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. 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]