OET interlinear YAC (JAM) 3:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

οὕτως καὶ

thus also

James uses the words Thus also to introduce a simile or comparison between the human tongue and the small items he discussed in the previous two verses, a horse’s bit and a ship’s rudder. Alternate translation: “In the same way” or “Likewise”

μικρὸν μέλος

/a/_small member

Alternate translation: “a small part of the body”

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

(Occurrence 2) καὶ

and

Here, but introduces a contrast between the small size of the tongue and the great things that people use their tongues in speech to boast about.

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

μεγάλα αὐχεῖ

great_‹things› /is/_boasting

James is saying that the tongue is a living thing that boasts. Alternate translation: “with it people boast great things”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / nominaladj

μεγάλα αὐχεῖ

great_‹things› /is/_boasting

James is using the adjective great in the plural as a noun. (ULT adds things to show this.) Your language may use adjectives in the same way. If not, you could translate the term with an equivalent phrase. Alternate translation: “with it people boast that they have done great things”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἰδοὺ

behold

The term Behold focuses the attention of a listener or reader on what a speaker or writer is about to say. Alternate translation: “Consider”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἰδοὺ

behold

The implication is that James is offering his readers a further analogy. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: “Consider as a further example”

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

ἡλίκον πῦρ, ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει

how_much fire how_much /a/_forest /is/_kindling

A forest is a place where there are many trees. If your readers would not be familiar with what a forest is, you could use a different illustration that would be familiar to them of an area that could be destroyed by fire, or you could use a general expression. Alternate translation: “how a small fire can quickly spread and burn much grassland” or “how a small fire can quickly spread and burn everything in a large area”