OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 3:4

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ, καὶ τὰ πλοῖα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού καί τά πλοῖα τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καί ὑπό ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα μετάγεται ὑπό ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμή τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται)

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Though it literally means “look” or “see,” the term can be used to suggest giving notice and attention, and that is how James is using it here. Alternate translation: [Also consider the case of ships]

Note 2 topic: translate-unknown

πλοῖα & πηδαλίου

ships & rudder

These ships are large vessels that are used to transport people or goods by water. A rudder is a flat device attached to the back of a ship under water that is used to steer it. If your readers would not be familiar with what ships are and what a rudder is, in your translation you could use the name of another transportation vehicle and a different device, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: [trucks … steering wheel] or [large vehicles … steering device]

τηλικαῦτα ὄντα, καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα

so_great being (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού καί τά πλοῖα τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καί ὑπό ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα μετάγεται ὑπό ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμή τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται)

It may be helpful to begin a new sentence here. Alternate translation: [Even though they are so large and driven by strong winds]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τηλικαῦτα ὄντα, καὶ ὑπὸ ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα

so_great being (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού καί τά πλοῖα τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καί ὑπό ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα μετάγεται ὑπό ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμή τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται)

If your language does not use this passive form, you can express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [Even though they are so large, and strong winds drive them]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

˓is_being˒_directed (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού καί τά πλοῖα τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καί ὑπό ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα μετάγεται ὑπό ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμή τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται)

James is using the action of turning a ship to mean guiding or controlling the ship in general. (For example, a person might turn a ship in order to keep it upright, not just to direct it to a certain place.) Alternate translation: [it is controlled by the smallest rudder] or [it is guided by the smallest rudder]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

˓is_being˒_directed (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού καί τά πλοῖα τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καί ὑπό ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα μετάγεται ὑπό ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμή τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται)

If your language does not use this passive form, you can express this with an active form. Alternate translation: [the smallest rudder turns it]

μετάγεται ὑπὸ ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

˓is_being˒_directed (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού καί τά πλοῖα τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καί ὑπό ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα μετάγεται ὑπό ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμή τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται)

Since James speaks of ships in the plural, it might be more natural in your language to use the plural in this clause as well. Alternate translation: [they are turned by the smallest rudders] or [the smallest rudders turn them]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole

ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου

˓the˒_least rudder

James says smallest, using the superlative form of the adjective “small,” to express a meaning of the adjective in its positive form. Your language may use superlative forms in the same way. If not, you could translate this using the positive form. Alternate translation: [a very small rudder]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

ὅπου ἡ ὁρμὴ τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται

wherever the (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἰδού καί τά πλοῖα τηλικαῦτα ὄντα καί ὑπό ἀνέμων σκληρῶν ἐλαυνόμενα μετάγεται ὑπό ἐλαχίστου πηδαλίου ὅπου ἡ ὁρμή τοῦ εὐθύνοντος βούλεται)

James speaks of the inclination of the person steering a boat as if it were a living thing that desired to go in one direction or another. Alternate translation: [in whatever direction the one steering the boat wants it to go]