YAC 4:11 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. Μή
2. mē
3. Not
4. -
5. 33610
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. PS
10. Y60
11. 147904
1. καταλαλεῖτε
2. katalaleō
3. be slandering
4. -
5. 26350
6. VMPA2··P
7. ˓be˒ slandering
8. ˓be˒ slandering
9. -
10. Y60; R147907
11. 147905
1. ἀλλήλων
2. allēlōn
3. against one another
4. anyone
5. 2400
6. R····GMP
7. ˱against˲ one_another
8. ˱against˲ one_another
9. -
10. Y60; R147907
11. 147906
1. ἀδελφοί
2. adelfos
3. brothers
4. believers
5. 800
6. N····VMP
7. brothers
8. brothers
9. -
10. Y60; F147905; F147906; F147928; F147930
11. 147907
1. μού
2. egō
3. -
4. -
5. 14730
6. R···1G·S
7. ˱of˲ me
8. ˱of˲ me
9. -
10. -
11. 147908
1. ἀλλήλων
2. allēlōn
3. -
4. -
5. 2400
6. R····GNP
7. one_another
8. one_another
9. -
10. -
11. 147909
1. Ὁ
2. ho
3. The one
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····NMS
7. the ‹one›
8. the ‹one›
9. S
10. Y60
11. 147910
1. καταλαλῶν
2. katalaleō
3. slandering
4. -
5. 26350
6. VPPA·NMS
7. slandering
8. slandering
9. -
10. Y60; F147918; F147922
11. 147911
1. ἀδελφοῦ
2. adelfos
3. against ^his brother
4. -
5. 800
6. N····GMS
7. ˱against˲ ˓his˒ brother
8. ˱against˲ ˓his˒ brother
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147912
1. ἤ
2. ē
3. or
4. -
5. 22280
6. C·······
7. or
8. or
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147913
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 147914
1. κρίνων
2. krinō
3. judging
4. -
5. 29190
6. VPPA·NMS
7. judging
8. judging
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147915
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147916
1. ἀδελφόν
2. adelfos
3. brother
4. -
5. 800
6. N····AMS
7. brother
8. brother
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147917
1. αὐτοῦ
2. autos
3. of him
4. -
5. 8460
6. R···3GMS
7. ˱of˲ him
8. ˱of˲ him
9. -
10. Y60; R147911
11. 147918
1. καταλαλεῖ
2. katalaleō
3. is slandering
4. -
5. 26350
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ slandering
8. ˓is˒ slandering
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147919
1. νόμου
2. nomos
3. against +the law
4. -
5. 35510
6. N····GMS
7. ˱against˲ ˓the˒ law
8. ˱against˲ ˓the˒ law
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147920
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. But
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147921
1. κρίνει
2. krinō
3. is judging
4. -
5. 29190
6. VIPA3··S
7. ˓is˒ judging
8. ˓is˒ judging
9. -
10. Y60; R147911
11. 147922
1. νόμον
2. nomos
3. +the law
4. -
5. 35510
6. N····AMS
7. ˓the˒ law
8. ˓the˒ law
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147923
1. ἦ
2. ē
3. -
4. -
5. 22290
6. D·······
7. indeed
8. indeed
9. -
10. -
11. 147924
1. εἰ
2. ei
3. if
4. -
5. 14870
6. C·······
7. if
8. if
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147925
1. Δέ
2. de
3. But
4. but
5. 11610
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. S
10. Y60
11. 147926
1. νόμον
2. nomos
3. +the law
4. -
5. 35510
6. N····AMS
7. ˓the˒ law
8. ˓the˒ law
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147927
1. κρίνεις
2. krinō
3. you are judging
4. -
5. 29190
6. VIPA2··S
7. ˱you˲ ˓are˒ judging
8. ˱you˲ ˓are˒ judging
9. -
10. Y60; R147907
11. 147928
1. οὐκ
2. ou
3. not
4. don't
5. 37560
6. C·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147929
1. εἶ
2. eimi
3. you are
4. -
5. 15100
6. VIPA2··S
7. ˱you˲ are
8. ˱you˲ are
9. -
10. Y60; R147907
11. 147930
1. ποιητής
2. poiētēs
3. +a doer
4. -
5. 41630
6. N····NMS
7. ˓a˒ doer
8. ˓a˒ doer
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147931
1. νόμου
2. nomos
3. of +the law
4. -
5. 35510
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ law
8. ˱of˲ ˓the˒ law
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147932
1. ἀλλά
2. alla
3. but
4. -
5. 2350
6. C·······
7. but
8. but
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147933
1. κριτής
2. kritēs
3. +a judge
4. -
5. 29230
6. N····NMS
7. ˓a˒ judge
8. ˓a˒ judge
9. -
10. Y60
11. 147934

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–12: Believers must submit to God, not to their own selfish desires

In this section, James wrote about the problem of Christians quarreling among themselves. He identified the root of the problem as our human selfish desires. Then he pointed out that the solution is to humble ourselves and submit to God.

Some other possible headings for this section are:

Warning against being God’s enemy (UBS)

Submit Yourselves to God (NIV)

Paragraph 4:11–12

In this paragraph, James wrote about not saying cruel words about one’s fellow Christians. If a person says cruel words about others, it means he is setting himself up as a judge over them.

4:11a

Brothers, do not slander one another.

¶ My brothers, do not speak^(plur) evil of one another.
¶ Fellow Christians, do not say^(plur) cruel/false words about one another.
¶ Do not criticize one another, my friends. (GNT)

Brothers: James switched from calling his readers “adulterous people” to Brothers. This indicates that he wanted to:

introduce a new subject, and
show his love for his readers. He did this so that he could more strongly ask them to change their behavior.

The word Brothers means “Fellow believers.” Some other ways to translate this word are:

My friends (CEV)

Brothers and sisters (GW)

This word also occurs in 1:2a and 3:12a–b.

do not slander one another: The Greek word that the BSB translates as slander is more literally “speak against.” For example:

Do not speak against one another (NET)

To “speak against” someone means “speak evil of someone” or “say cruel words about someone when he is not present.” It means “criticize someone in order to destroy that person’s reputation.”

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

don’t say cruel things about others (CEV)

do not tell evil lies about each other (NCV)

Do not criticize one another (GNT)

4:11b–e

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of some of the clauses in 4:11b–e. For example:

^11bAnyone who speaks against his brother, ^11dspeaks against the law. ^11cAnyone who judges his brother, ^11ejudges the law.

^11bIf anyone speaks against his brother, ^11dhe speaks against the law. ^11cIf anyone judges his brother, ^11ehe judges the law.

4:11b

Anyone who speaks against his brother

He who speaks evil of a brother
If any/one of you^(plur) says cruel words about your^(sing) fellow Christian
If someone does that,

speaks against: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as speaks against is the same verb that is translated as “slander” in 4:11a.

Some ways to translate this verb are:

Use the same verb as in 4:11a. For example:
^11astop slandering each other. ^11bThose who slander (GW)
Use a synonym: For example:
^11aDon’t speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. ^11bIf you criticize each other (NLT96)
Use a general verb. For example:
^11aMy friends, don’t say cruel things about others! ^11bIf you do… (CEV)

his brother: The Greek word that the BSB translates as his brother is literally “brother.” The pronoun his is not in Greek. Some ways to translate this word are:

another Christian (GNT)

a fellow believer (NET)

each other (NLT)

4:11c

or judges him

or harshly accuses him of doing wrong
and condemns him in a mean/unkind manner,
or if he says that his brother is not good,

or judges him: The Greek verb that the BSB translates as judges means “criticize/ accuse others of doing wrong in a mean or severe manner.” This does not refer to the kind of judging that a judge does in court. Nor does it imply that people are never to judge whether something is right or wrong.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

or if you condemn others (CEV)

or harshly/severely accuses him of doing wrong

or criticizes/rebukes him in a mean/unkind manner

See judge, meaning 2, in the Glossary. The same word and same idea occur in Matthew 7:1.

4:11d

speaks against the law

speaks evil of God’s law
it is as if you^(sing) are saying cruel things about God’s commands
he criticizes the law

speaks against the law: The Greek word that the BSB translates as speaks against is the same as the word translated “slander” in 4:11a. Some ways to translate this phrase are:

speaks evil of the law

says evil words against the law

criticizes the law

The law demands that Christians love one another (2:8). If someone criticizes his fellow believer, he is not loving him. So he is not doing what the law demands. When someone does not do what the law says, he communicates by his actions that the law is not worthy of his respect and obedience. So it is as if he is speaking against the law. You may want to make this clear in your translation. For example:

it is as if he speaks evil of the law

the law: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as the law refers to God’s law. In other words, it refers to everything that God has commanded his people to do in their lives.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

God’s Law (CEV)

God’s teachings (GW)

God’s rules

This word also occurs in 1:25a.

4:11e

and judges it.

and accuses it of being wrong.
and condemning them.
and says that it is not good, because he has not kept the Scripture that says, “Love your^(sing) neighbor as yourself.”

judges it: The phrase judges it indicates that whenever you judge a brother, it is as if you are judging the law. This means that you are “finding fault” with certain laws and are deciding that you do not have to obey them. Specifically, you are not obeying the law that says that you should love your brother.

Some other ways to translate this word are:

it is as though he judges it

condemning God’s law (NLT96)

acts like the judge of the law

The same Greek word meaning judges occurs in 4:11c. See also judge, meaning 2, in the Glossary.

General Comment on 4:11b–e

In some languages, it may be necessary to make explicit how judging one’s brother is the same as judging the law. For example:

^11bAnyone who speaks against his brother ^11cor judges him ^11dspeaks against the law ^11eand judges it because he has not kept the Scripture that says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

4:11f

And if you judge the law,

And when you^(sing) accuse the law of being wrong,
If you^(sing) condemn the law,
When you^(sing) do that,

And: In Greek, this sentence has a conjunction that commonly indicates a change or contrast. Here James uses it to introduce a further stage in his discussion. One way to translate this conjunction is:

And (CEV)

In some languages, it is natural to use a conjunction here. In other languages, no conjunction is necessary.

if you judge the law: In this verse and the following verse, the pronoun you is singular. By using the singular form, James addresses every person individually, and therefore very forcefully. Consider whether in your language a command spoken to every individual should be in the singular or plural form.

See also judge, meaning 2, in the Glossary.

4:11g

you are not a practitioner of the law,

you^(sing) are not a doer of the law,
you^(sing) are not following it,
you^(sing) are not obeying the law.

you are not a practitioner of the law: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as you are not a practitioner of the law literally says “you are not a doer of the law” (as in the RSV). Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

then you are no longer one who obeys the Law (GNT)

you are no longer a follower of the law (NCV)

4:11h

but a judge of it.

but a judge of it.
rather, you^(sing) are condemning it as if you were the judge of the law.
Instead, you^(sing) place yourself above/over the law and decide what part is good and what part is not.

but a judge of it: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as but a judge of it is literally “but a judge.” Being a “judge of the law” contrasts with being a “doer of the law” in 4:11g. A “judge of the law” is someone who has authority over the law. He decides which part of the law is worthy or necessary to obey and which part is not necessary.

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

become a judge over it (NJB)

but you are condemning it as if you were its judge

but you are acting as if you have the right to say/choose which laws should be obeyed

See also judge, meaning 1, in the Glossary.

General Comment on 4:11f–h

In some languages, it is more natural to translate the three clauses of 4:11f–h as two clauses. For example:

But you are not a judge who can decide whether the law is right or wrong. Your job is to obey it. (NLT96)

uW Translation Notes:

μὴ καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων ἀδελφοί Ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἤ κρίνων τόν ἀδελφόν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καί κρίνει νόμον εἰ Δέ νόμον κρίνεις οὐκ εἶ ποιητής νόμου ἀλλά κριτής)

Alternate translation: [Do not say bad things about one another]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἀδελφοί & ἀδελφοῦ & τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ

brothers & ˱against˲_˓his˒_brother & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων ἀδελφοί Ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἤ κρίνων τόν ἀδελφόν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καί κρίνει νόμον εἰ Δέ νόμον κρίνεις οὐκ εἶ ποιητής νόμου ἀλλά κριτής)

See how you translated the term brothers in [1:2](../01/02.md). Alternate translation: [my fellow believers … a fellow believer … his fellow believer]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

καταλαλεῖ νόμου καὶ κρίνει νόμον

˓is˒_slandering ˱against˲_˓the˒_law (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων ἀδελφοί Ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἤ κρίνων τόν ἀδελφόν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καί κρίνει νόμον εἰ Δέ νόμον κρίνεις οὐκ εἶ ποιητής νόμου ἀλλά κριτής)

By the law, James means the same thing that he calls the “royal law” in [2:8](../02/08.md) and the “law of freedom” in [1:25](../01/25.md) and [2:12](../02/12.md). That is, he means the commandment “you will love your neighbor as yourself.” James is teaching his readers that by saying or assuming that their fellow believers were doing wrong things, they were not following this commandment and they were treating the commandment as if it were not important to follow. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could indicate that explicitly. See how you translated the term “neighbor” in [2:8](../02/08.md). Alternate translation: [contradicts the law that says to love other people as oneself and judges that law to be unimportant]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / youcrowd

εἰ & νόμον κρίνεις, οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου

if & ˓the˒_law ˱you˲_˓are˒_judging not ˱you˲_are (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων ἀδελφοί Ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἤ κρίνων τόν ἀδελφόν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καί κρίνει νόμον εἰ Δέ νόμον κρίνεις οὐκ εἶ ποιητής νόμου ἀλλά κριτής)

The word you is singular in these two cases because even though James is addressing a group of people, he is describing an individual situation.

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου, ἀλλὰ κριτής

not ˱you˲_are (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή καταλαλεῖτε ἀλλήλων ἀδελφοί Ὁ καταλαλῶν ἀδελφοῦ ἤ κρίνων τόν ἀδελφόν αὐτοῦ καταλαλεῖ νόμου καί κρίνει νόμον εἰ Δέ νόμον κρίνεις οὐκ εἶ ποιητής νόμου ἀλλά κριτής)

In the second phrase, James is leaving out some of the words that a sentence would need in many languages in order to be complete. These words can be supplied from the first phrase. Alternate translation: [you are not a doer of the law, but you are a judge of the law]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

οὐκ εἶ ποιητὴς νόμου, ἀλλὰ κριτής

If it would be helpful to your readers, you could state more explicitly what this means. See how you translated the similar phrase at the end of the previous sentence. Alternate translation: [instead of loving other people, you are saying that it is not important to love them]

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) 4:11

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)

Section 4:1–12: Believers must submit to God, not to their own selfish desires

Paragraph 4:11–12

4:11a

4:11b–e

4:11b

4:11c

4:11d

4:11e

General Comment on 4:11b–e

4:11f

4:11g

4:11h

General Comment on 4:11f–h

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)