YAC 3:5 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. ὡσαύτως
2. hōsautōs
3. -
4. -
5. 56150
6. D·······
7. likewise
8. likewise
9. -
10. -
11. 147472
1. Οὕτως
2. houtōs
3. Thus
4. -
5. 37790
6. D·······
7. thus
8. thus
9. S
10. Y60
11. 147473
1. καί
2. kai
3. also
4. -
5. 25320
6. D·······
7. also
8. also
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147474
1. ἡ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····NFS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147475
1. γλῶσσα
2. glōssa
3. tongue
4. tongue
5. 11000
6. N····NFS
7. tongue
8. tongue
9. -
10. Y60; F147483
11. 147476
1. μικρόν
2. mikros
3. +a small
4. small
5. 33980
6. A····NNS
7. ˓a˒ small
8. ˓a˒ small
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147477
1. μέλος
2. melos
3. member
4. -
5. 31960
6. N····NNS
7. member
8. member
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147478
1. ἐστίν
2. eimi
3. is
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA3··S
7. is
8. is
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147479
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. but
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147480
1. μεγαλαυχεῖ
2. megalauχeō
3. -
4. -
5. 31660
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ boasting_greatly
8. ˓is˒ boasting_greatly
9. -
10. -
11. 147481
1. μεγάλα
2. megas
3. great things
4. -
5. 31730
6. S····ANP
7. great ‹things›
8. great ‹things›
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147482
1. αὐχεῖ
2. auχeō
3. is boasting
4. -
5. 8495
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ boasting
8. ˓is˒ boasting
9. -
10. Y60; R147476
11. 147483
1. Ἰδού
2. horaō
3. Behold
4. -
5. 37080
6. IMAM2··S
7. see
8. behold
9. PS
10. Y60
11. 147484
1. ἡλίκον
2. hēlikos
3. how much
4. -
5. 22450
6. E····NNS
7. how_much
8. how_much
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147485
1. ὀλίγον
2. oligos
3. -
4. -
5. 36410
6. A····NNS
7. little
8. little
9. -
10. -
11. 147486
1. πῦρ
2. pur
3. fire
4. -
5. 44420
6. N····NNS
7. fire
8. fire
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147487
1. ἡλίκην
2. hēlikos
3. how much
4. -
5. 22450
6. E····AFS
7. how_much
8. how_much
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147488
1. ὕλην
2. ulē
3. +a forest
4. forest
5. 52080
6. N····AFS
7. ˓a˒ forest
8. ˓a˒ forest
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147489
1. ἀνάπτει
2. anaptō
3. is kindling
4. -
5. 3810
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ kindling
8. ˓is˒ kindling
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147490

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 3:4–5b

In this paragraph, James used the illustration of how a small rudder can turn a large ship. In a similar way, the tongue, even though it is a small part of the body, can have enormous effects.

3:5a

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body,

In a similar way, the tongue is only a small part of the human body,
It is the same with our^(incl) mouths. Even though they are just a little part of our bodies,

In the same way: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as In the same way introduces the application of the ship illustration to the tongue. Some other ways to translate this word are:

Likewise (NIV)

So too (NET)

So it is with (GNT)

In some languages, it may be natural to make this word a separate sentence. For example:

It is the same with the tongue. (NCV)

the tongue: In some languages, it is difficult to say the tongue without saying whose tongue it is. In such cases, it may be better to say:

a person’s tongue

the tongue of people

our tongue(s)

In this passage, the tongue represents the words that a person says with his tongue. In some languages, “the lips” or “the mouth” represent the words that a person says.

a small part of the body: Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

is a very little part of our body

is very small

3:5b

but it boasts of great things.

but it can brag about doing important things. (GW)
we^(incl) use them to boast about the great things that we have done.

but: There is a contrast between the tongue (a small part of the body) and the great boasts that it can make. Some versions do the same as the BSB and use the word but to indicate this contrast. It is also possible to show the contrast without a conjunction. For example:

So it is with the tongue: small as it is, it can boast about great things. (GNT)

it boasts of great things: The phrase it boasts of great things here indicates that the person’s tongue boasts or brags about the great things that it has done.

Notice that this is a personification. The meaning is that people use their tongues to boast about the great things they have done. There are at least two ways to translate this phrase:

Keep the personification. For example:
it can brag about doing important things (GW)
Translate the meaning. For example:
people use their tongue to boast about the great things that they have done.

Paragraph 3:5c–6

Many versions begin a new paragraph in the middle of 3:5.

This paragraph illustrates the power of the tongue by comparing it with a small fire.

3:5c

Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.

¶ Think^(plur) about how a large forest can be burned by a very small flame/fire.
¶ Look^(plur) at this example: a small fire can burn a large forest.

Consider: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Consider is literally “behold!” or “look!” It is the same word as in 3:4a. This word introduces the next comparison and calls attention to it.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

Just think (GNT)

Let us consider

Look

how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze: This sentence is more literally “Look how a small fire burns a great forest.”

James was probably referring to a small fire that a person may light in a wooded area. If he does not control the fire, it will set fire to a large area. This is something that can happen and does sometimes happen. James was not referring to any specific event.

a spark: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as how small a spark means “a small fire” (as in the RSV).

sets a great forest ablaze: The Greek word that the BSB translates as sets…ablaze is an active verb meaning “kindle,” “cause to burn” or “ignite.” The small fire ignites or sets fire to the forest.

Translate this in the way that best emphasizes the contrast between the large size of the forest and the small size of the fire that starts burning it.

a great forest: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as a great forest refers to a large area where there are lots of trees. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

many trees

a large area full of trees

lots of brush/grass

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

οὕτως καὶ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Οὕτως καί ἡ γλῶσσα μικρόν μέλος ἐστίν καί μεγάλα αὐχεῖ Ἰδού ἡλίκον πῦρ ἡλίκην ὕλην ἀνάπτει)

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

Alternate translation: [a small part of the body]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

(Occurrence 2) καὶ

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

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

The implication is that James is offering his readers a further analogy. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. 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]

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) 3:5