411
1. δυνατός
2. dunatos
3. powerful
4. -
5. 14150
6. S····NMS
7. powerful
8. powerful
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147412
1. χαλιναγωγῆσαι
2. χalinagōgeō
3. to bridle
4. -
5. 54680
6. VNAA····
7. ˓to˒ bridle
8. ˓to˒ bridle
9. -
10. Y60; R147410
11. 147413
1. καί
2. kai
3. also
4. -
5. 25320
6. D·······
7. also
8. also
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147414
1. ὅλον
2. holos
3. all
4. -
5. 36500
6. E····ANS
7. all
8. all
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147415
1. τό
2. ho
3. his
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANS
7. his
8. his
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147416
1. σῶμα
2. sōma
3. body
4. body
5. 49830
6. N····ANS
7. body
8. body
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147417

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–12: Believers must be careful what they say

In this section, James warned believers to be careful with their speech. When believers do not control what they say, it can have a devastating, evil impact. This was an especially serious danger for those who taught others in the church. James reinforced his warning with a series of comparisons or illustrations to show how important it is that Christians control their speech.

Introduction

3:1–2a: Becoming a teacher in the church is a serious thing to do

The tongue is compared to small things which have large effects

3:2b–3	A small bit can turn a horse
3:4–5c	A small rudder can turn a sailing ship
3:5d–6	A small fire can destroy much
3:7–8	Animals can be tamed but not our tongues

Each of us should be consistent in using our tongue for good

3:9–10	The tongue should not be used for both blessing and cursing
3:11	Springs produce one kind of water
3:12	Trees produce one kind of fruit

Some other possible headings for this section are:

We must control our speechTranslator’s Handbook on James, page 100.

Controlling the things we say (NCV)

Paragraph 3:2–3

In this paragraph, James explained why teachers are in danger of being condemned at the Judgment. It is because the most difficult thing for a human being to control is what he says. If he can control what he says, he can control everything he does. James illustrated his point by a comparison with how a man controls a horse.

3:2a

We all stumble in many ways.

¶ We^(incl) all frequently do wrong things.
¶ We^(incl) all often sin.

Verse 3:2 is connected to 3:1 by a Greek conjunction that is often translated as “for” (as in the RSV). Here it indicates that 3:2 is the basis for the warning in 3:1. Verse 3:2 also introduces the topic of speech. This topic applies to all people, not just to teachers.

Some versions are like the BSB and do not translate this conjunction.

We all: The phrase We all refers to all human beings. Here it does not just refer to teachers. Therefore, the word We includes James’ readers as well as James himself.

stumble: The Greek word that the BSB translates as stumble is used figuratively. In this context of Christian believers, it refers to doing something wrong or sinning.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

sin

make many mistakes (RSV)

do…wrong things (CEV)

Here this word does not mean “physically slip and fall.” This word also occurs in 2:10b.

in many ways: The Greek word that the BSB translates as in many ways can mean:

“many times.” For example:
often (GNT)
“in many matters/ways.” For example:
in many ways (NJB)

The choice of one of these meanings does not need to exclude the other. If someone sins many times, it is likely that he also sins in many matters. If he sins in many matters, he also sins often. If possible, translate this word in a way that can include both meanings.

3:2b

If anyone is never at fault in what he says,

If anyone does not sin in his speech,
The person who never says anything wrong

If anyone is never at fault in what he says: This clause means “if anyone never says anything wrong.” It is not clear whether or not James thought that there are such people. It is best to leave it open in your translation.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

But if a person never makes a mistake in what he says (GNT)

If people never said anything wrong (NCV)

the person who never sins in his speech

is never at fault: The words is…at fault translate the same Greek word that the BSB translates as “stumble” earlier in the verse. If possible, use the same expression in both places. Here James was talking about sins such as slander, insults, angry words, lying, and cursing. These words do not refer to speaking when it is not one’s turn, or making grammatical mistakes.

3:2c

he is a perfect man,

that person is perfect/mature,
is perfect/complete.

he: The pronoun he refers back to “anyone” in 3:2b. In some languages, it is more natural to use another word or phrase here. For example:

such a person

Depending on how you translated “anyone” in 3:2b, you may have to translate this word as “they,” “you,” or “we.”

is a perfect man: The Greek word that the BSB translates as perfect also means “complete” or “mature” (CEV).

This word also occurs in 1:4. There, the BSB translates it as “mature.”

3:2d

able to control his whole body.

and he is able to bridle his entire body.
He is able to control himself completely.

able to control his whole body: The Greek word that the BSB translates as to control is literally “to bridle” (as in the RSV). For example:

able to bridle his whole body (ESV)

This word refers to the way people control horses using rope or straps around the head and mouth. These straps are called a bridle. (See the illustration above.) The verb is also “bridle.” (For example, “He bridles his horse.”)

Here this word is a metaphor. James compared someone who is able to control his body to a horse that is bridled. They are similar in that both can be controlled. Both can be taught to obey.

This metaphor continues in 3:3a. So, if possible, you should translate the metaphor here. If it is not possible, you can translate the meaning without a metaphor. For example:

able to control the entire body (NET)

able to restrain/manage his whole body

This same Greek word occurs in 1:26.

his whole body: The phrase his whole body refers to “a person’s entire being.” It refers to “everything that he does.” James was saying that if a person can bridle/control what he says, he will have no difficulty controlling what he does with the rest of his body. He can control everything he thinks and does.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

every part of his body (REB)

everything he does (GW)

every other part of his personality (JBP)

control themselves in every other way (NLT96)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-result

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: πολλά Γάρ πταίομεν ἅπαντες Εἰ τὶς ἐν λόγῳ οὒ πταίει οὗτος τέλειος ἀνήρ δυνατός χαλιναγωγῆσαι καί ὅλον τό σῶμα)

James is using For to introduce the reason why most of his readers should not become teachers, not the reason why God will judge teachers more strictly. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain this reason more fully as a separate sentence, as UST does.

πολλὰ & πταίομεν ἅπαντες

James is using the adjective much as an adverb. Alternate translation: [we all stumble in many ways]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exclusive

πολλὰ & πταίομεν ἅπαντες

James is now speaking of himself and other teachers and also of his readers and people in general, so the pronoun we is inclusive here. Alternate translation: [everyone stumbles in many ways]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

πολλὰ & πταίομεν ἅπαντες & ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει

As in [2:10](../02/10.md), James is speaking of people sinning as if they would stumble, that is, trip and lose their balance while walking. Alternate translation: [we all sin in many ways … does not sin in word]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

εἴ τις ἐν λόγῳ οὐ πταίει

James is using the term word to mean what people say by using words. Alternate translation: [If anyone does not sin in what he says] or [If anyone does not say things that are wrong]

οὗτος τέλειος ἀνήρ

this ˓a˒_perfect man_‹is›

As in [1:4](../01/04.md) and several other places earlier in this letter, the term perfect refers to something that has developed to the point where it is fully suited to its purpose. Alternate translation: [he is a spiritually mature person]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα

As in [1:26](../01/26.md), James speaks of a person being able to bridle himself as if that person were controlling a horse with a bridle. Alternate translation: [able to control his whole body]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

δυνατὸς χαλιναγωγῆσαι καὶ ὅλον τὸ σῶμα

James speaks of a person’s body to mean all of that person, including his actions and behavior. Alternate translation: [able to control everything he does]

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) 3:2